JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville mother Kate Alicea and her daughter Ava, who’s in the 11th grade, are teaming up in an at-home community service project to sew homemade masks for healthcare workers across the nation.
The duo have sent their masks to New Jersey and plan on sending some to EMTs in Hudson, FL.
The Deaconess Health System is providing guidance on how to make the masks and how to donate them. The Deaconess’ website says: “While fabric masks are not to be used in the care of COVID-19 patients, according to the CDC, fabric masks are a crisis response option when other supplies have been exhausted. Fabric masks can also be helpful in other areas of patient care as supplies of PPE are depleted.”
The CDC provided the following guidance on homemade masks on its website: “In settings where face masks 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.”
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