AN URGENT NEED FOR PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND FIRST
RESPONDERS NEED MORE MASKS,
GLOVES AND DOWNS TO PREVENT
EXPOSURE TO COVID-19, ESPECIALLY
IF THERE IS A SURGE.
MARISA WOJCIK TELLS US WHAT
PEOPLE ARE DOING LOCALLY.
>> I DON'T THINK WE'VE SEEN THE
WORST YET.
YES.
I'M VERY BUSY.
>> HEALTH WORKERS ARE BRACING
THEMSELVES FOR IMPACT FROM AN
EXPECTED SURGE OF COVID-19
CASES.
BOB SALOV IS THE DIRECTOR OF
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES IN
CAMBRIDGE.
>> THEY'RE GOING TO WEAR PPE,
MINIMALLY GLOVES, PROBABLY A
MASK.
>> N95 MASK TO KEEP AIRBORNE
PARTICLES OUT.
THERE'S ALSO A FACE SHIELD.
>> KATE WALTON IS AN EMERGENCY
ROOM NURSE IN MADISON.
LIKE MANY HEALTH CARE WORKERS,
IS AT HIGHER RISK OF EXPOSURE TO
THE VIRUS.
>> WITH THOSE DROPLETS FROM A
COUGH OR NEEZ, SNEEZE, YOU DON'T WANT
THOSE GETTING TO YOUR EYES, SO
WE COVER THE FACE AS WELL AS
PROTECT THE AIRWAYS.
>> ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT ARE
ADDED WHEN PATIENTS ARE
EXHIBITING SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19,
BUT IT'S IN SHORT SUPPLY FOR THE
NEEDS.
>> IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE.
>> IT'S FAR LESS THAN IDEAL FOR
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, LIKE
REUSING MASKS.
>> IF WE GET CLOSE, WE'LL START
LOOKING FOR ALTERNATIVES.
IF WE HAVE TO USE SCARVES OR
TAKE SHEETS AND CUT THEM UP AND
MAKE MASKS OUT OF THEM, WE'LL DO
THAT.
>> LAST WEEK UW HEALTH SENT OUT
A CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS TO SEW
MASKS, BUT HAVE SINCE PULLED
THAT BACK SAYING THEY STARTED TO
WORK WITH MANUFACTURERS WHO CAN
PRODUCE MASKS THAT MEET THE
REQUIREMENTS NECESSARY FOR THE
PROTECTION OF OUR HEALTH CARE
WORK WITHERS.
A DIFFERENT URGENT CALL FOR A
SHORTAGE OF FACE SHIELDS WAS
ANSWERED BY LENNON ROGERS,
DIRECTOR OF GRAINGER INNOVATION
LAB.
>> I ASKED MY WIFE, I GOT THIS
EMAIL AND KIND OF THROUGH THAT
CONVERSATION I REALIZED IT
ACTUALLY IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT
ISSUE.
>> ROGERS RAN OUT TO THE
HARDWARE STORE THAT NIGHT AND
CREATED A FACE SHIELD PROTOTYPE
AT THEIR MAKERSPACE.
IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS HE'S
CONNECTED WITH MANUFACTURERS AND
SUPPLY CHAINS TO WORK ON
MANUFACTURE OF FACE SHIELDS.
>> WE'VE HAD IT ON OUR WEBSITE
FOR THE LAST FIVE DAYS AND WE
HAVE MILLIONS.
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN REQUESTING
MILLIONS OF THEM.
>> MANY ARE PUSHING TO CONVERT
MANUFACTURING LINES TO START
MAKING PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT AS THE WAIT FROM THE
FEDERAL STOCKPILE DRAGS ON.
FOR THOSE ON THE FRONT LINE,
IT'S ABOUT PREVENTING EXPOSURE.
>> WE'RE PROTECTING OURSELVES,
OUR PATIENTS, THE COMMUNITY.
IF IT COMES AS A TSUNAMI, WE'LL
DO OUR VERY BEST.
>> FOR "HERE AND