{"id":4981,"date":"2020-03-30T07:00:54","date_gmt":"2020-03-30T12:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/totscouting.org\/how-the-scouting-community-can-donate-medical-gear-to-hospitals-in-covid-19-fight\/"},"modified":"2020-03-30T07:00:54","modified_gmt":"2020-03-30T12:00:54","slug":"how-the-scouting-community-can-donate-medical-gear-to-hospitals-in-covid-19-fight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/totscouting.org\/how-the-scouting-community-can-donate-medical-gear-to-hospitals-in-covid-19-fight\/","title":{"rendered":"How the Scouting community can donate medical gear to hospitals in COVID-19 fight"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In the first World War, Scouts helped collect black walnut wood needed to make airplane propellers.<\/p>\n

In World War II, they scoured attics, basements and garages for “rubber, small iron and steel scrap, light metals and other materials needed for the war effort,” according to the July 1942 issue of Scouting<\/em> magazine.<\/p>\n

And now, in 2020, it’s time for Scouts to help fight a different kind of war.<\/p>\n

Medical officials are calling on Americans to collect new or unused face masks, eye protection, gowns, gloves and other potentially lifesaving equipment for workers on the front lines of fighting the coronavirus. And Scouts can help in this effort.<\/p>\n

“Almost every hospital has extreme shortages,” says Dr. Stef Simmons, an emergency medicine physician living in Ann Arbor, Mich. “We are working diligently on procurement and innovation, and some businesses are retooling to produce supplies, but it would be immensely helpful to mobilize any community supplies to the hospital.”<\/p>\n

What is needed<\/h2>\n

When trying to determine the need in your community, “Scouts looking to make and provide personal protective equipment should contact local hospitals and whoever runs their local EMS. So, for a lot of areas, that would be the local fire department.” says Peter C. Perez, an Eagle Scout and the Emergency Management Coordinator for the city of Killeen, Texas.<\/p>\n

“I would ask Scouts to get a hold of their local emergency managers and see what needs are out there,” he says. “Emergency managers can also connect them with local area groups who may have supplies and funds but just need the people power.”<\/p>\n

Needs will vary by community, but many facilities are asking for the following:<\/p>\n

New or unused:<\/strong><\/p>\n