We need a sustainable PPE strategy!

NYSNA nurses joined with healthcare workers and NYC Public Advocate, Jumaane Williams, outside The Brooklyn Hospital Center to highlight the safety net hospital’s new pilot program of reusable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for its frontline staff.

Reusable PPE such as Elastomeric Filtering Facepiece Respirators (EFFRs) and Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) will save money and save lives, providing a greater level of protection for healthcare workers than disposable N95s.

The coalition, which also includes the Doctors Council, CIR-SEIU and COVID Courage, sent a letter to Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio, urging them to develop state- and city-level procurement initiatives to partially replace N95s with sustainable, reusable PPE.

During the first surge of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York, the short supply of N95s and lack of coordination in getting PPE to the frontlines cost lives. As we continue to battle this pandemic, the need for a better plan — and better PPE alternatives — is clear and immediate.

Learn more in our letter to elected officials and contact healthandsafety@nysna.org to learn more about how to bring EFFRs and PAPRs to your facility.