Making Mask for Healthcare Workers

Materials: $55.00
Steps: 576
Hours: 12.5+
Mask: 64
Remembering my Oscar and helping others: Priceless

Last week I started a new project of making N95 mask covers for nurses and of course I made them green to remember our Oscar. Has it been easy...no, am I glad I did it...yes.

Here’s why. In March 2018, 3 months almost to the day after Oscar died Theodore was admitted to the PICU at Toledo Children’s Hospital for seizures. He had a 10-15 minute grand mal seizure, unconscious, foaming at the mouth it was awful. I remember Brian driving to Toledo Hospital as quickly and safely as he could and me carrying Theodore’s seizing body into the emergency room. Immediately he was surrounded by multiple doctors and nurses: turning him on his side, taking vitals, putting in an IV, administering medication, getting his history from me. Were those doctors/nurses wearing gloves yes of course, but did they have on mask no.

I think if this same scenario happened tomorrow, with the Pandemic of this Respiratory Coronavirus happening, how different an ER would look today. These frontline healthcare workers are close to patients turning them, lifting them, getting bodily fluids on them whether that is blood, spit, urine, mucus, etc… PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is so needed by healthcare workers and if they are having to ration PPE now I am sure individuals will be without in the coming weeks/months. I chose to make N95 Respirator Mask Covers to help extend the life of these coveted masks. In times of emergency, the CDC allows fabric mask to be used when a shortage takes place. Frontline healthcare workers are given one of these N95 mask a day (12 hour shift), if they are lucky, and that is all they get. I am pretty sure during that time there is quite the assortment of others’ bodily fluids all over the outside of those things. The cloth reusable covers will allow healthcare workers to keep their original N95 mask clean and switch out the cover when it becomes solid/dirty.

Healthcare Workers all I got to say is keep being awesome and thank you truly from the bottom of my heart for going to work, so we can be safe at home with our families. Keep fighting the good fight and the Kaser Household is here to help anyway we can.

#HereForYou
#WereAllinThisTogether
#OscarStrong

If reading is not your thing here is a podcast you can listen to talking about Coronavirus in NYC. This ERcast was shared with us by Brian's college roommate who is an ER doctor in Indianapolis, IN. Definitely worth the listen.

***Green font = link***

Which mask cover is your favorite?

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