Doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, and more are just some of the countless workers in health care on the front line fighting against time to help severely-ill patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the battle wages on to aid numerous patients, so does the need for personal protective equipment (PPE).

Loma Linda University Health (LLUH), a leading teaching hospital in Southern California’s San Bernardino County, have staff working around the clock to ensure the community, in the midst of the pandemic, receives critical medical care. Recently, LLUH’s Adult Hospital Services reached out to the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), requesting aid with getting PPEs.

“Time is life and getting essential workers proper life-saving resources during these unchartered times is critical. The staff at Loma Linda University Health are putting their lives on the line for as many people as possible, but they need to be equipped with reliable gear to continue providing top-notch care,” says Michael Kruger, ADRA’s president. “We are honored that Loma Linda thought of us, and proud to help provide immediate assistance where it’s needed most.”

PPEs may include additional protective clothing such as helmets, goggles, face shields, or other garments that are especially important for health care workers as they reduce employee exposure to hazards or infectious agents, in this case, the coronavirus.

“One often does not recognize the value of a family until a need arises,” says Loma Linda University Health president Richard H. Hart, M.D., DrPH. “This has been the situation for Loma Linda University Health over the past month as we have faced the COVID-19 pandemic with many possibly positive patients arriving to our hospitals and clinics. We are deeply grateful to ADRA, our sister organization in service, for providing a large amount of Personal Protective Equipment to protect our employees during this critical time.”

[Watch Hart’s message to ADRA at https://vimeo.com/410297997/f39004de6b.]

Within 48 hours of LLUH’s request, ADRA was able to ship nearly 45,000 PPEs to LLUH’s supply management unit, complete with N95 masks, isolation gowns, gloves, and more.

“Our highest priority will always be the health and safety of our patients, employees, students and community,” says Rachelle Bussell, M.A., RN, CFRE, senior vice president for advancement. “This gift will help us to provide lifesaving protection — a necessity during one of the most urgent public health crises in generations.”

Getting PPEs still poses a lingering challenge as hospitals in the nation face rationing of medical supplies and PPEs amid the pandemic bringing a surge in requests. In suburban areas, hospitals are reportedly not getting access to PPE stockpiles as fast as inner-city hospitals and PPEs that are ordered take up to at least 25 to 30 working days to be delivered.

As stay-at-home orders remain, the number of people affected increases. As of April, San Bernardino alone has had 72* deaths and more than 1,000* confirmed cases due to the pandemic. Globally, more than 2.6 million people have contracted coronavirus, with the United States ranked number one worldwide with the most confirmed cases at nearly 900,000.*

ADRA is responding on an international effort, providing PPEs and delivering coronavirus relief aid in more than 33 countries. More will be provided on this story as it develops.

*These numbers are likely to change as the pandemic sweeps the globe.

Read more about ADRA’s response to COVID-19 at ADRA.org/coronavirus and/or to show your support, visit ADRA.org/CovidResponse.

Learn more about LLUH’s response to COVID-19 at https://lluh.org/patients-visitors/health-wellness/coronavirus-information-and-updates?rsource=lluh.org/coronavirus.