Stay classy TSA!

http://strib.mn/2WiW2Hl

The Transportation Security Administration has hoarded more than 1.4 million N95 protective masks its employees do not need, and agency officials have refused to send them to health care workers clamoring for the critical gear, according to a whistleblower complaint filed by a TSA lawyer.

Charles Kielkopf, TSA general counsel for Minnesota and three other states, said in an interview Friday he felt compelled to file the complaint in response to “incredible hubris of power over common sense” from agency leadership. TSA screeners have only been instructed to wear surgical masks, and Kielkopf said very few have chosen to wear the optional and less comfortable N95 respirator masks.

TSA interacts with more people than health care workers each day. The real question, is why didn’t health care workers have cleanable full face respirators on hand?

Is TSA classified as "necessary?"

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Originally posted by V-Tail:
Is TSA classified as "necessary?"

Not in my book.

Tub Stacking Assholes

quote:

Originally posted by Voshterkoff:
TSA interacts with more people than health care workers each day. The real question, is why didn’t health care workers have cleanable full face respirators on hand?

Yeah they run up every bill and inflate the price of healthcare. They could have stocked up easily.

Well, they are important, being former Mall Security and shit.

quote:

Originally posted by Voshterkoff:
TSA interacts with more people than health care workers each day.

Not right now they don't. Air travel is really, really, really down.

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:

quote:

Originally posted by Voshterkoff:
TSA interacts with more people than health care workers each day.

Not right now they don't. Air travel is really, really, really down.

Down 96% out of Boston Logan.

quote:

Originally posted by Voshterkoff:
TSA interacts with more people than health care workers each day. The real question, is why didn’t health care workers have cleanable full face respirators on hand?

Not any more

Surely a dumb move, but also hardly a drop in the bucket.

quote:

Originally posted by PowerSurge:
Tub Stacking Assholes

TSA....Tub Stacking Assholes, Taking Scissors Away!

Too Stupid for Arby’s.

If they really have 1.4 million N95 on hand, I would imagine donating some of those “wisely” towards the people who need it most might have made a small difference. Like ER personnel, isolation room folks who are in direct patient care and anyone who are at a greater risk of really being exposed to the virus. Airports did slowed down it’s operation when most States and Cities were locked down. Just my opinion.

quote:

Originally posted by PowerSurge:
Tub Stacking Assholes

Thousands Standing Around

Again, why the hell didn’t they have respirators? What if this virus was as bad as they want us to think it is? Where did they expect sick people to go during an epidemic? Perhaps a hospital? What was their plan? Did they have one? These are questions that need answers in front of congress.

Also, the TSA should be commended for having PPE for its employees, and not bitching out and handing it all over to a group that is too lazy to be prepared.

Well that makes sense now. Our EMS agency had been telling us for the past 2 weeks we cant get any more 3M N95 masks because the Fed was taking everything. Now we know where its going....to nothing useful.

quote:

Originally posted by Voshterkoff:
TSA interacts with more people than health care workers each day. The real question, is why didn’t health care workers have cleanable full face respirators on hand?

TSA agents don't have confirmed COVID patients coughing in your face for 15 minutes straight as you use an ultrasound machine to start an IV on them though (just encountered this 15 minutes ago).

More importantly, TSA agents don't intubate patients, do bronchoscopies, EGDs, breathing treatments, or other aerosolizing procedures where a N-95/PAPR/CAPR are the only fine enough filters to prevent you from breathing in large amounts of aerosolized SARS-CoV-2 (surgical masks don't work for aerosols).

Your second question is important though. A lot of healthcare facilities just invested in a few reusable PAPRs instead of buying one-use N-95s which must be fit-tested annually to ensure effectiveness (and don't properly fit many people). The problem is that 6 PAPRs is not enough for a large hospital during pandemic type situations.

Foolish? Even negligent? In my opinion, yes... Especially when administration tells surgical services (who can't use PAPRs) that they don't get N-95s because the emergency departments need them all... While at the same time telling the emergency departments they don't get N-95s because surgical services needs them. But this is what happens when administrators "cut costs" then give themselves 7 and 8 figure bonuses for doing such a "great job" at saving money.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: WingedMedic,

No whistle to blow in my opinion. TSA was just prepared and they will likely use up that supply fairly quickly.

The healthcare should have been better prepared and for all the money we spend on health insurance, they should not have to rely on donations.

quote:

Originally posted by WingedMedic:

quote:

Originally posted by Voshterkoff:
TSA interacts with more people than health care workers each day. The real question, is why didn’t health care workers have cleanable full face respirators on hand?

TSA agents don't have confirmed COVID patients coughing in your face for 15 minutes straight as you use an ultrasound machine to start an IV on them though (just encountered this 15 minutes ago).

Until travel was halted, they were the front line against the Chinese hoards.

quote:

Foolish? Even negligent? In my opinion, yes... Especially when administration tells surgical services (who can't use PAPRs) that they don't get N-95s because the emergency departments need them all... While at the same time telling the emergency departments they don't get N-95s because surgical services needs them. But this is what happens when administrators "cut costs" then give themselves 7 and 8 figure bonuses for doing such a "great job" at saving money.

Criminal, what would they do if it was bad enough to cripple manufacturing and transportation? They had no plan on how to do their job with lots of sick people. They had the government cover for them, telling all of America to not buy masks, and still say to not buy effective masks. I have no animosity for an employer actually holding PPE for their employees. Now trying to media blitz about this and others buying masks, all the while providing less protection for healthcare workers than an average prepper has, absolutely shameful.