The panic buying in stores has led to a shortage of vital products many families can’t live without before the coronavirus pandemic became a reality.
Families with children who already have health issues rely on antibacterial wipes, bleach and distilled water to help keep their families safe every day.
Now they’re struggling to locate these items due to dire shortages as a result of people stockpiling.
Katie McKoy told ABC 10 News she has two children who have to use ventilators which relay on distilled water to fill them, but she hasn’t been able to get it herself since the coronavirus outbreak.
“There are very fragile senior citizens, people with blood disorders, children. You’re putting their lives at risk from your hoarding behavior, please, I beg of you, stop,” Katie pleaded.
“Not having hand sanitizer, not having bleach, not having wipes, puts our children’s lives in danger from all of the other viruses that are in the community and it’s potentially life-threatening for them,” she said.
Thankfully members of her local church were able to find two bottles of distilled water for her kids.
“It means my kids can keep breathing and stay safe,” she added.
“My kids aren’t necessarily at higher risk from the virus according to the data, my kids are at greater risk if they can’t get access to their healthcare providers,” she said. “If they get sick with something else or have another emergency.
“This is keeping me up at night, I can’t sleep, I can’t eat, I’m just terrified of what’s going to happen,” Katie said.
She said she understands that people are doing whatever they can to keep their own families safe but begs people to think of others.
“If you want to have control over this situation, stay home. Stop having play dates, stop going to the park,” Katie said. “Listen to our leaders. Please. Your life depends upon it and the lives of so many of those people depend on it.”
Katie asks people to give any extra supplies to their local foodbank so they can be distributed to the families that need it the most.
Please share to remind people we’re not in this alone and we must not forget those who are more vulnerable than we are.
