ST. LOUIS — Hospital systems around the world are working to ensure they can keep healthcare workers safe in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
One of the most important tools is personal protective equipment, or PPE, but high demand has made it hard to find. On Thursday, BJC put out a call for donations, and St. Louis Community College answered that call.
College faculty and staff from the health sciences department gathered and inventoried N-95 masks, thermometers, disposable gowns, ventilators and other medical supplies. Then, the items were shipped to BJC for use by healthcare professionals on the front lines.
BJC is still looking for donations. The high-priority needs are:
- FDA-approved surgical masks and respirators
- N95 masks
- Thermometers – infrared and forehead with disposable covers
- Footwear covers
- Disposable isolation gowns
- Tyvek contamination suits
- Face shields or industrial grinding shields with head harness and plastic shield
- Goggles or eye protection
- Hand sanitizer bottles or bulk
- Sanitizing wipes
- Nasopharyngeal swabs (nasal type, not Q-Tip-type cotton swabs)
At this time, BJC is not accepting open packages of items.
For more information about donating to BJC, click here.
Last week, Webster University donated its stock of PPE to Mercy.