During this COVID-19 pandemic and the disruption that it has caused, we want to take a moment to recognize our healthcare care workers across the nation. These hard-working heroes work tirelessly to help provide safety and well-being in our communities, sometimes at great sacrifice to themselves, and they deserve our recognition and gratitude.
Your Sacrifice
During this quarantine period, many families are spending more time together and everyone is focusing on keeping themselves and those close to them safe. During this crisis, we recognize that you are still working and sacrificing time with those close to you more than you normally do. We understand that during this time of increased risk, you are continuing to go out and provide your patients with the best care possible, sometimes without the necessary protective equipment to keep you from getting infected. We appreciate your selflessness and sacrifice to keep us safe and healthy.
Your Skill
We want to thank you for the time and effort that you have invested into continuing your education and maintaining knowledge in your fields. Many of you have spent years or even decades in training for your positions and spend countless hours each month increasing your level of knowledge and understanding of how to care for patients under any conditions. We appreciate your preparation for worst case scenarios and trust you to take care of us and our loved ones.
Your Care
The one thing that most separates you from all other professions is the care that you display every day to your patients. During this unusual and sometimes frightening time, having caring professionals supporting our health and working on the front lines reassures us and helps us to know that we are cared for. Your care encourages us and helps us to feel safe at a time when it means the most to us.
What We Can Do To Help
As healthcare workers stay on the front lines to help ensure our safety and health, there are some easy steps that we can take to help ensure their safety and encourage them in a difficult time. Showing our appreciation and making a meaningful difference is not difficult, and anyone can be a help and support to our healthcare workers.
Slow the Spread
While seemingly simple, following the social distancing instructions of experts and leaders in our communities can help to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Avoid going out into public places or being around groups of people unnecessarily. While in public, try to keep a six-foot distance from others, and be sure to wash your hands frequently. Avoid unnecessary physical contact and refrain from shaking hands. Following these basic guidelines reduces the number of sick people seeking treatment at the hospitals, which, in turn, reduces the risk to our healthcare workers.
Donating Personal Protective Equipment
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as masks, gloves, and N95 respirators, are an essential tool in helping to prevent infection. While most will rarely, if ever, need PPE in the course of their daily lives, healthcare workers are facing shortages and need these vital resources to protect themselves while treating patients with coronavirus infections. Individuals, and especially businesses, with PPE stockpiles of any kind should consider donating their supplies to hospitals and front line workers. You can drop your supplies off at any hospital or reach out to a healthcare worker that you know to make a donation. Even a small donation of PPE could make a significant difference in the lives of healthcare workers and their families.
Say Thank You
While we can follow social distancing guidelines and donate PPE, one of the best ways to help healthcare providers during this COVID-19 pandemic is to simply tell them thank you for the work they are doing and recognize the difference they are making. As they sacrifice to keep us safe and healthy, our appreciation and encouragement can certainly make a difference to them.
To all of our healthcare workers, thank you for all that you do and for the sacrifices you make for us each day. We want you to know that during these tumultuous times, your efforts make all the difference.
