Fixing the PPE Problem Together
We are all aware of the critical global shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for those on the front lines of the COVID-19 outbreak, our healthcare workers. Many companies, large and small, have been looking at their businesses and its resources in order to find ways to repurpose their infrastructure to produce PPE. Others have been looking at their existing PPE inventories to identify surplus supplies they can offer to the national pool. But these anecdotal efforts not only lack coordination but are simply insufficient to meet the growing need. In an effort to address these issues we launched the group PPExchange on Friday (bit.ly/ppexchange).
Last week we learned that Fanatics, the company that makes MLB baseball jerseys, announced that they're now making gowns and masks from their jersey material (https://bit.ly/2JmzEoS). Another innovative example comes from the “maker" community, where some have been making face masks with their 3D printers and the community at large has been urged into PPE production (https://n.pr/2xwV4NG). These efforts are the kinds of "Greatest Generation" ingenuity we need during this crisis, but we need so much more to meet this critical need. However, there are FDA guidelines to consider and such an effort needs to be managed so that it helps rather than adding to the chaos.
Someone with a 3D printer can't simply start making face shields for their local hospital because PPE must meet FDA guidelines for materials and specifications before PPE can be used in certain environments. One of the goals of this group is to ensure that the gear that is being made is truly protective but also to access the untapped PPE inventories that must exist in the United States.
Creativity requires out of the box thinking so, for example, all of the safety managers out there should be looking at their inventories to see how much of their PPE could be sent to where it's needed. Then come back to PPExchange and post what you have. Someone with the need will see your posting so you can coordinate the transaction directly. We have partnered with a logistics software provider (lumatrak.com) to manage the movement and visibility of PPE should volume reach the tipping point we are hoping for.
You may already be in a position to help without realizing it so here is a list of likely sources of "pent-up" PPE that can be tapped immediately. Please join the PPExchange if you or someone you know is similar to any of the following:
- Companies whose facilities include an infirmary.
- Manufacturing operations using chemicals in their process that requires PPE, especially if now closed or on reduced shifts because of COVID-19.
- Breweries, distilleries, chemical companies, and others that could manufacture hand sanitizing solutions.
- Commercial kitchens/food prep operations that maintain PPE inventories for line workers.
- Non-essential medical clinics that are now closed to limit the virus such as shot nurses, testosterone replacement clinics, medical weight loss, tattoo parlors, laser hair removal/electrolysis salons, skin care/medical aesthetics clinics, etc.
- Companies with a safety team that maintains an inventory of PPE.
- Fabric manufacturers, distributors, and retailers.
- Apparel manufacturers, cut & sew shops, etc.
- Schools, gyms, day care centers, etc. that have PPE but have been ordered to close to mitigate the spread of the virus.
The list above is not intended to be complete but rather intended to help you get creative in thinking about how we can meet this demand. The PPExchange group is set as a closed group so we can ensure the appropriate group membership, without suspicious solicitations, price gouging, and free of those that are just trying to make a fast buck from this crisis. We are “Stronger Together†and far more creative collectively than individually so please join PPExchange today and share this article with everyone, yes everyone.