By Laura French
LOS ANGELES — Medical dramas that use real PPE as props on their sets are making donations to fire departments and hospitals to help EMS and healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 public health crisis.
TV shows including “Station 19,” “The Resident,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “The Good Doctor” have donated hundreds of N-95 masks to fire stations and hospitals, many of which are experiencing PPE shortages due to the pandemic, according to entertainment news site The Wrap.
“Grey’s Anatomy” and “Station 19” showrunner Krista Vernoff said in a statement that about 300 N-95 masks were donated to the City of Ontario Fire Department and a fire station in Los Feliz, Calif. Vernoff said producers wanted to donate after hearing that the Ontario department had been reusing masks due to a shortage.
“Grey’s Anatomy” will also donate gowns and gloves for doctors and nurses, Vernoff said.
“The Good Doctor,” which films in Canada, will donate masks and medical supplies to healthcare facilities in Vancouver and “The Resident,” which films in Atlanta, made donations of masks, gowns and gloves to Grady Memorial Hospital.
The Ontario Fire Department wrote on Facebook thanking “Station 19” producers for the donated masks.
“Thank you to @station19 and @shondaland for the donation of N95 masks to help protect our firefighters during our COVID-19 response #HeroesNotJustOnTV,” the department wrote in its post.