The Kent State Columbiana County campuses wasted no time reaching out to the Salem and East Liverpool communities to share resources during this COVID-19 crisis.
Within days of shutting the doors on each campus, staff began suggesting ways to donate items to local healthcare providers and other agencies rather than have the items locked away.
The nursing, PTA and OTA programs from the East Liverpool Campus boxed up and donated masks, gowns and gloves that were taken to East Liverpool City Hospital. Patient beds are also marked to be loaned out if needed.
At the beginning of the stay-at-home orders, organizers of the Flash Food Pantry on the East Liverpool Campus gave food items to several students. Since then, the shelves of the pantry were emptied of their stock and all items were donated to The Way Station in East Liverpool. The donation of food filled a pickup and an SUV.
The Salem Campus extended its help to the Salem Regional Medical Center with donations of PPE items from the nursing and rad tech programs, as well as loaning several pieces of medical equipment.
The loaned items included six beds, a stretcher, a ventilator, bedside tables, vital-sign monitors, oximeters, blood pressure cuffs, an EKG machine and a defibrillator. The biology department loaned a UV light AirClean station for sterilization.
Photo 1: These PPE items were donated to East Liverpool City Hospital from the East Liverpool Campus.
Photo 2: Nursing faculty (from left) Sarah Pierce-Brown and Krista Hawkins helped prepare items that were loaned to the Salem Regional Medical Center.