Helping keep health professionals safe

BARRHEAD-A group of Barrhead sewers are doing what they can to protect front line healthcare workers from the coronavirus.
At the start of April started creating cotton bags so that healthcare workers could put their work uniforms into and then put the entire bag straight into the washing machine and not have to risk other members of their household.

Barrhead resident Marcia Moon, who heads the local group of what is now about 35 sewers, said got the idea from a friend of hers in Westlock, Darlene Rowe, who was making the bags for a facility in her community.

"Healthcare workers, from doctors, nurses to cleaning and food services staff are being advised that they should change their clothing before going home from a work shift and these cotton bags help prevent any potential contamination from spreading," she said.

Shortly after beginning, the project Moon learned about another group based in Neerlandia under the leadership of Hendrene Fisher. The two groups decided to consolidate their efforts under the new banner of the "Barrhead/Neerlandia Scrub Bag Project".

Since then the group have created more than 500 bags and have have been distributed to local facilities such as Barrhead Continuing Care, Shepherds Care, Barrhead Clinic and the Barrhead Healthcare Centre.

Through the project's Neerlandia contacts the bags have been distributed to Associated Ambulance Services out of Whitecourt. Each recipient receives two bags, one for bringing their uniforms to work and one for the return trip. The group's work has also started gathering attention from similar groups, such a one from Alcomdale, in Sturgeon County, that asked the Barrhead/Neerlandia group to find good homes for 235 bags.

As for the bags themselves, they measure 20 X 22 inches and have a drawstring at the top. The preferred material is cotton, as the material is machine-washable as well as durable. Materials sewers use range from leftover quilting patches, to sheets and pillowcases.

"Almost any material can be co-opted," Moon said.

She added the quality of construction is an important feature to consider when making the bags as they get a lot of use.

"They also have to be constructed to deal with heavier and bulkier uniforms that ambulance attendants wear," Moon said, noting traditional medical scrubs are made from fairly lightweight material.

Moon said they have made bags for all the local area healthcare facilities and as far as she knows, they don't need anymore, including those in Westlock, but that doesn't mean the group plans to stop making the bags anytime soon, noting they are looking to help medical professionals further afield saying she has contacted healthcare facilities in larger centres, such as Edmonton because as the longer the COVID-19 crisis goes on, other volunteer groups making similar bags may find it hard to continue.

For more information about the Barrhead/Neerlandia Scrub Bag Project or if you know of a healthcare professional or facility in need of the bags contact Moon at 780-674-7922 or e-mail at [email protected].

Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com

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