Medical Workers Slam the Mask Debate: a Mask is Better than a Ventilator
Noelle Keamy has spent a lot of her days in the past months hooking people up to ventilators, pumping them up with the maximum amount of oxygen, and just hoping for the best. She then leaves the hospital to meet the sight of people hanging out in groups and wearing masks around their necks or below the nose. As a front line medical worker, she has witnessed the devastating effects of COVID-19 first hand. In Santa Clarita it is not uncommon to see people avoiding masks or simply wearing them wrong to the point where they lose all effectiveness.
37 states currently have a mask mandate in place. Out of the 13 states that do not have a statewide mandate, 11 of them voted in favor of President Donald Trump, a figure who has openly criticized others for wearing masks.
Medical professionals have long been against the politicization of masks. This problem is as prevalent as ever in Santa Clarita. Public outbursts against masks seem like a daily occurrence in the community. People from across the medical field in this neighborhood have joined the fight. Everyone from nurses to EMTs and medical students give their take on the mask debate.
Imee Manas, Nurse Manager
“I’ve come realize just how important family is.”
A twelve hour shift filled with stress and constant monitoring of oxygen levels is how Imee Manas spent her time. She spends more time in the day with a mask on than with it off. For a nurse manager like her, this is just a regular Monday.
“We had to set up a COVID tent outside, because we were getting so overwhelmed with patients” she stated. She fears that there will not be enough hospital beds to treat everyone.
When asked about anti-maskers she said “They don’t see the real patients. A patient came in saying he just had a fever, it turned out to be COVID and he infected the entire family. Three of them were hospitalized.”
It was this event that really made her think about her own family. “I want to spend as much time with my family as possible.”
Her address to COVID deniers: “I hope they do not get the virus. It should not have to go that far for someone to start putting on a mask.”
Amaan Virdi, Emergency Room Technician
“It’s the younger people that are spreading it, people our age like me and you. It doesn’t matter if we’re at a lower risk, we got to look out for the elderly and those with other illnesses”
Wearing a mask at the grocery store for thirty minutes can be tough sometimes… right? When Amaan Virdi is in working in the emergency room hes armed with: One face shield, one N-95 mask, one surgical mask, long work days, and zero complaints.
As an ER technician, Amaan has seen the worst of it, “one that stuck was when an older couple came in with COVID, both went to the ICU.” He stated.
“The husband had to be intubated. His lungs were filled up with so much fluid, he was basically drowning. He didn’t end up making it. People often don’t think about things until it affects them personally.”
Amaan stressed the importance of holding others accountable “Wear a mask. It has been scientifically proven to slow the spread, and when you see someone with no mask or a mask below their nose, call them out!”
Matt Ramos, EMT
“People look at the mortality rates and assume it isn’t bad. You still don’t want to get it. It affects everyone differently”
Matt Ramos does not understand why it is difficult for some to wear a mask.
“The whole ‘it’s taking away my rights, and all that, I just don’t understand it. Wearing a mask isn’t that hard” he said.
Matt is just entering the medical field. His mother is a nurse and he has seen how mentally draining this pandemic has been on nurses.
“She has had to learn how to intubate people. I hear the stories from my mom, and I don’t know how they do it. She’s been under a lot of stress working in the ICU”
Kyle Jensen, Life Style Specialist/ Former EMT
“lack of preparedness is what allowed this to get as terrifying as it has, and being patient and humble will lead us out.”
Currently working as a lifestyle specialist, Kyle seeks to help others better understand the human body, and keep others safe.
Educating the public is the best defense. When asked about how to address anti-maskers he stated “ I would say, check where you are getting your information from and expand your research of the topic. Masks are a scientifically proven tool to be useful in limiting the spread of the virus. If you haven’t been personally affected by the virus, you likely will if you’re not taking precautions.”
Gerald L, Nurse
“This virus, it’s not a joke.”
Gerald may be constantly wearing all of the proper PPE, but even he still does not feel safe from the virus. “Even though we are constantly getting tested, I always fear bringing the virus home to my family.”
“You have to treat everyone like they are positive, it’s not like the flu. You can have it and not know.”
He discussed the dangers of President Trump not taking the virus seriously. “ Hopefully the next administration will actually acknowledge and focus on the virus, because this virus, it’s not a joke. My entire floor is filled with COVID patients. Soon we won’t have enough beds”
Noelle Keamy, Nurse
“I Just wish they could see what I see.”
Seeing a oxygen levels drop and witnessing a person’s last breath has unfortunately been a more common sight for Noelle Keamy in recent weeks. She estimates that half of her current COVID patients are intubated.
“I was holding her hand as she took her last breath” she said of a COVID patient that she had grown close to.
This pandemic has taken an emotional toll on nurses. Every patient they treat is a person that they get to know on a deeper level, and witnessing their passing greatly affects their mental health. When they lose a patient,they lose a friend. Her message:
“It bothers me when people say ‘it’s just a cold’ I wish they could see what I see. It’s emotionally draining sedating someone moving them onto a ventilator, then explaining to their family over Zoom that they cannot be with their loved one. I just wish they could see what I see.”
