Cynthia Ruan, a member of East Cobb AYLUS, recently worked with the Facebook group Sewing Masks for Area Hospitals (COVID-19) – Atlanta and made fabric masks for hospitals in the Atlanta area. AYLUS, which stands for the Alliance of Youth Leaders in the United States, is a student-run organization that works to help communities all around the country. The East Cobb Branch was founded in 2017 and has been working around this area since then.
In these uncertain times, healthcare workers serve as our heroes, working many hours of the day to tend to the ill. In these hospitals, they must wear a series of masks to prevent the spread of the virus by
protecting themselves and their patients. Due to the shortage of masks, many of these healthcare workers must reuse their masks. Fabric masks are an alternative to the face masks and also increase the
longevity of the N95 masks. By making the fabric masks and providing them to hospitals, Cynthia and other members of the Facebook group are working as a team to aid the hospitals in fighting this pandemic.
Seeing these workers wear masks often strikes fear in people, especially young children. By covering these masks with patterned fabric, this problem can be relieved.
The masks are first cut out from K-95 templates onto 100% cotton fabric. Then, they are sewn together along with elastics to create the mask. Lastly, the masks are ironed smooth to prepare for delivery.
At times like this, many doctors and nurses are risking their lives to relieve the outbreak. Members of the branch hope to do as much as they can to help the workers and the community. Additionally, the East Cobb Branch of AYLUS is donating masks and other PPE to hospitals and 3D printing shield masks for them too.
The report was posted at Marietta Daily Journal on May 7, 2020.
Attendance: Kathrine Sha (4 hours)
Reported by Katherine Sha
