IONIA, Mich. — Ionia County and Sparrow Medical Group are asking residents who sew to make and donate face masks as they prepare to deal with COVID-19.
Donated face masks will be distributed to people who work as first responders, hospital employees, at shelters, long-term care facilities and other frontline staff.
Homemade masks are not considered personal protective equipment because their ability to protect health care providers are unknown, but the Centers for Disease Control allows them as another option when other supplies are exhausted.
People creating masks can follow instructions from Pheobe Putney Health Systems.
Donations can be dropped off from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday at Sparrow Orthopedic Rehabilitation at 537 W Main St. in Ionia.
Other items being accepted include:
- Disposable face masks
- N95 masks, including 3D printed
- Eye protection like face shields and safety goggles
- Disposable gowns
- Disposable non-latex gloves
- Surgical caps
- Disposable foot covers
- Bleach
- Bleach or anti-microbial sanitizing wipes
- Hand sanitizer
- PAPRs or PAPR hoods
- Nasal flock swaps
- Fisher and Payal MR850 wires and heaters
- Ventilator parts from Hamilton G5 Servo I and S, Trilogy, LTV 1200, HT 50, 7200 Puritan Bennett
