X-Message-Number: 21489
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2003 22:45:07 -0800 (PST)
From: Christine Gaspar <>
Subject: SARS in Toronto...my experience

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Hi again. 

I worked at North York General Hospital all this week including last night. We 
had 4 confirmed cases last night...one I don't know much about, one very young 
child which we transported out to another hospital for treatment, and two who 
are health care workers from Scarborough Grace Hospital. I directly took care of
the two health care workers for most of the night. 

Let me tell anyone who is considering catching this ailment early in order to 
beat the crowds (as I read in the past cryonet posting) DON'T DO IT 

The health care workers I was taking care of were very very sick. At one point 
we were considering intubation for them. These individuals were not old or 
frail. They were young healthy adults. 

Please be very very careful. Our entire department is wearing gowns, masks (I 
think they were N95 masks), hats shoe covers, gloves and face shields. No one is
permitted to enter the hospital without donning masks. In fact the plain OR 
masks that you see people wearing on the news are useless for airway protection.
They have to be masks specifically designed to create a seal around your mouth 
and nose. If air escapes around the mask, it is of no use. 

We also had a case two nights ago of an individual who perished from a sudden 
onset respiratory ailment. None of the nurses or doctors  were protected from 
that patient as they didn't recognize her as having SARS. Now they are 
suggesting that this victim likely had SARS and all of the staff members who 
were caring for this person are at great risk (I wasn't one of them). Several of
my co-workers are under quarantine, where they are not permitted to leave their
homes for 10 days, or interact with the public. 

There are a lot more cases in Toronto then the press is aware of. It is far 
worse than most people think. Part of the problem is that people who are 
infected become contagious before respiratory symptoms appear. 

I was supposed to work again tonight but I cancelled my shift. I have done my 
share and refuse to put my life on the line any more this week. 

I will be attending the CSC meeting this weekend, as I was not exposed to anyone
without facial protection. I do not need quarantine at this point, but I will 
consider wearing a mask to the meeting just in case. Ingrid Kern, who is a 
co-worker of mine that was planning to attend the CSC meeting will not be able 
to as she was put under quarantine this morning. 
Christine Gaspar 
President, Cryonics Society of Canada

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