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In the face of a global pandemic, Washington D.C. area healthcare workers are on the front lines without sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE). At minimum, doctors should be wearing masks, gloves, gowns and face shields/goggles when coming in to contact with a patient with symptoms of Novel Coronavirus. But for weeks, hospitals and clinics have been running dangerously low on these essential supplies.
Nurses, Doctors, Medical Assistants, Respiratory Therapists and administrative support staff are coming into direct contact and treating patient's with COVID-19 (Corona virus) without gowns, masks, goggles or all of the above due to low supply.
Many are using surgical masks in place of the proper mask style to decrease transmission -- N95/KN95. Surgical masks are disposable and typically should not be used for more than 5 patient's in a row. However, due to the shortage, staff is being asked to use the SAME mask not only all day long but for the foreseeable future as no further masks available in the US.
As a District, we need to come together to help fund our local hospitals and clinic with the resources, All donations will go directly into purchasing KN95 masks, surgical masks, goggles, face shields, contact precaution gowns, and Personal Protective Equipment for our front line healthcare workers in Washington D.C's busiest Emergency Rooms, Urgent Care Clinics, Intensive Care units and supportive outpatient care facilities.
There are major health risks when being asked to re-wear existing masks not intended for reuse. Please help us keep our front lines safe and protected. Would we ask our soldiers to go out to the battlefield without armor?
OUR GOAL: To raise enough to purchase and donate a million masks to the front line healthcare workers at Washington, D.C and Northern Virginia hospital and clinics to allow them to practice safely.
First $5,000 committed will acquire 5,000 KN95 to arrive by Thursday 4/9/20
+2,000 will acquire 1,000 K N95 masks
*note, KN95 masks are more expensive ($2.00/ea) compared to surgical masks ($0.40/ea) from our contact manufacturer supplier in China. -- prices subject to change based on future supply and demand.
If we exceed our goal, we will acquire additional masks, gowns, gloves for additional regional health care locations.
OUR COMMITMENT:
In order to keep you updated, we will share our mask drop offs and benchmark achievements on our Instagram account -- @masksformedicinedc
STORIES FROM AREA HEALTH CARE WORKERS:
"We are being told to reuse our N-95 masks and keep them in paper bags in between uses." - ICU RN
"There aren't enough goggles or face shields so we are having to bleach them in between uses even though the face shield has a foam part that is NOT bleachable." - ICU RN
"We don't have the appropriate sizes of masks rendering them ineffective." - FNP
"The other night, an anesthesiologist's PAPR (Powered Air Purifier Respirator) stopped working and he held his breath until the end of the intubation and almost passed out at the end!" - ER RN
Visit hashtag #GetMePPE on Instagram for additional examples.
OUR STORY
Heather Cade, BSN, FNP-C is an Ear Nose and throat Family Nurse Practitioner currently practicing in Fairfax, VA. In the last week, she first hand witnessed and experienced the rapid decline in availability of PPE required to safely provide care to her patients.
In her spare time, Heather is the founder and curator of a boutique antique rug import company - @districtloom.
She is applying her skill set as an entrepreneur in international trade relations and imports to combat this shortage by hunting down FDA approved masks from around the world to supply to the local health care community!
FAQ
How will the funds be used?
100% of the funds will go directly to the purchase and delivery of masks and other necessary PPE equipment including but not limited to; goggles, face shields, gowns for front line health care personnel in Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia area hospitals and clinics. The donation will not be applied to any administrative fees.
Why Washington D.C.?
As a local health care provider, Heather has established relationships with area hospitals. She has experienced first hand the scarcity of the available supplies.
Why aren't there enough masks provided by the hospitals and local government agency?
Simply put, supply and demand. During this world wide pandemic, supply chain limitations and global competition leads to shortages. Hospital systems.
https://www.nytimes.com/article/face-masks-coronavirus.html
https://www.forbes.com/sites/victoriaforster/2020/03/19/healthcare-workers-fighting-the-coronavirus-pandemic-are-running-out-of-vital-protective-equipment/#b91090e63ebb
https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/21/politics/supply-chain-issues-fema-hhs/index.html
How are you procuring the masks?
Utilizing her local network, Heather teamed up a health care department Liaison and colleague physician who both had a direct connection with a FDA certified mask manufacturer supplier in China.
How do you select what organization receives the masks?
The health care workers with the highest risk of exposure are our priority. These areas include ICU, Respiratory Therapy, and emergency departments in the area's busiest hospitals.
I am a healthcare professional working on the front lines in a high risk department such as the ER, ICU, ENT or Respiratory Therapy Department in Washington, D.C, Northern Virginia, or Southern Maryland that is currently treating patient's with COVID-19. We are short on masks and would like to request your help. How can I request my unit obtain masks?
PPE Request Form
Are there any other ways I can help?
Spread the word by sharing this page with others.
If you have extra sealed and packaged unused N95 masks, and live in the D.C. area, you can e-mail us at [email redacted] with the subject line "DMV Mask Donation" and we can coordinate drop-off.
If you are a health care provider, or hospital/office administrator you can email us at [email redacted] with a subject headline "Health Care Professional: PPE request".
If you want to volunteer to help us with D.C. area distribution you can e-mail us at [email redacted] with a subject headline "PPE Distribution Help"
If you have a direct relationship with PPE manufacturers that can provide equipment at market costs, you can e-mail us at [email redacted] with a subject headline "PPE Equipment Manufacturer".
If you are a member of the press, or would like to connect our fundraising effort with a member of the press, you can e-mail us with a subject headline "Press Contact".
Our e-mail is: [email redacted]
Follow us:
Instagram: @MasksForMedicineDC
hashtag: #MasksForMedicineDC
www.masksformedicine.org
Nurses, Doctors, Medical Assistants, Respiratory Therapists and administrative support staff are coming into direct contact and treating patient's with COVID-19 (Corona virus) without gowns, masks, goggles or all of the above due to low supply.
Many are using surgical masks in place of the proper mask style to decrease transmission -- N95/KN95. Surgical masks are disposable and typically should not be used for more than 5 patient's in a row. However, due to the shortage, staff is being asked to use the SAME mask not only all day long but for the foreseeable future as no further masks available in the US.
As a District, we need to come together to help fund our local hospitals and clinic with the resources, All donations will go directly into purchasing KN95 masks, surgical masks, goggles, face shields, contact precaution gowns, and Personal Protective Equipment for our front line healthcare workers in Washington D.C's busiest Emergency Rooms, Urgent Care Clinics, Intensive Care units and supportive outpatient care facilities.
There are major health risks when being asked to re-wear existing masks not intended for reuse. Please help us keep our front lines safe and protected. Would we ask our soldiers to go out to the battlefield without armor?
OUR GOAL: To raise enough to purchase and donate a million masks to the front line healthcare workers at Washington, D.C and Northern Virginia hospital and clinics to allow them to practice safely.
First $5,000 committed will acquire 5,000 KN95 to arrive by Thursday 4/9/20
+2,000 will acquire 1,000 K N95 masks
*note, KN95 masks are more expensive ($2.00/ea) compared to surgical masks ($0.40/ea) from our contact manufacturer supplier in China. -- prices subject to change based on future supply and demand.
If we exceed our goal, we will acquire additional masks, gowns, gloves for additional regional health care locations.
OUR COMMITMENT:
In order to keep you updated, we will share our mask drop offs and benchmark achievements on our Instagram account -- @masksformedicinedc
STORIES FROM AREA HEALTH CARE WORKERS:
"We are being told to reuse our N-95 masks and keep them in paper bags in between uses." - ICU RN
"There aren't enough goggles or face shields so we are having to bleach them in between uses even though the face shield has a foam part that is NOT bleachable." - ICU RN
"We don't have the appropriate sizes of masks rendering them ineffective." - FNP
"The other night, an anesthesiologist's PAPR (Powered Air Purifier Respirator) stopped working and he held his breath until the end of the intubation and almost passed out at the end!" - ER RN
Visit hashtag #GetMePPE on Instagram for additional examples.
OUR STORY
Heather Cade, BSN, FNP-C is an Ear Nose and throat Family Nurse Practitioner currently practicing in Fairfax, VA. In the last week, she first hand witnessed and experienced the rapid decline in availability of PPE required to safely provide care to her patients.
In her spare time, Heather is the founder and curator of a boutique antique rug import company - @districtloom.
She is applying her skill set as an entrepreneur in international trade relations and imports to combat this shortage by hunting down FDA approved masks from around the world to supply to the local health care community!
FAQ
How will the funds be used?
100% of the funds will go directly to the purchase and delivery of masks and other necessary PPE equipment including but not limited to; goggles, face shields, gowns for front line health care personnel in Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia area hospitals and clinics. The donation will not be applied to any administrative fees.
Why Washington D.C.?
As a local health care provider, Heather has established relationships with area hospitals. She has experienced first hand the scarcity of the available supplies.
Why aren't there enough masks provided by the hospitals and local government agency?
Simply put, supply and demand. During this world wide pandemic, supply chain limitations and global competition leads to shortages. Hospital systems.
https://www.nytimes.com/article/face-masks-coronavirus.html
https://www.forbes.com/sites/victoriaforster/2020/03/19/healthcare-workers-fighting-the-coronavirus-pandemic-are-running-out-of-vital-protective-equipment/#b91090e63ebb
https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/21/politics/supply-chain-issues-fema-hhs/index.html
How are you procuring the masks?
Utilizing her local network, Heather teamed up a health care department Liaison and colleague physician who both had a direct connection with a FDA certified mask manufacturer supplier in China.
How do you select what organization receives the masks?
The health care workers with the highest risk of exposure are our priority. These areas include ICU, Respiratory Therapy, and emergency departments in the area's busiest hospitals.
I am a healthcare professional working on the front lines in a high risk department such as the ER, ICU, ENT or Respiratory Therapy Department in Washington, D.C, Northern Virginia, or Southern Maryland that is currently treating patient's with COVID-19. We are short on masks and would like to request your help. How can I request my unit obtain masks?
PPE Request Form
Are there any other ways I can help?
Spread the word by sharing this page with others.
If you have extra sealed and packaged unused N95 masks, and live in the D.C. area, you can e-mail us at [email redacted] with the subject line "DMV Mask Donation" and we can coordinate drop-off.
If you are a health care provider, or hospital/office administrator you can email us at [email redacted] with a subject headline "Health Care Professional: PPE request".
If you want to volunteer to help us with D.C. area distribution you can e-mail us at [email redacted] with a subject headline "PPE Distribution Help"
If you have a direct relationship with PPE manufacturers that can provide equipment at market costs, you can e-mail us at [email redacted] with a subject headline "PPE Equipment Manufacturer".
If you are a member of the press, or would like to connect our fundraising effort with a member of the press, you can e-mail us with a subject headline "Press Contact".
Our e-mail is: [email redacted]
Follow us:
Instagram: @MasksForMedicineDC
hashtag: #MasksForMedicineDC
www.masksformedicine.org