While some of us wake up every day to cope with the coronavirus pandemic while social distancing from our homes. 18 million healthcare workers wake up every day and have to face COVID-19 directly in their place of work. As they bravely do their jobs, they face an unprecedented global emergency, a lack of resources and the fight to save their own lives and the lives of the public. Even throughout the dangers of getting sick, running out of medical supplies, and risking infecting their loved ones. The medical workers are still showing up day after day to overflowing emergency rooms, working tirelessly to save lives. They are the heroes providing coronavirus treatment during this crisis.

Through their continued efforts to stop the spread of the disease. Doctors and Nurses are voicing their concerns. They are arguing that they cannot overlook the risks they are facing, especially when personal protective equipment (PPE) is in such short supply. In China, more than 3,000 doctors were infected. And in Italy, the number of infected healthcare workers is now twice as high. Not only are there severe risks associated with the healthcare profession relating to sickness and the spread of disease, but there is a heightened risk of psychological distress and other mental health problems as well. Healthcare professionals are working tirelessly each and every day. So It is important we acknowledge their heroism and understand their struggles in order to help support them.

Luckily during these trying times there are a number of resources and technologies, like the Silent Beacon wearable panic button that support these essential workers before, during, and after their shifts. 

The Silent Beacon is a tool that can be used to help keep healthcare professionals safe. In addition to connecting to mobile devices and acting as an emergency alert system. Silent Beacon’s Business Solutions portal enables employers to send mass safety alerts to employees and emergency responders. In addition to sending push notifications to individuals’ emergency contacts. For hospitals, physician offices, nurses quarters, or even pop-up clinics, Silent Beacon Business Solutions can allow for easy and accessible communication. Not to mention, with the Silent Beacon’s GPS location services, if a healthcare worker needs to leave their current site, their location can be tracked to ensure that the individual is safe. With Silent Beacon Business Solutions, those whose job it is to keep us safe, can stay safe themselves.

While many healthcare professionals work in teams with many people, several are also working alone, or in one-on-one care situations. For those who work with the elderly, the Silent Beacon wearable panic button is an excellent doctor and nurse safety device to have in case of emergencies. Because of its size, the device can be clipped to a belt loop for easy access. If there were an emergency or if a patient were to fall ill, Silent Beacon could be used to alert emergency contacts. Dialing a phone number can take up precious time. But with Silent Beacon you are able to alert all emergency personnel and send out your GPS location in seconds. For those in the one-on-one healthcare profession, Silent Beacon can be an in-case-of emergency alert system. However, the Silent Beacon can also be an aid to anyone stuck at home during this pandemic.

For those whose lives have changed as a result of coronavirus disease and are now exclusively living and working at home, Silent Beacon can be used to create a support network for families who may be separated during this uncertain time. Especially for families that may be social distancing from an elderly family member who is at a higher risk of dying from coronavirus. It can be frightening to think of them being alone. With Silent Beacon, if your loved one is isolated and needs help, they can simultaneously let emergency responders and their loved ones know. This would provide some needed peace of mind to those who have been separated from their families.

Silent Beacon connects to a smartphone and uses the smartphone’s GPS technology to the location of the wearer in real-time via text, email, and push notifications to people who can help in an emergency. Unlike competing devices, Silent Beacon requires no monthly or hidden fees. Once you purchase this for yourself or a loved one and connect with a smartphone or tablet’s bluetooth. You won’t have to worry about additional fees or setup costs. Silent Beacon is built to last and is water-resistant, UL-certified fire-retardant, and has a reinforced keychain area keeps the device sturdy and safe, while curved indented buttons help reduce false alerts.

One doctor at a major New York City hospital described their working conditions as a petri dish where more than 200 workers had fallen sick. Many doctors and nurses have come to terms with the fact that it is incredibly difficult to keep the disease from spreading. They face a high likelihood that they could contract the virus. Even with all of these risks and fears, health care professionals are showing up every day in order to protect the public. Right now, we as a society need to realize how important it is to keep these healthcare professionals safe. How do you fight a virus, with no doctor? We need to keep our healthcare workers safe and ensure that emergency precautions and procedures are in place.

It can be easy to feel helpless in a time like this. We want to help those who are out there working tirelessly to protect us but how can we help them without putting ourselves at risk of contracting COVID-19? Here are some ways to support healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic according to the nurses themselves:

• Donate whatever medical or protective supplies you have available

• Show healthcare workers support on social media

• Educate yourself on the CDC’s coronavirus safety suggestions

• Don’t take masks or hand-sanitizer from hospitals or any medical workplace

• Don’t hoard food items or supplies. Buy only what you need so others can get what they need too. 

• Complete any non-essential or non-emergency medical appointments remotely and save emergency room visits for potentially life-threatening situations 

• Volunteer with the Red Cross

• Donate blood

• Remember that healthcare professionals are human too, and that usually, they are doing the absolute best that they can

• Join a remote helpline to listen and give emotional support to essential healthcare professionals.