Ok, so homemade masks are THE THING right now. You will see that even I am wearing one in my “About” picture. My wonderful PTA Melissa made this one. It has a pocket on the inside in which we have placed HEPA filters cut from the vacuum bags this doctor recommends.
Some research will show that cotton masks are 3% effective, some will show that they may actually increase your chance of infection, and some people say, “Well, something is better than nothing.” And with actual surgical masks running low and N95s no where around, something may actually BE better than nothing! So what can you do to increase your chances of these actually working?
This emergency physician had a pretty good idea!
Forbes has issues the call to action for all who can sew to start sewing and making cotton masks for as many healthcare workers as possible.
Cotton masks can be sanitized by boiling in water for 20 minutes. This hasn’t damaged the elastic bands on any of my masks. Please do this as frequently as you can, daily at least. I have three masks that I rotate. The filters should be ok to go through the boil, but this may impact their filtration effectiveness.
We know that heat kills this virus, so boil away!
Post pictures of you in your homemade mask!
Doctor B (the PT) 
Hi Karen!
Thanks for commenting! Most air filters used in commercial and residential setting contain these things so I think we are probably breathing them in regardless. Ultimately, I’d rather breathe in those things for a short while than breathe in COVID-19. And with this emergency doctor’s close proximity to these patients on a regular basis, I’m sure he is thinking the same thing.
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I heard today not to use HEPA vacuum filters as they contain chemicals that we should not be breathing in.
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Hi Karen!
Thanks for commenting! Most air filters used in commercial and residential setting contain these things so I think we are probably breathing them in regardless. Ultimately, I’d rather breathe in those things for a short while than breathe in COVID-19. And with this emergency doctor’s close proximity to these patients on a regular basis, I’m sure he is thinking the same thing.
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