As the public begins to rely on fewer personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks, many people may wonder what they should do with all the extra supplies they have around their homes. Luckily, many of those items are still perfectly usable and can help patients and medical professionals.
Not everything is suitable for donating, but here’s what to know about donating masks and other PPE items so that you can help hardworking medical staff members get the supplies they need without worrying about running out or spending too much.
Before You Donate
As you prepare for donation, ensure you check what the organization needs ahead of time. Knowing what kind of donation you can partake in, what you can and can’t donate, and who’s in dire need is essential. While collecting the supplies, ensure the PPE items are in the manufacturer’s original packaging, unopened, and untampered with.
You can contact the facility you wish to donate to and see what they need the most. Whether it’s surgical masks or protective gloves, make sure you have the required supplies.
Items You Can Donate
Understanding what to know about donating masks and other PPE items is essential to provide a facility with proper supplies. Some donatable items include:
- N95 and KN95 masks
- General surgical masks
- Eye protectors and face shields
- Disposable nitrile and vinyl gloves
- Surgical and isolation gowns
- Shoe covers
- Hand sanitizer
- Thermometers
- Testing swabs and alcohol wipes
- Ventilators and accessories
Most facilities will gladly accept the personal protective equipment items listed here. Once you’ve readied your supplies, contact your local government state officials, or search online to find the most convenient and practical place to drop off these items.
Where To Donate
As for donation locations, it comes down to what is the closest and what local facilities need most. Luckily, many states accept donations through their direct government websites and can distribute them for you. You can look online to find partner organization locations to make American Red Cross donations and contributions to other charitable medical organizations. Additionally, you can contact local schools, firehouses, police stations, and other state organizations that need help.
All those medical PPE supplies you’re holding onto aren’t doing any good if you aren’t using them yourself. With a little bit of effort, those extra supplies can go on to help many people, so we hope you’ll consider donating them if you aren’t actively using them yourself.
