With the shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) in the war against the coronavirus, a lot of companies worldwide have been retooling their production to churn out the PPEs that are needed by the frontliners as fast as they can. They know that it is a race against time as the frontliners are going through supplies faster than ever before as the number of cases piles up. The lack of PPEs will expose those who are trying to save others to the virus itself and we all know that even if just one frontliner gets infected, it will affect how a health facility can be able to attend to patients.

Indeed, the increasing shortage of PPEs have exposed a lot of first responders --- nurses, paramedics, doctors, hospital workers, police, sanitation, and firefighters. A good number find themselves landing in the ICU and there is a growing list of frontliners succumbing to the virus.

In the airsoft and defense industries, companies have responded and we have reported quite a few of them already. They are either producing PPEs to be donated to hospitals and other facilities or providing them at cost so they are affordable enough given the dwindling funds or prohibitive pricing of supplies getting scarcer.

The latest to step are Strike Industries and KelTec. Both are known brands in both airsoft and firearms industries and they are producing masks needed by the medical community.

Strike Industries are producing mask sleeves that can be worn or with a surgical mask or an electrostatic filter inserted inside to prolong their use. They are offering two versions at a cost of US$6.95 each --- the version with Ear Loop and the version with the Head Loop limited at 5 mask sleeves per order.  These are available in different camo patterns but customers cannot get to choose which camo pattern or colour they can get as Strike Industries will be sending them random colours as they would prefer to produce the mask sleeves in volume than worrying about the tastes of customers in colour schemes.

They also included a video showing how to use a surgical mask and recommended DIY filter method to be used with the mask sleeves.

For KelTec, they are working on 3D printing N99-capable masks (equivalent of FFP3 masks) which provide a higher level of protection as compared to N95 masks as they can filter 99% of particles. These masks are reusable with the Roomba filters that are available for use in the Roomba vacuum cleaners and since these filters capture 99% of allergens, pollen, and particles as small as 10 microns they can be utilized as filters for N99 masks:

KELTEC IS 3D PRINTING N99 CAPABLE MASKS TO SUPPLY LOCAL HOSPITALS

COCOA, FL, APRIL 8, 2020. KelTec engineer, Toby Obermeit is working with the Medical University of South Carolina to make improvements to their S.A.F.E. Mask design as well as creating a variety of additional cartridge options. These designs will be publicly available to help fill the immediate needs of healthcare and first responders everywhere. The masks, when used with the correct filters, can be of N99 quality, are reusable, and currently feature replaceable Roomba® Filters.

“After Toby studied the original S.A.F.E. filter cartridge design, he then optimized it by making it faster and easier to print” said Marketing Manager, Matt Stanek. “He submitted this improved design to MUSC, and officials at the University were so impressed that they asked for help with the next generation mask design”.

The original design required cutting and gluing a HEPA filter, however the new designs utilize various Roomba® Filters, making them much easier to assemble.

“We’ve accomplished a lot.” said Obermeit. “We’ve made improvements to the mask itself, as well as created multiple cartridges which take different types of filters. There is even a mask design that has an integrated filter cartridge.”

KelTec, meanwhile, quickly repurposed their 3D printers for the N99 quality masks to supply local hospitals.

“Caring about each other, our families and neighbors is in our DNA,” concluded Sales Director, Derek Kellgren. “These are difficult times and we have friends, family members, neighbors and customers on the front lines. We’re just glad we can be of some help, given how much they’re helping us and our communities.”

KelTecTM, known for innovation and performance, is one of the top firearms manufacturers in the world, employing nearly 300 American citizens, many of whom are Veterans.

Links for printing S.A.F.E. Cartridge System and Mask designs:

• Original S.A.F.E. Mask Design
• Optimization of Filter for Original Design
• Next Generation Mask Design
• New Designs for Roomba HEPA Filters, Mask Built-in

You can help your local medical facilities and other frontline units in the fight against Covid-19 by buying the Strike Industries Mask Sleeves and donating these. If they are already awash in PPEs, then you can donate them to vulnerable such as the senior citizens and people with underlying conditions. If you have 3D printers, you can utilise them by following the printing guides as provided by KelTec.

There is no let up in the fight. The more equipment that can be tapped, the better can frontliners carry on the fight. Their success will be dependent on how we can support them and that means we should utilise everything at our disposable to help them out as well as others that need them so they can survive.