The Heart-to-Heart Project: Difference between revisions

From the onset of the pandemic, the medical workers put their efforts into examinations and treatments day and night despite the shortage of manpower and rest, wearing protective clothing and equipment. In February 2021, more than 3,000 confirmed cases were reported in just fifteen days in Daegu, Korea. Subsequently, medical workers had to work without rest for more than 12 hours a day and each nurse had to take care of about 20 patients, which was twice the amount of his or her typical caseload. In New York, thousands of retired medical workers were reinstated and medical students graduated early to be sent into the field due to a shortage of manpower.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/coronavirus-news-march-2020/ |title=Coronavirus news – March 2020 |website=HARVARD T.H. CHAN, School of Public Health |publisher= |date=March 27, 2020 |quote= }}</ref> Field workers wore protective gear to prevent the spread of the virus, while taking care of patients or taking samples. In Korea, they had to wear Level D protective clothing that covered them from head to toe, or four layers of coveralls, a face mask, gloves, and a face shield for six hours a day regardless of weather conditions.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.epa.gov/emergency-response/personal-protective-equipment#:~:text=resistant%20outer%20boots.-,Level%20D%20protection,-is%20the%20minimum |title=Personal Protective Equipment |website=EPA  |publisher=|date= |quote= }}</ref><br>Amid concerns over the emotional [https://www.who.int/news/item/28-05-2019-burn-out-an-occupational-phenomenon-international-classification-of-diseases burnout] of medical workers,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20200611007500315 |title=(Yonhap Feature) Medical workers exhausted by stifling protective suits as heat waves arrive |website=YONHAP NEWS AGENCY |publisher= |date=June 11, 2020 |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/nazbeheshti/2021/04/15/the-pandemic-has-created-a-new-kind-of-burnout-which-makes-well-being-more-critical-than-ever/?sh=1ccbf4c32f01 |title=The Pandemic Has Created A New Kind Of Burnout, Which Makes Well-Being More Critical Than Ever |website=Forbes  |publisher=|date=April 15, 2021 |quote= }}</ref> ASEZ WAO launched the Heart-to-Heart Project to comfort and encourage those who were responding to the prolonged pandemic. The members from all over the world expressed their sincere respect, gratitude, and support to the medical workers who dedicated themselves to citizens’ safety and to helping bring society back to normal.

{{그림|ASEZ WAO Heart to Heart 1.jpg|정렬=오른쪽섬네일|너비=300px|타이틀=ASEZ WAO members carrying encouragement gifts in Hackensack, NJ, U.S.}}

The Heart-to-Heart Project is a way to express gratitude to those who are working hard to cope with COVID-19. ASEZ WAO members prepare encouragement gifts containing snacks, face masks, and handwritten letters to encourage those working to support pandemic prevention. They deliver packages to hospitals, government offices, fire stations, and other places where frontline workers are. Through virtual meetings, members plan the event and help prepare gifts after work and on their days off. When they deliver the gifts, they wear face masks and gloves, following the COVID-19 prevention rules.