Do-it-yourself masks for NHS workers and your family

In the US there is a concerted effort to make masks for health workers, social workers and other people who are at risk and don't have access to proper surgical masks.

There isn't a similar campaign in the UK - yet.  But if Italy, which was rated the number 2 best health service in the world could have run out of protective face masks for staff, it is very possible for it to happen here.  Already there are stories that ambulance staff are only allowed four masks for a day, and that they are rationing one mask between two paramedics in some places, with the person dealing with a patient having the mask and the other paramedic having to keep six feet away from someone thought to be suffering from coronavirus.

Let's be clear: these home-made masks are not as good as surgical masks.  The research shown on this page indicates that the sorts of material which allow for a breathable end result are about 60% effective, and surgical masks about 97% effective at blocking the virus.  But they are considerably better than nothing at all, and can be washed and changed to increase their effectiveness.

This page contains information including research about the best materials for making masks, which turn out to be 100% cotton pillowcases or cotton tshirts, for breathability and protection factors to be balance.  It is important to make the outer layer and inner layer a different colour and so someone can see immediately which is which.

This page includes a printable pattern for facemasks, with instructions for making them.  They are rectangular masks, with folds.  There are other designs which look more effective in terms of covering the nose and face, but they are made with different segments of fabric and I think (although I have no evidence) that these may be more porous and therefore less effective.  There is no good research with this design, which makes it difficult to know.

If you have any links to research, to patterns or have suggestions and guidance for less accomplished sewers, please comment or send me an email.  There are now a considerable number of groups on Facebook who are separated physically but banding together to make these for the hospitals and clinics in their area.  You may find information and support from them.  One example is Sewing masks for Atlanta hospitals (Covid-19).