More than three thousand people from Europe, Australia, Asia, South America, and all over USA downloaded mask and gown patterns and viewed tutorials in just one week. YOU are absolutely making a difference in this crisis. Let's keep working! Sign up our newsletter, and we will keep you informed. Please tag @FGFH2011 so that we can share the amazing work you are doing. 

Help Support Front Line Medical Workers and Those Affected by PPE Shortage

HOSPITAL MAP LOOKING FOR PPES DONATION

Making protective masks & gowns is a great way to help during this critical time even if they are, simply, used by those who need them but do not get them due to PPE shortage. We hear many people are making for people who work in nursing homes or other medical setting not necessarily all Covid 19 related. 

“Among the needs, the mayor said, are three million N95 masks, 50 million surgical masks and 15,000 ventilators. New York State only has about 3,000 ventilators, one for each intensive-care hospital room."

"Health care workers will need another 45 million of each of the following: surgical gowns, coveralls, gloves, regular face masks and face shields, the mayor said."

 

--New York Times, 3/20

 

National

On March 27th, American Hospital Association announced #100MillionMaskChallenge to bring local hospitals and manufacturers together. In addition to face shield and masks, they are planning to add gowns to address PPE shortage in the next week or so. 

"The demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) has created a severe shortage of PPE across the world. The supply cannot keep up with the demand."

"Just as we have seen our field come together, we are delighted by the collective desire of manufacturers, the business community and the many individuals across the country who have expressed a desire to help rapidly produce surgical masks and face shields on a large scale for health care workers.

The American Hospital Association will now bring the initiative to scale across the country, facilitating new relationships between providers in need of surgical masks and manufacturers with the capacity to produce them. In recognition that shortages are much greater nationwide the AHA-led initiative will, over time, expand its scope to meet the growing and ongoing challenges."

Below is for NYS / NYC. 

Just letting you know they seem to be inundated with various solutions, and they are not actively connecting hospitals and manufacturers who are willing to step up. I think time is running out if we go through state/city. 

NYC

Sign up and fill out ITAC's quick survey and share with them your capabilities. ITAC is working to help identify who can supply the crucial gear NYC healthcare workers need.

NYS

The NYS Governor Cuomo is also encouraging any company with the proper equipment or personnel to begin to manufacture PPE products if possible. The state is willing to provide funding to any company to obtain the proper equipment and personnel. Businesses interested in receiving state funding to manufacture PPE products should contact EricGertler at 212-803-3100 or COVID19supplies@esd.ny.gov.

What's Protective wear? 

Isolation gowns are worn only once / not for the purpose of reuse. 

About PPE from Cardinal Health / Halyard

Medical Isolation Gown Pattern download available from here. 

Watch the video how to sew gowns. 

Watch the video how to make non surgical masks from Joann's.  

See all other variations of general purpose masks requested by hospitals from free download section below.

Can you use your own materials? (here)

See required material standard

For masks, Providence Hospitals in Washington provided surgical wraps / sterilization wraps to produce masks for local production. 

Available on amazon. (24 x 24 or 48 x 48)

Please note that home made masks are included in the CDC in their Crisis Capacity Strategies Section, but are not a suitable substitute for N95 masks or other medical grade PPE. 

About Masks per the CDC

"In settings where facemasks are not available, HCP might use homemade masks (e.g., bandana, scarf) for care of patients with COVID-19 as a last resort. However, homemade masks are not considered PPE, since their capability to protect HCP is unknown. Caution should be exercised when considering this option. Homemade masks should ideally be used in combination with a face shield that covers the entire front (that extends to the chin or below) and sides of the face."

*Updated* About Isolation Gowns per the CDC

Now "cloth" is allowed. 

Conventional capacity: measures consist of providing patient care without any change in daily contemporary practices. This set of measures, consisting of engineering, administrative, and personal protective equipment (PPE) controls should already be implemented in general infection prevention and control plans in healthcare settings.
Contingency capacity: measures may change daily standard practices but may not have any significant impact on the care delivered to the patient or the safety of healthcare personnel (HCP). These practices may be used temporarily during periods of expected isolation gown shortages.
Crisis capacity: strategies that are not commensurate with standard U.S. standards of care. These measures, or a combination of these measures, may need to be considered during periods of known isolation gown shortages.

CDC Guidelines on making a simple mask

PREFERRED: Seattle Makers 5-layer face mask with replaceable barriers.

Joann Fabrics tutorials and discounted fabric

Taiwanese Doctor Teaches How To DIY Cloth Face Mask With Air Filter

No-Sew DIY Face Mask

Deaconess Video guide

1-page PDF facemask pattern

Instructables

Providence mask kit directions 

Q: What Are The Best Materials for Making DIY Masks?

A: Muslin and non-woven cotton. Please read this for more information: 

3D printed masks mask #2 mask #3

How to make a face shield