The Foothills Energy Co-op is helping keep Oilfields General Hospital clean.
Co-op director Ken Wardley presented an $8,929 cheque to Sharon Dowdall, site manager at the Oilfields General Hospital, and Andrea Mitchell, executive director of the Sheep River Health Trust, last month to purchase a Taski Auto Scrubber.
The automated floor scrubber scrubs and mops all the flooring of the hospital. Although not a traditional piece of medical equipment, it is critical in controlling the spread of infection, helping to maintain a clean and sanitized facility.
It also cuts down staff time and helps eliminate strain and repetitive motion of hand mopping floors. It is highly used in the winter months when patients and visitors track in snow and mud, creating a slipping hazard in the building.
“Here at the Sheep River Health Trust, we advocate for local healthcare, supporting our hospital teams and providing great healthcare for our residents. This donation from Foothills Energy Co-op does just that,” said Mitchell.
“Even though the auto scrubber isn't a usual piece of medical equipment, it helps to prevent skips, trips and falls by keeping the floor clean and dry when washing the large areas, hallways and the emergency department. It sanitizes the floors of critical areas so we are ready to support patients when the space is required."
As the Foothills Energy Co-op has grown, the board of directors has expanded its "giving back" initiatives to include a wider range of efforts beyond energy conservation, reduction and alternative energy projects. It has supported other projects at Oilfields General Hospital, Oilfields High School and other local initiatives.
“We are always looking for ways to foster a sense of community,” said Wardley. “It's more than just memberships; it's about our members, neighbours, families and children. This is a larger vision.”