#OperationPPE
For many, the days have been long and are blurring together. Fortunately, our office has been able to operate our business as usual which has allowed us to participate in Operation PPE. If you have been following us on our instagram, you’ll see we’ve been 3D-printing pseudo N95 mask components for Keck Medicine of USC. Organized by USC professor Alvin Huang, the goal is to create 6000 masks for workers in the event that personal protection equipment (PPE) supplies became unavailable. Our rapidly-expanding team consists of 217 volunteers with 208 printers and includes 14 schools, 5 non-profits, and 54 architecture firms across the greater Los Angeles area.
The 3D components of the masks are designed to snap together and require the addition of a HEPA filter insert and perimeter sealant to properly function. Although the mask design was created and approved by Keck, it’s important to note that these masks are not medical grade and are meant to be the “back-ups to the back-ups.” Our hope is that no one will have to use these masks, but it’s better to create a stockpile now for use as a last resort.
Our network of people have been communicating over Zoom meetings and Slack messages, lead by USC professor Alvin Huang. After about two weeks of production, the local collaboration has produced around 2,800 N95 masks and 2,200 face shields.
How do the masks get to Keck? Great question! For delivery, six team members have volunteered their homes as drop-off points. They have outdoor bins where participants drop off mask components that will later be delivered to a drop-off point at Keck. We decided on this system to ensure a contactless method and also to keep people away from the hospitals as much as possible. Once the components make it to Keck, they have a team of workers that sanitize parts and assemble masks when they can. For more information on how the masks are assembled, Keck published this blog with an informative video.
Do you have a 3D printer? Are you interested in contributing? We’ve barely made a dent into the demand there is for the mask components and still need more people. Sign up here.
Want to contribute by donating in some other way? Our network of people can use supplies and filament to keep producing. Here’s how to help:
- Follow this link: https://bit.ly/Give2OperationPPE
- Click on “Please direct my gift to a specific school or program”
- Type “Operation PPE” and another field will appear
- Type “USC Architecture Design Emergency Fund 2211011081”
- Fill out and complete the form as necessary
- Forward, a copy of your e-receipt to operationPPE@synthesis-dna.com so that we can track all contributions
We believe that the Coronavirus fight is one we can all participate in. Please consider helping by donating supplies, equipment or making a monetary contribution.
