When first responders reported last week to the Life Care Center in Kirkland WA, they found an understaffed facility with inadequate gear attempting to serve dozens of patients vulnerable to catching the virus, a first responder familiar with the situation tells me. 1/
2/ There were only 3 staff members at Life Care Center Tuesday night/Wednesday morning for about 90 residents, the first responder tells me.
Neither the King County Health Department nor CDC sent personnel Thursday to provide assistance -- though they have since.
Neither the King County Health Department nor CDC sent personnel Thursday to provide assistance -- though they have since.
3/ Moreover, first responders were concerned that Life Care Center staff members were NOT wearing appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment) to handle the high number of patients with probable coronavirus.
4/ And: first responders had been told NOT to use positive pressure bag valve masks to ventilate potential coronavirus patients because they can disperse more particulate into the air, the responder said.
Yet the Life Care Center staffers were using those masks.
Yet the Life Care Center staffers were using those masks.
