‘Thanks, But No Thanks’: Hospitals Are Turning Away Homemade Face Masks Amid Coronavirus

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‘Thanks, But No Thanks’: Hospitals Are Turning Away Homemade Face Masks Amid Coronavirus

BY DOUG MACCASH | STAFF WRITER

New Orleans Advocate

The coronavirus crisis and its corresponding drain on medical supplies have created an altruistic cottage industry in the Crescent City, as creative citizens turn to their sewing machines to produce homemade surgical masks for hospital workers and others facing the contagion close up.

But while the masks are turning up in some area institutions, many are declining the gift.

At the LCMC Health group of New Orleans hospitals – including Children’s, Touro, West Jefferson, New Orleans East, and University Medical Center — the masks aren’t being accepted.

“We certainly appreciate the community’s generosity and care, and their efforts to sew surgical masks to those of us working in healthcare,” said LCMC spokesman Dr. Jeff Elder, an emergency room physician at University Medical Center. But the masks aren’t needed now, he said.

Elsewhere the homemade masks have made it onto hospital floors.

“I started small,” said a nurse at a medium-sized area hospital who asked not to be identified because she is not authorized to speak publicly, “I gave out about 40 so far.”

The anonymous nurse said the cloth masks, which were made by a friend, were welcome considering the short supply of disposable paper masks at the hospital. But, she explained, the paper masks and homemade masks could only be worn while interacting with “standard precautions patients” — not with coronavirus patients.

Treating patients with coronavirus requires a special respirator mask that must be covered with a single-use paper mask. The homemade cloth masks could be laundered, ironed and reused until the shortage of paper masks was resolved, she said.

There’s “been no official word” from that hospital’s supervisors about the use of the masks, she said.

A spokesperson for the Ochsner Health System said the chain of hospitals and clinics is following the Center for Disease Control guidelines, which stipulate that “homemade masks should be used as an effort of last resort.”

CDC regulations do not consider homemade masks an official form of “personal protective equipment,” the Ochsner spokesperson explained.

“We’re blown away and truly humbled by the offers of donations and support from our community,” she wrote, but at this point, the hospital group “has a sufficient supply of personal protective equipment.”

The word that the masks might not be as useful as hope is beginning to spread. Some mask-makers believe the grass-root mask-making will benefit first responders and even grocery clerks, even if the CDC considers them a last resort.

Several popular Facebook groups have popped up over the past few days to allow mask-makers to swap tips and organize the distribution of their creations. Members of the Merry Antoinettes, a Mardi Gras marching group, have begun producing homemade masks, which they drop off at collection points in several neighborhoods.

The Christwood Retirement Community in Covington has purchased five sewing machines so that residents can volunteer to produce masks.

Jo-Ann fabrics stores are offering free do-it-yourself “care packages” with enough thread, fabric and elastic to make five masks. The stores also act as drop-off points for the masks. Artist-activist Katrina Brees, known for her fabric sculptures and costumes, has begun recycling her “old linens” into masks.

“Working with your hands can be a calming activity,” said Penny Wyatt a Tulane University employee, who has produced 10 masks from patterns she’s found on the Internet. “It gives you a place to channel your frustration or concern into something positive.”

Wyatt said the sewing masks are like knitting socks for soldiers in World War II.

“You say, ‘Finally, there’s something I can do to help,’” she said,” while we’re stuck at home and we need to remain at home.”

 

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