For Immediate Release – March 23, 2020
SafeCare BC, with the support of partner organizations—BC Care Providers Association, Big Steel Box, City of Vancouver and City of Surrey—is launching Operation Protect to ensure critically needed personal protective equipment and medical supplies, such as gloves, masks, and hand sanitizer are available for health care workers.
We are hearing daily from long-term care homes, assisted living residences, and home care operators, because they are critically low of these supplies when they are most needed. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an increased use of supplies like gloves, masks, and hand sanitizer and interrupted manufacturing and supply networks.
Health care workers are the heroes in our communities, providing care to the most vulnerable in our society, including our elders and those with critical health issues. They are doing this while facing unprecedented challenges. They need our support.
We know that British Columbians want to contribute and support efforts to contain COVID-19. That’s why we’ve launched Operation Protect and are urgently asking individuals and organizations who have access to unused and unopened personal protective equipment or medical supplies, such as gloves, masks, gowns, eye protection, hand sanitizer and hospital-grade disinfectant wipes to donate them for use by health care workers.
We are asking people to go to www.safecarebc.ca/operationprotect to learn the exact supplies that are needed and how they can donate. BC Care Providers Association is also rerouting their Route 65 toll-free number—1-877-955-6565—to help with this effort.
“Every day, our member organizations are telling us they are in urgent need of these supplies to stay safe and ensure safe, quality care for our seniors who depend on them,” says Jen Lyle, CEO, SafeCare BC. “We’re calling on everyone to give a hand—donate your extra hand sanitizer, gloves, and masks. It’ll take you 30 seconds, and it will help save lives.”
SafeCare BC appreciates the support of BC Care Providers Association, Big Steel Box, City of Vancouver and City of Surrey in this initiative. SafeCare BC is also seeking community partners to facilitate donation pick-ups – for example, moving companies, delivery drivers, or courier companies.
“During these times when British Columbians are pulling together to battle COVID-19, we are making an extraordinary public appeal to support our health care workers by accessing existing supplies of personal protective equipment that belong to individuals and business operators,” says Daniel Fontaine, CEO, BC Care Providers Association. “Through these contributions of unopened and unused safety masks, gloves or hand sanitizer, you will help protect people working on the front-line fighting the coronavirus, as well as save the lives of our vulnerable seniors. We cannot thank everyone enough for contributing to Operation Protect.”
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About SafeCare BC
SafeCare BC is the health and safety association for BC’s continuing care sector, whose 864 member organizations, employ 28,000 workers.
Media contact
Ken Donohue
Director, Communications and Member Services, SafeCare BC
kdonohue@safecarebc.ca
604-785-5890
www.safecarebc.ca
