New York Nurse’s Family Bans Together To Make Free Masks

There is a huge need for personal protective equipment right now and many facilities are running low. Soon, healthcare workers won't have anything to protect their faces while they care for patients. A New York nurse's family is banning together to make masks.

Courtney Male, a registered nurse in Watertown, New York called on her family to help. "I sent my three sister in-laws and my mother in-law photos of a mask and asked if they could make something so I would at least have some protection for when we run out of supply."

Over the weekend, the ladies worked on cutting out patterns and sewing masks together with hopes of making 100. "They are making sure to use 100% cotton material, non-woven interfacing and elastic, to create a secure fit that goes over the nose and under the chin," said Male. "They even figured out a way to add a metal in lining to make it fit tightly around the nose."

Male plans to bring the masks to work to disperse among the nurses she works with. "We are also making them for nurses and healthcare workers who work in our clinics in the area at no charge."

When no masks are available, the CDC says homemade masks can be used, with caution.

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.”

DIY Joy give directions on how to sew a mask if you want to help.

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