GROVELAND, FL—It didn't take long after the coronavirus broke out for Kenny Thompson to recognize the increasing importance of personal protective equipment.
Without it, first responders, healthcare workers and other front-line workers treating or serving individuals infected with COVID-19 are at higher risk of contracting or spreading it themselves.
Thompson, a Groveland businessman and Clermont firefighter/engineer, saw that agencies all over the country, including the Clermont Fire Department, were facing shipping delays on bulk PPE orders.
"There's nothing like being a firefighter or something in the field, knowing that you need equipment then you have an administration you're relying on that can't find it for you," Thompson said. "People get upset at that administration, but they don't see the other side as well."
So he had an idea. Thompson, who also owns KT Performance, a truck performance parts and accessories company in Groveland, works daily with buyers who have access to suppliers from around the world with the ability to ship bulk PPE items. He realized that, through his connections, he could acquire PPE to help fill the shortage.
And that's what he did.
Thompson said he's ordered product for places like Orlando Health, Pasco County, for a hospital in Louisiana, a doctor's office and construction companies in Texas, to individual nurses who were reusing face masks because of dwindling supplies.
He said the hard work, long hours and in some cases, financial loss, is worth the satisfaction of knowing he's helping those who don't have the means or connections to otherwise get the PPE they need to stay and keep others safe.
"The feel good part has been the relief from people. You can just hear it on the other end of the phone because they've been searching trying to find product and just nobody's been able to get them what they need. They're being told no," Thompson said.
Thompson said most recently, he was able to help an agency having so much trouble getting disposable medical gowns that they were pricing and considering purchasing rain coats from Seaworld to use instead.
"We were able to coordinate getting them a small batch (of gowns) for now, then we're putting in an order to get them supplied up so they can actually wear disposable medical gowns rather than plastic rain coats," Thompson said.
The main obstacle? Shipping and handling costs – which on average are costing Thompson about $6,000 per single pallet – and clearing customs, which includes FDA inspections to ensure items meet U.S. CDC standards since some of them are coming from places like Shangai, China and other countries.
With COVID-19 closures and the subsequent loss of a couple employees, KT Performance's detailing bays have closed. Since then, the building has been transformed into storage space for pallet after pallet of PPE supplies from floor to ceiling.
Thompson, in light of his newfound side business, has also become somewhat of an expert on international shipping rules and nuances.
A couple of times, he's even had to use cargo planes instead of normal shipping companies to get items delivered.
"It's been a learning experience of stuff I feel I never needed to know and that I didn't want to know but I'm glad we did it because it's done a lot of good for everybody," Thompson said.
For now, Thompson is not hunting for new orders or customers because of the strain ordering PPE has put on his business. But he said he will help in any way he can to get supplies for anyone still in need of them.
All one would need to do is visit the KT Performance website, ktperformance.net, for pricing and ordering instructions.
"I'm really happy with that we've been able to do to help the community and that we've been able to relieve them of their mental anguish of locating PPE supplies and I'll continue doing it for as long as I can," Thompson said.
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