Category: COVID-19

3D Printing, COVID-19, Sewing, Utilizing Your Makerspace

Making PPE Masks and Ear Savers

Julie Darling
Mask hand sewn by Paula Lawrence

Recently, the recommendation came down from the CDC for everyone to wear cloth masks when going out in public to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Masks are currently hard to come by in stores, which, incidentally, you should stay out of if you can. If you don’t already have one, you’ll need to make one. 

Making Your Mask

CNN recently published detailed instructions on making masks. This includes a pattern to sew, and a no sew option. The Washington Post added to the discussion with information about what kind of materials to use and why.

Making Masks for Healthcare Professionals

Many hospitals are now accepting donations of homemade masks. If you have materials to make more masks than you need in your household, you might consider making and donating them.

Ear Savers

I’ve been talking with a local medical professional who is asking for people to provide ear savers, too. Ear savers can be made from different materials. The goal is to keep ears from getting irritated when wearing a mask all day. There are two main types: sewn and 3D printed. The doctor I spoke to requested the sewn, headband style. You can watch a tutorial on how to make it from scratch here. However, if you have cloth headbands that you’d like to donate, you can wash them, then skip to the last step of simply adding buttons. The  3D printed surgical mask strap style can be found as a downloadable pattern on Thingaverse.

Using Masks Properly

When you are wearing your mask out in the world, you need to know that you are doing it correctly. You should make certain that your mask covers both your mouth and your nose. Just like you aren’t supposed to touch your face, you should avoid touching your mask. This CNBC article provides more details about what you should, and shouldn’t do, and includes information about how to properly clean your mask.

That’s it for now. Stay safe out there! If you have any suggestions about masks, ear savers or anything else, I welcome your input in the comments below.

3D Printing, COVID-19, Sewing, Utilizing Your Makerspace

Local Michigan Makers are Helping Supply Hospitals with PPE and You Can Too!

Julie Darling
Help Your Local Hospital by Sewing Masks!

The U.S. just surged to the top of the charts with the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the world. Although these numbers are grim, especially considering that US hospitals are already experiencing a critical shortage in personal protective equipment, there are makers working, in our community, to help bridge the gap.

How to Help

If you are considering pitching in, by 3D printing, sewing or otherwise, start by reading the information on the GetUsPPE site. Next, check with local hospitals regarding what they are currently accepting. Here is the rundown on what’s being accepted in the metro Detroit hospitals. As of today, the only hospital accepting hand-sewn masks in metro Detroit is Beaumont. Don’t let that dissuade you. There are hospitals all over the world accepting hand-sewn masks. With the situation in the U.S. getting worse by the day, most likely more local hospitals will start accepting these, too.

Making Hand Sewn Masks

Deconess has written information and a video tutorial about how to hand-sew masks. Joanne Fabrics has tutorials, and they are also giving away supplies. Sewing masks can be done by beginners, and Joanne is offering to support makers in creating them. They are also distributing them to local hospitals “This is a grassroots effort, and we will connect with hospitals near our stores to provide the items to local hospitals, so they can be used at their discretion” (https://www.joann.com/make-to-give-response/).

Making Face/Eye Shields

If you have a 3D printer, you can also help by making face or eye shields. Teachers in the Ann Arbor Public Schools have started work on these. How-to information, including design files, can be found on the CoVid 19 “Operation Face Shield” site. 

More Help is Coming Soon

Several well-known fashion brands including Ralph Lauren are gearing up to produce masks and isolation gowns, but will they be able to produce enough, and can they retro-fit their factories quickly enough? Hopefully so. In the meantime, you can help to bridge the gap.

COVID-19, Utilizing Your Makerspace

Makers and Factories Helping with PPE and Ventilator Shortages During COVID-19 Crisis

Julie Darling
Some Makers Are 3D Printing Ventilator Parts

With scary statistics of climbing COVID-19 cases dominating the news, it’s important to balance this with hope. The COVID-19 global pandemic has left so much uncertainty in its wake, it’s hard to know what to do to help. Makerspaces are equipped with tools and machines that can be used to make life-saving gear, but will hospitals welcome it? If so, how can you be certain that you’re making personal protective equipment (PPE), or ventilator parts, correctly? 

Start by Checking Hospital Websites

Check your local hospital’s website to see what’s needed. Even if they aren’t accepting donations produced outside of a factory – yet – that doesn’t mean they won’t need to do so in the future. Here in Michigan, we are currently under a shelter-in-place executive order. However, leaving home in order to donate protective gear to health organizations, is allowed. 

As of today, the University of Michigan hospitals are not accepting hand-sewn masks or 3D printed parts for ventilators, but if you have hand sanitizer, wipes, or factory-made masks to donate, they are in dire need. The medical professionals that I’ve spoken to have also indicated that what will be accepted, and what is needed, is changing on an hourly basis. It’s a good idea to keep checking back. It also doesn’t hurt to start making hand-sewn masks and other equipment, just in case.

What to Make and How to Make it

Lately, there has been an influx of information about homemade COVID-19 supplies and remedies. Many of these sites contain false, and even dangerous information. Unfortunately, you can’t make hand sanitizer from Tito’s vodka. Additionally, extrapolated home remedies such as ingesting non-pharmaceutical chloroquine phosphate, can prove deadly. Before you start making, it’s really important to determine that you have accurate information, but how do you know where to look?

Two organizations at the forefront of makerspaces are Nation of Makers and Make Community.  Both have pages devoted to COVID-19. Nation of Makers has a listing of initiatives with how-to details, that other makerspaces are taking in response to COVID-19. The Make Community has a Plan C from Makerspace page with resources such as open source ventilator plans, and protective face shield designs.  

More Help Coming Soon

Although makerspace grassroots efforts are important, there is also more large-scale help coming soon. Although you can’t make hand sanitizer from Tito’s vodka at home, Tito’s and other distilleries have started to produce hand sanitizer, on site.  General Motors and Tesla are working to repurpose factories to produce needed ventilators.  Ford is helping with respirators, ventilators and face shields.  3M has also increased their production of N95 masks. 

What You Can Do

Making PPE and ventilator parts at home, is a great use of maker skills. Despite the help coming from industry, this maker-made equipment may still be needed. The best thing we can all do, is practice social distancing. Talented makers should also keep an eye on the local hospital websites to see what’s being currently accepted, and what’s needed most, by our heroic health care workers.