That's fantastic. I recently saw on TV a blurb about a company making 3D printed masks that can be reused and posting the instructions, but I haven't heard anything since.

Vaporvac, yes, 3D printers can print reusable masks. However, in order to block the virus, a special type of material needs to be used, and that's the reason it's not as popular for 3D printers at home. They also need filter materials. When people know they can use filter bags in vacuum cleaners as materials to make emergency masks, it's hard to buy them at a reasonable price. Helen

Helen how awesome is that!!

I'm so glad that you are able to help out in that way

Well done!

Helen, as the mother of an ICU RN, who is 27 weeks pregnant, I cannot thank you enough. She’s nervous about going to work and having to use one mask per 12 hour shift. Thank you from all those health care workers and those who love them.♥️ Lisa

I also posted this on my Instagram, and someone said she knew a few friends who have 3D printers so she will let them know.

Lisa, your daughter is one of our front-line heroes, and we want to protect them as much as we can. I don't know what is the hospital's process for reusing masks every time they take off the masks. One of the nurses mentioned that they just take off the mask and put it in a bag outside a room. However, if they don't use a new bag every time they take the masks off, they will contaminate the inside side of the mask that facing the face.

I wear a mask when I go grocery shopping because it's impossible to always stay 6 ft from people. When a cashier hands a receipt to me, she is less than 6ft from me. I keep my mask in a one gallon zip lock bag then put it in a brown bag so people don't see what inside (I read someone broke into a lady's car to steal 2 small size hand sanitizers, lol.) I also put a few clean zip lock bags in the brown bag. After leaving the grocery store, I used hand sanitizer to clean my hands, then carefully remove the mask and put it in a new zip lock bag. The reason for this so that I don't contaminate the inside side of the mask (by cleaning my hand with hand sanitizer before removing the mask and using a new zip lock bag to store the mask.) In theory, we should throw the mask away after each use, however, with the mask shortage, that's not doable. I hope your daughter's hospital uses a clean bag each time she takes off the mask. However, if they don't, she can bring her own one gallon bags and take care of it.

Kristine and Rosylady, thank you. I believe each one of us can help in different ways :) Helen

Lisa, I'm thinking of you and your daughter and can't imagine the worry you must feel. Helen, you are an angel to do this and help spread the knowledge to others. They have started putting plastic barriers in front of the cashiers at some of our grocery stores. We haven't been in weeks, but I found that encouraging.

Lisa -- Now, I will be thinking of your daughter. God bless her, and all who work with her.

Amen!

Thanks Everyone. I’m always proud of her, and I admire what she does each day. I’m just SO wishing her pregnancy wasn’t coinciding with this virus. I’m not sure what they are doing with the masks, Helen. I get a bit of information from her when she offers it. I try to chat about the baby, and more normal things as much as I can. She has so much on her mind that I want her to enjoy her days off and rest. She’s already been extra tired with her pregnancy, and the stress and craziness at work just adds to her exhaustion. She’s off until Monday. I hope she rests up. Lisa

Helen that is so awesome that you are able to help out in such a tremendous way.

Lisa omg! That is so courageous of your daughter, I cant imagine how tough it must be every day! And she's pregnant!!!! God bless her.