Island Health asks people not to donate homemade masks or other non-medical grade equipment

Island Health asks people not to donate homemade masks or other non-medical grade equipment
Face Mask / Facebook
Homemade face masks are not medical grade, and cannot be used by nurses or doctors at work

Donating homemade masks to front line health care workers might seem like a helpful idea, but Island Health is urging people not to do so.

A spokesperson for Island Health told CHEK News that they’ve had a lot of people offering to sew masks for their health care workers, but that they cannot accept any homemade masks due to safety reasons.

“We have had lots of people reaching out to Island Health offering to sew masks and we’re seeing stuff online,” the spokesperson said, adding. “Our message to them is that while we appreciate the generous offer, Island Health staff require medical-grade personal protective equipment.”

Donations for masks come as posts circulate online about a need for baby monitors at hospitals throughout the Island.

However, Island Health says there is no such shortage of baby monitors.

“If Island Health needs any supplies, we’ll reach out in a bulletin with specific instruction for sanitization, drop off and other requirements,” the spokesperson said. “I think people are coming from a really good place, and wanting to help. We’re thankful for that. But at this time our focus on donated supplies, is medical-grade.”

Nicholas PescodNicholas Pescod

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