Loyalist donates protective equipment; citizens can help County’s hospital too

Staff at PECMH welcome donations of unused and unopened personal protection equipment – including goggles, face shields, gloves, gowns, Tyvek, masks (particularly N95 masks) – for staff and physicians in Picton. The call for donations is going out to industrial facilities, mechanical shops, paving companies, veterinarians and construction companies who may have a stock. Expired items such as gloves or N95 masks can be used for mask-fit testing of staff/physicians. Citizens can help their local hospital meet challenges with financial donations.

“In the midst of this pandemic, the real champions are the ones wearing scrubs,” said Briar Boyce, senior development officer, Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation.

As the COVID-19 pandemic intensifies, County residents and Canadians across the country are relying on the care and expertise of healthcare workers.

Full load of donations from Loyalist College sent to Quinte Health Care

Loyalist College answered Quinte Health Care’s call to donate urgently-needed personal protective equipment. Faculty and staff shipped off a variety of items from programs and simulation labs to help keep frontline workers safe.

The donation included more than 16 bags of hand sanitizer, 500 isolation gowns, 25,200 latex-free non-sterile gloves, 31,000 Nitrile gloves, 20 N95 1860 respirators, 20 N95 1870 respirators, Sensicare sterile gloves, 125 shield face masks, 1,050 surgical face masks (loop), 250 surgical face masks (tie) and one container of Virox wipes, for a total donation of 58,282 supplies.

A national shortage of health care supplies and personal protective equipment continues as frontline health care workers test overwhelming numbers of people for COVID-19 and care for patients.

Amid growing concerns about dwindling stocks of supplies, the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) and the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) are urging governments and organizations who have supplies to re-purpose them for front-line health care use.

“During this stressful time we thank each and every healthcare professional at PECMH, as well as all our leadership and support staff (housekeeping, dietary, maintenance, clerical, administration, etc) who are working to assist those in need.”

Boyce notes many people have been reaching out to ask how they can help.

As well as gratefully receiving meals delivered by local chefs and businesses, help for the staff best comes in donations.

“PECMHF is accepting financial donations to help our County hospital and our front line workers. Unrestricted gifts will support the highest priority needs not covered by government funding.”

If there is a person in the hospital you wish to thank personally, make a gift in their honour to show them your appreciation.

“Not only will this help to keep our staff feeling supported, you will also be providing them with the resources they need to keep going.”

Your gift, of any amount, will make a difference. To donate, visit the Foundation’s website at www.pecmhf.ca; phone 613-476-1008, ext 4502, or mail your gift to PECMH Foundation, 403 Main St., Picton, ON, K0K 2T0.

“To all of our champions of care, thank you for the hard work you do every day. And to you, our donors, thank you. We see you as champions, too!”