The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is joining the massive effort to get personal protective equipment (PPE) for front line health care workers.
A drop off site has been set up at the Thames Campus Arena for the public to leave their donations of medical masks, gloves, face shields, goggles, and medical gowns.
Mayor Darrin Canniff said some people such as dentists have masks sitting around and they're desperately needed. He also said the municipality is considering bringing in 3D printers to make the equipment.
“During a conversation with our health partners, we were told of the need to maximize the amount of PPE,” the mayor said. “We want to ensure that our health care staff have the equipment they need to do their jobs and save lives so we are asking that Chatham-Kent residents who may have these items or owners of businesses who have them and are not deemed essential, pitch in and help.”
The municipality’s drop off station will open at Thames Campus Arena on Wednesday, April 15 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and the plan is to operate the site at that time each Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Donors can bring their donations inside the main front doors of the arena, place them on the table in the ticket area and exit the building for social distancing. Staff will then take the donations, sort and store them for three days before passing them on to be distributed through the health care system.
Donations left outside of the building will be thrown out due to unknown contamination. Products donated cannot be used or expired and opened boxes or packages will not be accepted.
Needed equipment includes:
- N-95 masks
- surgical face masks
- disposable gloves
- medical goggles
- face shields
- hand sanitizer
- cloth face masks
Further details on the equipment needed and how you can help can be found by clicking here.
The municipality can also be reached at 519-360-1998.
Chatham-Kent Health Alliance is also changing its mind about cloth masks after the Centre for Disease Control in the U.S. changed its tune about wearing them in public.
CKHA said it will be giving cloth masks to everyone attending an outpatient appointment at its sites.
More details can be found by clicking here.
A sewing pattern can also be found by visiting the CDC at http://ow.ly/liCh50z7GoA.
