GOSHEN, MA – It may have taken an M1083 Standard Cargo Truck from the MA Army National Guard’s 1166th Transportation Unit out of Worcester to deliver, but the Goshen Fire Department will now be fully protected during any upcoming COVID-19 pandemic response.
Thanks to the efforts of Larry Holmberg, Goshen’s Emergency Management Director, two deliveries of personal protective equipment (PPE) arrived at the Goshen fire station this week. The PPE, which will be shared with the Goshen and Chesterfield Police departments, consisted of 100 surgical masks, 10 digital thermometers, 100 coveralls (25 large, 25 XL, 25 2XL and 25 3XL), 50 shoe covers, 40 face shields, 40 goggles, and 48 bottles of hand sanitizer.
With the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic expected to hit our state in less than two weeks, the arrival of these supplies couldn’t have come at a better time. Securing this equipment through normal channels would have taken approximately 6-8 weeks. Coordinating with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, the equipment was located and delivered in much less time.
Prior to the delivery, local residents Roxanne Cunningham of Goshen and Denise Leduc of Chesterfield, were able to supply the fire department with over 40 hand made cloth masks. These masks are intended to be placed over our N95 masks during a response that involves a patient suspected of having the COVID-19 virus. After use, the cloth masks can be sterilized and used again.
The cabinets in Goshen Rescue 1 are now fully stocked with gloves, masks, coveralls and booty’s.
