Mike Halerpin and healthcare worker Blanca Velez. Photo: GogglesForDocs
As you may or may not be aware, medical equipment has become extremely scarce in areas of the country where the Coronavirus has hit hardest – places like New York and New Orleans. Ventilators are scarce. Masks are scarce. Even eye protection for doctors and medical workers is hard to find.
That’s why a group called GogglesForDocs is working to collect new and used ski and snowboard goggles to be used as eye protection for medical workers fighting the pandemic. The idea sprang from the head Mike Halperin, an emergency physician at two Bronx hospitals. He learned to ski in Steamboat Springs, Colo. and placed a call to his aunt who lives there to see if he could get goggles to use in the crisis as supplies are dwindling (eye protection is important when placing tubes down patients throats to place them on ventilators). He created a share system whereby hospitals can add themselves to a master list and GogglesForDocs was born.
“Goggles For Docs is a way for the ski and snowboard world to give to the Healthcare Workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis,” reads the organization’s website. “We can be part of the solution. All they need are your goggles. In many cases, the healthcare workers on the front lines have no eye protection.”
As the CDC states, COVID-19 is being spread through the nose, mouth, and even the eyes. GFD is simply asking people to go to the site and follow the directions to overnight their goggles for donation (they really need this equipment fast). The testimonials from healthcare workers around the country are fairly telling. “We have 31 ED residents at our hospital,” reads one. “Supplies are scarce and we can use all the help we can get.”
“We as anesthesia providers are at the front lines of managing patients with COVID-19,” reads another. “We are called to place breathing tubes and are in the airway and directly exposed to this virus many times every day. Please help us stay safe.”
GFD isn’t picky, again, they’re looking for new or used goggles, tinted or clear lenses (“Tinted lenses are better than a Covid cough to the face”). Anything you can do helps.
Visit GogglesForDocs for more information.
