About this Page:
The purpose of this page is to summarize current events, activities, and efforts that are being made in the global, national, and local level to assist with the COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Shortage. The page is intended to help you navigate open source designs that are available to the Maker community. Please consult health care professionals in your medical community prior to making, prototyping, or donating PPE.
About the Shortage:
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare professionals are having difficulty accessing the needed PPE to provide patient care. As PPE supplies are stressed, running low, or absent, the CDC has released optimization strategies for healthcare professionals. These strategies are typically only considered during severe PPE shortages.
For more information regarding PPE crisis recommendations, please consult:
How are Makers contributing?
In the midst of the COVID-19 PPE Shortage, makers have put their skills, machines, and resources to use in order to contribute homemade PPE to healthcare providers. The following section provides links to articles regarding to how makers have been able to assist.
3D Printing Resources:The following links are to open source 3D Print files (typically in an .stl, .3mf, or gcode format.). These items are intended to provide access to potential PPE that could be used as a last resort in a crisis. These items are NOT medical-grade substitutes for medical use PPE.
It is recommended to begin your search by visiting the National Institutes of Health (NIH) 3D Print Exchange. Prototypes in this resource are able to be submit for Testing and Clinical Review.
Please be mindful that print times, results, and conditions may be subject to the hardware and software used.
Sewing & Textile Resources:The following links are to open source sewing patterns or videos that instruct on how to make cloth-based PPE. These items are NOT a substitute for N95 Masks. They are intended to comply with the CDC recommendations regarding the use of cloth face coverings
Laser Cutting & Etching Resources:The following links are to open source laser cutting files.
How Can I Help?
If you are looking to assist with the PPE shortage, here are ways you can get involved or help:
Where do I Start?
Click on the links below to address your donation ability or need:
Before donating PPE, please consider some of the following factors:
About:
Use this section to inform yourself about sterilization and cleaning methods recommended for PPE during the COVID-19 PPE crisis and shortage. This section includes cleaning tips and research that has been conducted on the reliability of using Instant Pots as makeshift autoclaves.
CDC: Strategies to Optimize PPE and Equipment
Decontamination and Reuse of Filtering Facepiece Respirators
Consolidated Sterilization Systems (CSS, autoclave manufacturer)
COVID-19 Pandemic: Face Mask Disinfection & Sterilization for Viruses
Assessment and verification of commercially available pressure cookers for laboratory sterilization
Mayra Corn, MLIS
UME Liaison Librarian & Technology Manager
UNLV Health Sciences Library