I need help for a problem.

[scarletlib]

In February I purchased a package of 50 medical grade masks. I have not opened it. I would like to donate to a hospital or other medical facility but I am one of those seniors who needs to self-isolate because of age and other health factors.

This Is weighing heavily on me. There is little I can do to help other than stay out of the way. Any suggestions on what I can do to get these masks to where they are most needed?

[OKNancy]

1. call a fire station or the police??

on a non-emergency line.

[redwitch]

3. Call a local doctor or hospital.

They can pick up.

[blm]

2. Mail to your local hospital?

Maybe call them first?

[Poeraria]

4. I would call a local care provider and tell them you'd like to donate the masks....

but that, because of your status, you'd like to keep a few. Take them to where you want to donate, and (pre-arranged), have them open the container while you are there and give you a few for your own use.

[scarletlib]

5. Thanks. All good ideas.

[PJMcK]

6. I've got a different idea

Please consider keeping them for yourself. This is not selfish, it could be a very important health decision for you. You will likely need them for your own-- and others'-- protection.

If you're a senior, you are in the group with the highest mortality rate. Ron Klain, President Obama's Ebola czar, explains the different mortality rates in different age groups:

What we’re seeing with this virus is that very few people under 40 have perished from it, even relatively few people under 50 have perished from it. But when you get the upper end of the spectrum — people who are 65, 70, 80, and with a couple of complicated health conditions — it’s extremely high. For them, the (Case Fatality Rate) is something like 20 percent. So when we say it’s 1 percent overall, we’re averaging a lot of zeros with a few 20s.

By protecting your health, you're protecting everyone else's. It could be likely that you will need those masks in the near future. COVID-19 is not going away in the next couple of weeks; it's going to be with us for quite some time.

I respectfully admire your empathy and desire to help our society in this small gesture. But your 50 masks won't really make an impact at your local hospital. Yet they may make a life-or-death impact for you.

I recognize that my comments may seem callous and I expect to be flamed for writing them. Nonetheless, we cannot save others unless we first save ourselves.

The rest of Mr. Klain's interview is at Vox:

https://www.vox.com/2020/3/19/21186456/coronavirus-covid-19-ron-klain-the-ezra-klein-show