Protective personal equipment (PPE) has been in short supply and high demand for frontline workers caring for novel coronavirus COVID-19 patients since the virus began spreading in the United States earlier this year. Corteva was contacted by Dennis Frisch, president of the Durant Volunteer Ambulance Service, to determine if they had leftover glasses/goggles from the previous detasseling season he could purchase. To his surprise, Plant Manager Juan Acuna, and Safety Director Dawn Stuart, offered to donate the equipment and wanted to know the number needed. Frisch explained to them all services in Cedar County were in need. Frisch said if they could get close to 200 pairs of glasses/goggles it would be sufficient to cover all emergency medical service personnel in Cedar County. Within a couple of days Stuart called stating the glasses/goggles had arrived and could be picked up. There were 200 pairs of glasses and 50 pairs of goggles — all donated by Corteva and they will be donating more. Acuna and Stuart stated they have ordered additional PPE (gloves, gowns and masks) from their supplier and are waiting for the equipment to arrive. Corteva has more than demonstrated their willingness to assist EMS in the COVID-19 battle. Frisch said, “The personnel of the Durant Volunteer Ambulance Service and other Emergency Medical Services of Cedar County thank Corteva for their generous PPE donation as it will go a long way in protecting their personnel from the novel coronavirus COVID-19.”
