EMA seeking equipment donations

Individuals or businesses with unopened personal protective equipment, such as face masks and medical gloves, are encouraged to donate them to the Jasper County Emergency Management Agency (EMA).

Other items Jasper County EMA is looking for include: N95 masks, hand sanitizer, isopropyl alcohol at 70 percent concentration, eye protection and isolation gowns.

Many of these items can be commonly found at salons, dental offices or eye clinics. If those businesses or facilities are not operating or are seeing patients and clients at a reduced schedule, EMA asked they consider donating items.

Equipment drop-offs should be scheduled with personnel at Jasper County EMA, 1030 W. Second St. S., or by calling 641-841-1180. Drop-offs will be held between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays by appointments only.

Josh Harding, program coordinator of Jasper County EMA, said there is a nationwide shortage of personal protective equipment. Agencies and institutions are experiencing difficulties acquiring such items through usual channels.

The local emergency management center is working with the state and has also placed orders to acquire much needed equipment to support first responders and the hospital “to ensure they can continue to provide services,” Harding said.

Shortages in medical equipment have caused problems for several health care professionals across the country for some time. Lack of proper equipment is “imperiling the ability of medical workers,” The New York Times has reported.

On Monday, local health officials confirmed the first positive case of the novel coronavirus in Jasper County. Becky Pryor, Jasper County Health Department Administrator, encouraged all resident to continue making prevention a priority.

That same day, Newton Clinic, 300 N. Fourth Ave. E., opened a fever and respiratory pop-up clinic in its parking lot. Patients with a fever or flu-like or respiratory symptoms will be able to use this temporary clinic.

Medical providers in the pop-up clinic are equipped with a limited number of COVID-19 tests.

Danielle Rogers, public information officer of the Jasper County Emergency Operations Center and community marketing manager of City of Newton, said the EMA is accepting donations “for the foreseeable future.”

“If we are unable to answer, please leave a message and we will return your call to set up an appointment to drop off the items,” Rogers said.

Jasper County EMA has created a county-wide landing page with information resources and updates for COVID-19 at www.jasperema-hls.org/jasper-disaster/.

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com