UNC Health and WakeMed seeking masks, medical supplies. Here’s how you can help
UNC Health and WakeMed are seeking the public’s help in securing medical supplies to protect health care workers as they try to care for people infected by the novel coronavirus.
As of Sunday night, there are at least 303 cases of the virus in North Carolina, and the numbers are expected to continue to increase exponentially as testing ramps up.
Both hospitals currently have enough supplies to meet the current demand, but they are conserving supplies to meet the future demand.
“If you look at the experiences in New York, California and Washington, we have seen what they have gone through and we need to be as prepared as we possibly can be in case that becomes a reality,” said Dr. Chris DeRienzo, WakeMed’s health system chief medical officer.
Some local organizations have already begun to donate supplies. Cary based Epic Games delivered 2,000 N95 masks on Wednesday to UNC Health. Clancy & Theys Construction Company of Raleigh delivered about 100 N95 masks on Thursday.
UNC Health and WakeMed’s most urgent needs include:
▪ N95 masks
▪ Surgical masks
▪ Surgical masks with shield
▪ Nasal swabs for medical use.
WakeMed will not take handmade masks. DeRienzo said they are focused on ensuring that they have equipment that has been proven to be safe and effective for their health care workers.
UNC Health will accept handmade masks.
Other needs include:
▪ Disinfectant
▪ Eye protection, including safety goggles/glasses
▪ Face shield
▪ Gloves, disposable
▪ Gowns, disposable
▪ Hand sanitizer, greater than 60% alcohol
▪ Hand soap
▪ Shoe covers, disposable
“These are unprecedented times,” DeRienzo said. “When we look forward, we have had more time than other states in the US to try to prepare our PPE supply which is potentially an enormous demand.
How to donate to WakeMed
Anyone with unopened supplies that may be useful in the response effort are urged to email WakeMed at info@wakemed.org with details regarding available items. Due to high volume, all individuals and organizations that email will be contacted within 24-48 hours regarding the items and the process for making the donation. Please note that only new, unopened packages of supplies will be accepted. WakeMed is not accepting handmade items.
In addition, 100 percent of monetary donations to the WakeMed Foundation’s COVID-19 response will go directly to urgent initiatives. More information can be found at www.wakemed.org/covid-19-donation-page.
UNC Health drop off locations
UNC Health Learning Street
2001 Carrington Mill Blvd
Morrisville, NC 27560
March 23; Noon – 4 p.m.
March 24-27; 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
UNC Wellness Center at Meadowmont
100 Sprunt Street Chapel Hill, N.C. 27517
March 23 – March 28, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
UNC Wellness Center at Northwest Cary
350 Stonecroft Lane Cary, North Carolina 27519
March 23 – March 28, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Rex Wellness Center of Raleigh
4200 Lake Boone Trail Raleigh, NC 27607
March 23 – Friday, March 27, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
This story was originally published March 22, 2020 at 4:41 PM.
