Tell HN: Support your health care providers

for many of us in areas of emerging outbreaks (seattle, NYC, bay area, many european countries), the next wave of the virus will be a complete overwhelming of healthcare workers. depending on the region, this is a few weeks, or a few days, from happening.

please make efforts to support your healthcare providers at this time. in italy, 9% of all diagnosed cases are healthcare workers [0]

If you have access to protective equipment (PPE) -- N95 masks, gloves, gowns, face shields, etc -- or ventilators or other breathing devices, please consider donating them to your local hospital. if you are sheltering in place, the likelihood that this equipment benefits you is low. the likelihood it benefits healthcare providers and the patients they treat is 100%

even now, hospitals in regions with few cases are overwhelmed and short of equipment [1]. some have only a week of inventory, even with single-digit cases [2].

in the next few weeks doctors and nurses around the world will work round the clock, be exposed to very high levels of a deadly virus, have to decide who lives and who dies, watch their colleagues get sick, be exposed to a lot of death, uncertainty, pressure, etc. please support them

im not an expert but based on conversations with drs, below are a few recommendations. if you are a physician or have talked to physicians treating these patients, please add your suggestions

what can help:

* STAY HOME and get your friends to stay home * if you have stockpiled protective equipment please CONSIDER DONATING them to your healthcare providers * if you know physicians, call them and see what you can do to help. make them dinner. order groceries for them. offer to take care of their kids. etc

[0] https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2763401

[1] https://www.livescience.com/coronavirus-n95-mask-shortage.html

[2] https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/rosalindadams/a-top-cancer-hospital-faces-mask-shortages-as-covid-19