PPE shortage, will we ever learn?

Whenarewethere · Guru

PPE shortage, will we ever learn?

the rocket · Guru

Whenarewethere wrote:
PPE shortage. I thought half the reason for the initial lockdown was so the country could get on top of supply issues. Nothing has changed, back to square one. Just wonder if we will ever learn. Doubt it!

https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-11/victorian-hospitals-and-aged-care-still-cannot-access-ppe/12445318

'Staff from hospitals, aged care and disability are reporting ongoing shortages of personal protective equipment at work'

Thought by now there would b heaps of stock. Unbelievable.

Tony Bev · Guru

It looks to me, like some places with cases of Coronavirus, are recommending that people wear masks, if they cannot keep to the recommended distance

The authorities obviously realise, that there are not enough medical type masks, as they are recommending (to the public) to buy, or make your own cloth mask

If masks become the new normal, I will go the cloth type route, to ensure there is enough medical masks, for the medical people

msg · Guru

You would think so Rocket.

Tony, as ever I think you missed the point again.

Tony Bev · Guru

msg wrote:
You would think so Rocket.

Tony, as ever I think you missed the point again.

Hi msg

In my opinion, so I could be wrong, (and I may have even missed the point), the only reason for the lock down, was to eliminate the Coronavirus in Australia

I am sure that I read, when government realised that there was a shortage of medical masks

They had somewhere local, increase their output from around 2 million, to about 50 million, medical masks a year

What we have to remember is, medical people need much more than one mask, each shift

Long before the Coronavirus hit us, I saw medical people throw their mask in a bin, when they went for smoko, rest breaks, etc, then grab another mask, something to do with stopping cross infection

On the assumption that we make these 50 million medical masks each year, this means that there will be 4 masks each year, for each one of us, here in Australia

So I will stick to my guns, if wearing a mask becomes the new normal, I do not believe that any country, with the leaders we have at present, will be able to make enough medical masks, for each person

I will therefore beg, borrow, buy, or steal, a cloth mask, so that the medical people can have the medical masks

Tony Bev · Guru

As a bit of trying to balance (probably mine) view, on how articles from surfing the net, are interpreted

The previous article, (were I probably missed the point), claimed that there was a shortage of medical PPE

I will take two copy and paste, from the previous article,

A survey of 500 healthcare workers across Australia by law firm Slater and Gordon found half were experiencing shortages of PPE, making them stressed and anxious.

And also

If a worker suffers long-term health impacts after contracting the virus at work, they might be entitled to financial support for their permanent injury, and in some circumstances, an employer could be found to be negligent if adequate PPE hadn't been provided."

I make no comment, and not even give my opinion, on why would a law firm would be making such a survey, and/or giving their opinion, on health matters

Link to original article (yesterday 11/7/2020) below

https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-11/victorian-hospitals-and-aged-care-still-cannot-access-ppe/12445318

Link to the snip below, from a live update from the same newspaper, (today 12/7/2020) is below

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-12/coronavirus-australia-live-news-covid-19-latest-victoria/12446142

I point out that Professor Brett Sutton, is the main health officer for Victoria

PPE shortage.png

Whenarewethere · Guru

Other half was at the doctor a week ago to get new script for blood pressure medication & short check up. When booking the appointment she was asked to bring her own mask in as they have a shortage.

Her doctor noticed that she was using her own mask & thanked her very much for doing so.

Tony Bev · Guru

Hi Whenarewethere

I have no idea which state/region you are in

I picked up on this news item, and I am not sure, if a doctors surgery/room is classed as primary health

Although my gut feeling is (without proof), that our leaders are aware of any/all medical shortages

I am fairly sure that medical grade masks, are a one off use, and that there will never be enough for the general public

I will assume that if/when we are told to wear a mask, outside our home, it will have to be a washable cloth one

I know that I make a lot of assumptions, but it is based on what I see, when surfing the net

PPE shortage.png

Link below in a news update today

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-13/coronavirus-australia-live-news-covid-19-latest/12447528

Whenarewethere · Guru

Manly was once 'seven miles from Sydney and a thousand miles from care'. That's gone out the window a long time ago, starting to notice empty shops for lease. Restaurants etc still closed. The day jobkeeper finishes they will liquidate, as they are zombie businesses, no tourists to keep them going.

Sorry getting off the topic.

As far as I am aware the national stockpile of PPE is available for hospitals & other publicly run services. Doctors surgeries are privately run so they have to source their own PPE.

dogbox · Guru

5 million masks wouldn't last long if we used one mask per person per day !

Possum3 · Guru

Bunning's sell PSA P2 masks www.lifehacker.com.au/2020/01/psa-p2-masks-used-for-bushfire-smoke-work-against-coronavirus-too/

Whenarewethere · Guru

You can use any mask, P2 are better than P1. Have been to the blue shed many times for various things & always wander past the Mask & safety gear section. Have not seen any masks since February.

Possum3 · Guru

Whenarewethere wrote:
You can use any mask, P2 are better than P1. Have been to the blue shed many times for various things & always wander past the Mask & safety gear section. Have not seen any masks since February.

P2 actually rated against Corona Virus/s . Try; Totally Workwear, RSEA, Workscene, Safety Depot.

Whenarewethere · Guru

We are ok, firstly avoiding everyone as much as we can & I have plenty of P1 activated carbon masks which are much thicker than the standard P2 masks.

Also have a face shield. If needed I can put on my respirator with a pair of activated carbon filters.

Used them for spraying paint & to avoid breathing solvents.

Whenarewethere · Guru

dogbox wrote:
5 million masks wouldn't last long if we used one mask per person per day !

1 per patient interaction is the standard.