United States
When the Military Sealift Command's USNS Comfort hospital ship arrived at Pier 90 in New York Harbor on March 30, hundreds of people for a moment forgot the social distance and stood shoulder to shoulder to witness his arrival. The Comfort – a beacon of hope for a troubled city – arrived at the port to give capacity to an overwhelmed hospital system under pressure from the global coronavirus pandemic.
The Comfort is a converted super tanker that is used by the U.S. Navy as a floating medical facility for humanitarian and disaster relief. It can accommodate up to 2,000 people – crew and patients. Before arriving in New York, some of his previous posts had taken him to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria and to New York City in 2001 to treat people injured in the September 11 terrorist attacks.
The focus is on 12 operating theaters and 1,000 beds to support the numerous care levels required. It also houses a dental clinic, four X-ray machines, a CT scanner, two oxygen-producing systems, an optometry laboratory and coolers for 5,000 units of blood. Other services on board include a satellite laboratory, a central area for receiving sterile accidents, a depot for medical care, a well-stocked pharmacy and a mortuary.
One area of military ships that people don't think much about, if any, is the important washroom, in which the ship's crew washes everything, from bedding to PPE devices such as scrubs and face masks.
"As a top-tier US Defense Department laundry service, there are currently several EDRO washing machine extractors on board USNS Comfort to help employees maintain a hygienically clean environment," said Scott Kirejczyk, general manager of EDRO.
At the heart of the Comfort laundry room are four 150-pound and two 60-pound washer extractors that work with five 110-pound and two 75-pound tumble dryers manufactured by the dedicated employees of EDRO Corporation in East Berlin, Connecticut will.
EDRO Corporation is currently developing its latest line of washing extractors for the U.S. Navy, which come standard with their proprietary DynOzone disinfection and disinfection system. The DynOzone system offers improved germicidal and bacterial cleaning properties to improve the sterilization and disinfection of bed linen.
"Ozone has been one of nature's most efficient virus killers for over a century," said Kirejczyk. “Our DynOzone disinfection and disinfection system uses UV radiation to generate germicidal and oxidizing ozone. When this is added to cold water, they melt into a powerful mixture, which is then injected into the wash tub to deactivate and destroy the harmful microorganisms that live in clothing and fabrics. One advantage of the DynOzone system is that, thanks to its cleaning properties, every machine is automatically disinfected during use.
"All EDRO employees are extremely proud and honored to be associated with the country's efforts to help people with critical needs," said Kirejczyk. "EDRO has been proudly supporting our armed forces for three generations. As a family company, our thoughts and prayers are aimed at all families affected by this tragic health crisis," said Kirejczyk.
• LCNi will take a closer look at this story in the July / August summer issue
