The stunning depth and breadth of how swiftly the coronavirus has invaded every aspect of Long Islander’s lives would have been hard to imagine just a few short weeks ago.
But in the next few weeks, we all face a grim reality. The total number of infected residents in Nassau and Suffolk will possibly top 100,000. So, what can we do to fight back?
For starters, we must do everything we can to protect those who are protecting us. Quite simply, we need to get personal protective equipment to frontline healthcare workers as quickly as possible.
Governor Cuomo recently announced the virus crisis on Long Island “is spreading like a wildfire.”
Nassau has the dubious distinction of having the most Coronavirus cases in the country, outside of New York City, and Suffolk County isn’t far behind. During times of trouble and disarray, leaders emerge.
We can unanimously agree Gov. Cuomo has stepped up and set a national example of what leadership looks like. On a more local level, there are heroes whose names you will never know, outside of frontline healthcare workers, who immediately responded to protect those who are working to protect us.
One hero, in particular, I’d like to highlight is the Superintendent of Plainedge Public Schools, Dr. Ed Salina.
Dr. Salina’s school district is home to many police officers, firefighters and nurses, and he recognized that we all need this workforce to remain healthy. Immediately upon learning of the PPE shortage, Dr. Salina went to every school in his district and found PPE supplies in nurse’s offices, science labs, and janitorial departments.
He then donated half a van full of PPE to St. Joseph’s hospital in Bethpage. The donated items included Nitrile Gloves, face masks, and sanitizer. Long Island needs more leaders like Dr. Ed Salina.
There are 124 public school districts, 20 colleges and universities, and over 200 private schools on Long Island. I’ve reached out to several of them, and only a select few have donated their PPE.
Their reasons for not donating include: attorneys advising it’s against state law to donate taxpayer-funded items; the need for PPE when schools reopen, and a general concern over not having enough.
I’ve been in contact with many area hospitals, health clinics, EMT workers, dialysis centers, and retirement homes.
Many are close to being out of PPE, and several have been forced to reuse equipment, and to improvise protective gear. In addition, staff members are falling ill at an increasing rate, while healthy staff members are working around the clock. This shouldn’t be happening!
To become a local hero like Dr. Salina, please get involved with sourcing PPE.
Ask your local public or private schools to donate. Then call animal hospitals, dentists, auto repair and paint shops, construction companies and welders, restoration companies, duct and vent cleaning services, art supply stores, nail salons, plumbing supply warehouses, hardware stores, and other residents who may have them.
Ask them to donate to a local PPE supply drive or hospital.
Here is Nassau County’s list of items needed immediately: N95 Surgical masks in unopened containers and boxes; goggles and face shields; Nitrile gloves in unopened boxes; disposable medical gowns; shoe covers and booties; no-touch thermometers; thermometer probe covers; HEPA filters for ventilators; anesthesia machines; antibacterial and disinfecting wipes (either alcohol, bleach, Clorox or Lysol); and hand sanitizer.
Those who are reluctant to give up their PPE supply fail to realize this new reality: when frontline healthcare workers inevitably fall prey to COVID-19, there will be nobody left to care for them. Donating excess PPE to places that urgently need it is the best way to protect your family from this insidious virus.
