Well we are weeks into this COVID-19 Challenge. I’m sure some (if not all) of you are ready to return to “life as we remember it”. We at Sandry Fire Supply have been doing our best to reduce the chance of exposure to this virus. We have technically closed our office, while maintaining a rotation of one person working each day to allow for deliveries, shipments, and office coverage. It seems to have worked well, but many are getting anxious to get back to work.
Personally I have been blessed to have an AWESOME new home office to work from. That and the fact that it is just Bob and I here now, our exposure has been minimal. Bob has kept busy with work on the conference room being built in our new building. Progress is happening! We hope to christen it in June with our Sandry Fire sales meeting and then be ready to celebrate 25 years of Sandry Fire in October. This project has been a good distraction for Bob, but he is anxious to get out and visit with customers again soon.
So, what do we know about COVID-19 as it relates to the fire service? Honestly, not as much as we would like. “We do not know” is the best answer to most of the questions we hear from you. Oh, how we wish we did. But we can share what we do know. There are some options for respiratory protection. But I am not the person to try to present those to you so please reach out to your product specialist and he can set up a zoom meeting with our MSA representative to help give you a much clearer picture.
Sandry Fire does have access to the plastic faceshields, disposable goggles, SCBA cleaning products – Confidence2 liquid, wipe canisters and individual wipes.
I have been doing some research on availability of N95 masks, gowns, etc. and have found some sources. But because these are not products we typically stock the sources are limited. There is a group in Iowa that is working to secure a consolidated purchase. This might be very helpful, but determining the quantity needs is the biggest challenge along with determining what other sources might come available. Then there is the pricing. I have no comments about what is happening with the pricing on some of these items.
If anyone has any needs or requests as we prepare for a possible round 2, please let me know. I am willing to help where I can.
And in the meantime, stay safe everyone!
Mary Sandry