Community members help SWFL nurse get PPE to fellow hospital workers

Nurses at a Southwest Florida hospital now have caps for their heads and hair. It’s all thanks to a fellow nurse, who turned to social media to see if anyone knew how to sew and make caps.

We spoke to nurse Rae Ann Burman Monday who made it her mission to enlist community members to help make personal protective equipment for co-workers at Gulf Coast Medical Center in south Fort Myers.

Burman works on the front lines with the COVID-19 unit at the medical center. The nurse noticed the community answering the call and making masks for health care workers.

“We have all the PPE. But, when I went to work, I realized we didn’t have caps,” Burman said.

So she put this request out on Facebook, asking anyone who could sew to make caps.

“It was really neat the response I got within 24 hours,” Burman said. “Ladies were taking all the materials they had in their houses and just making caps.”

So far, Burman estimates they’ve made more than 100 of them, with more continuing to come in.

“It’s safety. Not only is it safe, it covers my hair. So, when I come home, I can shower instead of being exposed, but it boosts morale not only for employees but for patients,” Burman said. “It’s nice to know there is a human being out there and not just a space suit coming in.”

Burman says the community has stepped up considerably to get health care workers all the different types of personal protective equipment they need.

“I’m just very touched how people want to do something to help us, the health care workers,” Burman said.

And that help continues in the form of fabric donations, caps and masks. Anyone who is interested in helping the continued need can contact Burman directly at rblegend@aol.com.

“It’s very important that the community comes together because that is how we’re going to get through this,” Burman said.