Looking for things to do with your kids? Maybe even for you? Want to make stuff that helps? Here are a few of the projects we’re working on that are not too challenging, teach some basic skills, and can be used by regular people, caregivers and medical personnel alike.
A couple of notes. We’ve run these by some of our local medical services and they have wholeheartedly approved their use. In some cases they’re being used by their staff, and in some cases they’re used for patients while in treatment. We’re centralizing the delivery of items at The Brickyard, to keep the traffic down at the clinics and hospitals, and will tell you how to get them to us, if you wish, below. You can always contact us with any questions here.
Project 1: Simple DIY Hand Sanitizer
Difficulty – Wicked Easy
Age Level – Kids through adults
Time Required – 15 minutes or more, depending on amount
Of course, we all know by now that washing your hands is the best defense against this bug, but sometimes you just don’t have access to soap and water and a little bottle of hand sanitizer is a, um, handy thing to have. (Who says we still can’t use bad puns, come on now!). It’s pretty simple, here’s one basic recipe:
What you need:
- Alcohol – isopropyl (rubbing alcohol, 99% is what we use) or ethanol (so-called grain alcohol)
(note – Make sure the stuff you use is pure enough. Your final mixture should contain at least 60% alcohol to be effective. DO NOT use alcohol from the hardware store. Products like Everclear “vodka”, which is almost pure grain alcohol are acceptable)
- Aloe Vera gel or liquid
(This is to soothe and protect your hands and skin, since alcohol can be irritating.)
- Bottles – re-use any small, clean bottles you can find.
- A funnel
- A measuring cup
Options: If you want to be creative, you can add the following, but make sure you’re not diluting the mixture too much.
- Witch Hazel
- Essential oils (for scents)
- Hydrogen Peroxide
Some tips:
- Make the hand sanitizer in a clean space. Wipe down counter tops with a diluted bleach solution beforehand.
- Wash your hands thoroughly before making the hand sanitizer.
- To mix, use a clean spoon and whisk. Wash these items thoroughly before using them.
- Make sure the alcohol used for the hand sanitizer is not diluted.
- Mix all the ingredients thoroughly until they are well blended.
- Do not touch the mixture with your hands until it is ready for use.
- This must NOT be taken internally.
For details and more information, check out this post on Healthline.
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Project 2: Make a Face Mask
Difficulty – Medium
Age Level – Kids through adults
Time Required – 1/2 hour to 1 hour, depending on skill
This is a project that’s had huge success in our community, and the masks we’ve made have been a giant hit. The best resource for instruction is on the Deaconess Hospital website, and has been used worldwide. Our sewing folks have made several modifications like adjustable elastic loops, wires in the top for conforming better to the nose, extension of material to cover the chin… everything they’ve done has been enthusiastically accepted by our clinics and health care workers.
Here’s that link to the instructions: How to Make a Face Mask
A couple of notes:
- Make sure the people you’re giving masks to are aware they need to be cleaned and sanitized. They generally will assume so, but it’s important you make that clear.
- You can use almost any material that’s 100% cotton, but what we’ve been told is that something like T-shirt material is actually a great choice. Sheets are good, if you can find them that are not a blend.
- Patterns and prints are awesome. Have some fun, use up those scraps!
- This is a great basic sewing project for teaching kids. It covers all of the skills of introductory sewing, and you can help with anything that’s slightly out of their ability pretty easily.
- It’s handy to deliver your masks in a ziplock or similar bag.
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Project 2: Make a PPE Gown
Difficulty – Medium
Age Level – Kids through adults
Time Required – 1/2 hour to 1 hour, depending on skill
This is a project one of our sewing volunteers found and tested out, made a sample and we delivered to the clinic. We make our version from shower curtain liners from the Dollar Store and similar places – they come in fun colors and are washable, so they can be re-used. It’s a little more complicated project for the kids, but it’s fun – make the pattern by tracing out your outline on the floor, basic principles of how to make your own clothes, all good stuff.
Supplies (from the Instructables page)
- 12′ x 400′ roll of 0.7 mil plastic sheeting (e.g. HDX from Home Depot) or shower curtain liners from the Dollar Store.
- large piece of cardboard, or plywood sheet (at least 4’x6′, but ideally 4′ x 8′)
- measuring tape
- indelible marker (e.g. thick Sharpie)
- sharp scissors (or box cutter?)
- heat gun (or hairdryer?)
- 1 gallon paint can
Some of the tips they offer:
- Hang your roll on a broomstick so you can unroll new material easily.
- Learn to “push” the sharp scissors through the plastic with the blades half open once you’ve got your cut started. It’s a lot faster than opening and closing the scissors as you cut, plus it leaves less jagged edges.
- Instead of using scissors, put a 2″x6″ wooden board on the floor next to the roll, mark a center line, and slice through the plastic sheeting along the line with sharp box cutters.
For the complete instructions, go to “DIY Plastic PPE Gown” here, on Instructables.
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Delivery Suggestions
Chances are, whoever you’re going to try to get these items to is pretty overwhelmed, but we’ve had a lot of people contact us individually, even in conversation, who need these items, especially masks. Reach out to them, but don’t feel bad if they don’t respond. Try to make the delivery fast and simple for them.
If you have items you want to deliver through The Brickyard, feel free to respond to this email and we can forward you the delivery instructions. We have a dropbox set up at our front door, accessible from 6AM to 6PM weekdays that is safe and secure. Almost all of our items are going to the Lynn Community Health Center, but some are going to visiting nurses and other groups as we get requests.
Supplies
Here’s the trick. Finding supplies. When we got rolling on this, alcohol started disappearing, even through industrial supply sources. We looked at Grainger, MSC Direct and other sources and it’s all on backorder now. Sometimes you can find stuff in unlikely places, but save yourself any exposure by calling if in doubt. eBay and Amazon work in some cases, but be aware, there are people out there who are pretty sketchy, who are price gouging and worse. Know your source, or at least check them out well.
Some of the more difficult items are elastic and alcohol. Aloe gel is easier, but still a little tough to get in large quantities. Shower curtains, thankfully, are pretty easy to find and cheap. We’re collecting what we can find, so if you get stuck, let us know via email and maybe we can help you out.
Want to do a Facebook “Live” video or something on Youtube showing people how you’re doing your project? Link us up and we’ll post it all over the interwebs!
Have a great weekend, and reach out if you need anything! …and as always, “Keep making stuff. Take care of people, play nice and clean up after yourselves!”
Ted