‘RVs For MDs’ Project Helping ER Nurses, Families Stay Safe During Pandemic

BLUFFDALE, Utah – Many health care workers who treat COVID-19 patients face a tough decision: isolate at home after a shift and risk infecting their family – or stay away from them until the pandemic is over.

However, community members like Radisa Peric are helping workers avoid the question with a solution found right in their driveway.

When Peric came across a Facebook page pairing RV owners with healthcare workers he knew he wanted to get involved.

An RV owner himself, he’s thought about ways to help those fighting on the front lines during the pandemic. This provided the perfect opportunity.

“You have people that are fighting this live in person at the hospital and it’s got to be very stressful,” Peric said. “Then they have to go home to their families and I don’t want to get them sick. So soon as I saw this, it was a no brainer, I got to do it.”

The RVs 4 MDs to Fight the Coronavirus project has gone nationwide in a matter of weeks. Through the online community, Peric was able to get in contact with an emergency room nurse in Bluffdale who was looking for a place to self-isolate to keep his family safe.

“I saw his post so I reached out and took the trailer to his house,” he said.

The trailer is now sitting in Joe Coverdell’s driveway.

“He been a godsend for us,” Coverdell said.

The family said Peric’s kindness was just what they needed to stay safe.

“I am constantly around people who do have the virus or could potentially have the virus, and having an option where I am isolated from my family, it protects them. Mainly it’s what it is there for,” he said.

Coverdell works up to six days a week which has been a huge adjustment for his family — especially when he needs to keep his distance on his days off.

“It’s hard you know, I have two young kids and a wife who want me to be involved in their lives but it’s hard when I have to stay six feet behind the door,” he said.

The family was not sure how long they will need to borrow the trailer but Peric said they can keep it on the property for as long as they need to.

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Coronavirus Resources

• Have you or a family member been affected by coronavirus issues in Utah? KSL TV wants to hear from you. Contact KSL by emailing social@ksl.com.
• What is COVID-19? Here’s What You Need To Know To Stay Healthy
• What We Know And Don’t Know About The Coronavirus
• Four Common Coronavirus Questions Answered
• The latest coronavirus stories from KSL TV can be found at our Staying Safe: Coronavirus section.
• Your Life Your Health: How can parents prepare their home, children against coronavirus?

How Do I Prevent It?

The CDC has some simple recommendations, most of which are the same for preventing other respiratory illnesses or the flu:

• Avoid close contact with people who may be sick
• Avoid touching your face
• Stay home when you are sick
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

How To Get Help

If you’re worried you may have COVID-19, you can contact the Utah Coronavirus Information Line at 1-800-456-7707 to speak to trained healthcare professionals. You can also use telehealth services through your healthcare providers.

Additional Resources

If you see evidence of PRICE GOUGING, the Utah Attorney General’s Office wants you to report it. Common items in question include toilet paper, water, hand sanitizer, certain household cleaners, and even cold medicine and baby formula. Authorities are asking anyone who sees price gouging to report it to the Utah Division of Consumer Protection at 801-530-6601 or 800-721-7233. The division can also be reached by email at consumerprotection@utah.gov.