Million Mask Project
Hi everyone!! Word is getting out about the CDC approved facial mask pattern. Ladies are signing up for the Million Mask Project, and Joann’s just sent out an email that kits are available online, and you can drop completed masks off at their stores.
Close to My Heart
My one sister is an MD. Big shout out to Dr. Allison Lamont. She has confirmed that they have NO PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). When I learned of this, I quickly went to work making masks.
HEPA Helps
What I didn’t like about the existing mask pattern is that it is just two pieces of fabric sewn together. Granted, something is better than nothing at this point, but this is my sister we’re talking about!! I wondered if a HEPA filter would filter out any viruses. I researched and, yes, a HEPA filter filters out some germs. HEPA filters catch 99.97% of all material down to 0.03 micron in size. They don’t catch everything, but they do provide protection against some viruses. This is progress!!
I, therefore, altered the CDC pattern to make it sEo a piece of HEPA material can be slid into a pouch. This makes it so the medical professional can remove the piece of HEPA material after work, launder the mask in the hottest water possible (the sanitize cycle on the newer front load washers is best), dry it, then put the HEPA piece back in for their next shift at work.
Enormous Demand
This does, however, mean that each medical professional is going to need a few of these to get them through their work week. I sent my sister 8 yesterday, and am fast and furiously making 50 more for her immediate colleagues.
For the HEPA material, I am using vacuum bags. You can buy it buy the roll, but it comes from China and costs $641 to ship. So, I bought HEPA vacuum bags. I will cut the vacuum bags into pieces 5.5″ x 8″ and insert into the pouch found in the videos below.
Improved CDC mask Tutorial
Here are the set of videos I made on how to make the improved CDC facial mask. Enjoy, and stay healthy my friends. Thanks for all your efforts!!