WEST HAVEN, Conn., April 14, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- In the week following the declaration of a national emergency concerning the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, Thermaxx, LLC was asked by a local fire chief to manufacture disposable gowns for their department in response to the countrywide PPE (personal protective equipment) shortage. Thermaxx rapidly converted all its insulation jacket production lines to make disposable gowns, which are not PPE as they have not undergone any FDA approval or testing, but are designed to be an improvement over other crisis strategy gown alternatives recommended by the CDC.
On March 25, Thermaxx began accepting requests for donations of gowns from firefighters, first responders, and medical professionals across Connecticut. Over the next two weeks more than 250 organizations submitted requests to pick up gowns at Thermaxx in West Haven, CT. The immediate need amounted to more than Thermaxx could manufacture alone, but help from patriotic citizens, business owners, and organizations quickly assembled after hearing the call for help. Thermaxx Gowns are made of costly house wrap material, available at any home improvement store. Generous members of the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Central CT donated more than 50 rolls of the material to Thermaxx to be converted into disposable gowns. A friend of Thermaxx who was furloughed, Gordon White, volunteered his time to drive across CT collecting the donated materials.
As news spread of Thermaxx's efforts, AAA Northeast stepped forward to volunteer its fleet to deliver disposable gowns to first responders within its service area of Fairfield, New Haven, and Litchfield Counties in CT. The timely deliveries allowed many first responders to focus on responding to calls for help & saving lives, instead of making multiple trips to Thermaxx to pick up gowns as they were produced. AAA Northeast used its roadside service technology to map delivery routes, allowing their service technicians to work as efficiently as possible.
Tom Salagaj, VP of Manufacturing & Engineering at Thermaxx, said, "Converting our factory was difficult, but doable. Building out a distribution model almost seemed impossible! Having AAA Northeast step up to handle our distribution not only gave first responders valuable hours of their day back, but it also allowed Thermaxx to focus on manufacturing."
"When we learned about Thermaxx's need to quickly get their protective gowns in the hands of first responders and members of the healthcare community, we knew we had to help," said John Galvin, AAA Northeast President and CEO. "AAA has a long history of helping the communities we serve so this became a perfect partnership with Thermaxx to assist front-line responders in their battle against this virus."
To learn more about Thermaxx Gowns, visit: https://www.thermaxxjackets.com/products/thermaxx-gear/
AAA Northeast is a not-for-profit auto club with 64 offices in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Hampshire and New York, providing nearly 6 million local AAA members with travel, insurance, finance, and auto-related services. In Connecticut, the auto club serves a half-million members living in Fairfield, New Haven, and Litchfield counties. Its website is http://www.aaa.com.
Thermaxx Jackets was founded over 25 years ago to help its clients save energy with removable insulation blankets when traditional insulation is not practical. Combining expertise in heat loss, wireless monitoring, and insulation design, it has become the #1 provider and fabricator of removable insulation jackets and covers. Learn more at thermaxxjackets.com.
SOURCE Thermaxx, LLC.
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