Negative Pressure Rooms: Two Staten Island Businesses Join Together To Combat Coronavirus

There is some good news, indeed, in the midst of a crisis. . . 

As reported on silive.com, two Staten Island business owners, James Prendamano, CEO of Casandra Properties, and Dave Berman, owner of Gaeta Green Environmental Services, have partnered up and pledged a sizable donation to Staten Island University Hospital in an effort to fight Covid-19 and help their community. 

In speaking with John Demeolas, Executive Director of the SIUH foundation, Casandra Properties' James Prendamano learned what the hospital needed most during this pandemic: Temporary Negative Pressure Isolation rooms, or TNPI’s, as they are commonly called. These rooms are essential in preventing cross-contamination and the spread of infectious disease. Currently, Staten Island University Hospital has an insufficient number of negative-pressure isolation rooms, and the cost of converting one standard hospital room to one that is negatively pressured is $20,000 dollars.

Both Prendamano and Berman answered the call, each pledging $10,000 dollars to fully fund the conversion of one standard hospital room to one that is negatively pressured, aiding Staten Island University Hospital’s efforts to fight COVID-19.

Regarding the donation, Casandra’s James Prendamano said, “As a small business, now more than ever we have to be cognizant of every dollar we spend. It’s also a time that the community needs support like never before, adding that when it comes to “saving lives and protecting the heroes on the front line, the choice is clear. You step up and help give back to the community that’s given so much to us over the years.”

Gaeta’s Berman similarly responded: “We are one of the essential services that has employees out 24 hours a day keeping Staten Island sanitary. We are proud to assist Staten Island University Hospital in the conversion of these life-saving rooms.”

What Is A Negative Pressure Room?

A negative pressure room, as sited by airinnovations.com, uses lower air pressure to allow outside air into the segregated environment. This traps and keeps potentially harmful particles within the negative pressure room by preventing internal air from leaving the space. Negative pressure rooms in medical facilities isolate patients with infectious conditions and protect everyone else from exposure.

For more information on how to donate to the SIUH Foundation and help get more of these negative pressure rooms click the link below.