The personal protective equipment picked up at Polytechnique Montréal for distribution to health network personnel. (Photo: Vincent Darras)

Thanks to a team effort by the Polytechnique community, some 41,000 pairs of gloves, 8,200 surgical masks, 170 gowns, 160 N-95 respirators and 200 other protective devices, including surgical masks, visors and hoods, were loaded onto two transport pallets at the main building shipping dock.

This protective equipment, which was picked up on Tuesday, April 7, by the Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Centre-Ouest-de-l'île-de-Montréal (CIUSSS, integrated university health and social services centre for West-Central Montréal) will be sent to institutions in the health network that are caring for people who are ill with COVID-19.

Quick action

Vincent Darras, Health and Safety Advisor in the Human Resources department and Emergency Measures Advisor with Polytechnique’s Safety and Security Service, helped locate, prepare and send the protective equipment. Mr. Darras explains that it all began on Wednesday, March 25, when Polytechnique’s Administration and Resources Directorate received a request from the Québec Ministry of Education and Higher Learning asking about the possible presence of personal protective equipment in Polytechnique’s inventory.

“Pierre Langlois (Director of the Department of Computer Engineering and Software Engineering), who also sits on the institution’s Emergency Measures Committee, then contacted the administrations of all the departments asking them to take an inventory of equipment on the premises,” Mr. Darras explains. “Unlike other universities, there is no centralized storage system for equipment at Polytechnique. However, some departments had anticipated such a call for contributions and had prepared equipment lists.”

During the week of March 30, and in compliance with the measures restricting access to the Polytechnique buildings and the social distancing directives in effect in Québec, program coordinators, laboratory technicians and research associates collected the personal protective equipment from several laboratories and stores.

Bit by bit, the equipment was brought to the delivery and shipping area of Polytechnique’s main building. On Friday, April 3, staff from Building Services and Safety and Security Services organized and packed boxes of equipment onto pallets.

“We then contacted the CIUSSS du Centre-Ouest-de-l’île-de-Montréal to coordinate the equipment pickup, as had been recommended by the Bureau de coopération interuniversitaire (BCI, a coalition of Québec universities) in a message to Philippe A. Tanguy, our Chief Executive Officer,” Mr. Darras says. “The CIUSSS and Polytechnique had already been exchanging views once a year about, among other things, our university's ability to help local healthcare institutions in the event of an emergency.”

Polytechnique and CIUSSS du Centre-Ouest-de-l’île-de-Montréal staffers transferred the pallets containing the personal protective equipment for healthcare workers to a truck. (Photo: Vincent Darras)

Group effort

The collection and delivery of personal protective equipment to the healthcare network would not have been possible without the individual and collective contribution of dozens of Polytechnique personnel.

“At a time when we are living through this difficult situation, it was the least we could do to answer the government's call. We were able to do it because of the terrific work of everyone involved,” says Mr. Darras.

“The entire Polytechnique community is very moved by the coronavirus situation,” notes Mr. Langlois. “Several of our laboratories were equipped with personal protective equipment, which we are pleased to give to the CIUSSS to help in the fight against COVID-19.”

And Steven Chamberland, Director of Administration and Resources, adds: “I would like to thank those who helped collect this equipment at Polytechnique. It will be useful to people in the health sector, who have our greatest admiration during this pandemic situation.”

On behalf of the Polytechnique community, thanks to everyone who contributed to this mission!