Today in social media land, nurses state that they are being told to not use PPE for MRSA and VRE and other contact precaution patient care situations. I think we all know the dire implications around this.

Some are claiming that in other countries they have contacted nurses and doctors who do have access to adequate PPE.

Additionally, many are discussing at what point do you refuse to work because you don’t have proper PPE, or any PPE at all. Some nurses are grateful to be working and still have an income, others are worried and exhausted, some haven’t seen their kids or family in a week out of fear of exposing them to COVID19.

There are private companies that are helping hospitals and healthcare systems access more PPE for their needs. A former state legislator from Maine, Diane Russell, has been working as a broker to help state legislators from Massachusetts to procure PPE. So, instead of the federal government helping to ensure that the people on the front lines are protected, states and healthcare systems are having to turn to private organizations for assistance in just finding PPE: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/03/21/metro/message-maine-massachusetts-yields-much-needed-medical-supplies/?  I do not know much about the company, I don’t know if the pricing is fair, but I do know they are able to provide many with PPE. https://noblemedicalsupply.com/products

It’s still early on the east coast, but I am not expecting the president to take action on the Defense Production Act today. I implore you to do the grassroots things and contact our representatives.

Be direct and clear; state your name, where you live, your contact information, your profession, and that you are asking them to ensure that the federal government takes action on the Defense Production Act so that healthcare workers have access to Personal Protective Equipment and patients have access to ventilators.

I suggest both phone and email messaging. I suggest leaving messages with the president’s office, and each of your representative federal lawmakers. It took me about 30 minutes to organize myself, write out my message, and both call and email the president, my governor, my federal legislators.

The full list of how to contact all of your federal and state lawmakers is found here on this main landing page: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials

This link takes you to your house of representatives legislator and provides phone and email contacts: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

This link takes you to the senator’s contact information: https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

It’s also important to contact your state government and aks them to request that the federal government take action. You can find your state government links here: https://www.congress.gov/state-legislature-websites and also from the main landing page, including your governor’s information.

*Thanks to those of you who dialogued and posted yesterday, though I haven’t had the energy to respond. I am trying to take good care of myself, as I still have a sore throat, headache, runny nose, body aches, no fever. All of the symptom checkers say it’s not COVID19. I wish you all wellness and peace.