Wegmans recently donated 110 reusable N100 respirator masks to help Gates Volunteer Ambulance Services, Inc. (GVAS) update and expand its Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to a shortage of PPE supplies, including N95 masks, GVAS has had to send out the N95 disposable masks to be cleaned. This is due to worldwide supply shortages and the frequency of usage on a daily basis. Assistant Chief Dan DiSalvo noted that “on average, each person working a 12-hour day will use seven to eight masks.”
The donated N100 respirators provide a better level of protection than the traditional N95 masks and greatly reduce the dependence on the difficult-to-purchase disposable N95 masks. Each member will be assigned their own mask, which they can clean and maintain. It provides the user with an effective seal and allows repeated use.
Assistant Chief Dan DiSalvo said, “GVAS could not move to this improved level of protection on our own without assistance. With Wegmans’ support, we can deliver the best care possible and ensure our providers are safe as possible doing so.”
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