What is Happening Now to the Global Effort on 3D Printing Masks and Ventilator Parts?

3D / Billie Fleming

While the COVID-19 pandemic is causing chaotic scenarios on a global scale, it is leaving our healthcare institutions and hospitals running short on mechanical respirators, ventilators, and protective equipment.

This has prompted the additive manufacturing industry to finally come into the picture and provide much-needed help in a desperate attempt to address the impending crisis for this lifesaving equipment.

As of this writing, 3D printing efforts have begun in the major corners of the globe. Everyone is encouraged to provide the help they could offer, from large scale operations down to the individual 3D printer hobbyist.

Bringing to Life the Respirators for COVID-19 Patients

A good number of private and government-owned hospitals are taking charge of rousing private individuals and groups who own 3D printers to fire up their equipment for this purpose.

Like for instance, we have this group of anesthesiologists face up to the scarcity of ventilating machines at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. To help them surmount this hurdle, they launched an online challenge, instead.

They called their online campaign “The CoVent-19 Challenge”. It is an 8-week open-innovation challenge intended for designers, innovators, engineers, and makers. The goal of the project is to create easy and readily deployable signs that can be used practically for 2 devices. But details of which yet to be released by them.

What the project is trying to aim for is to mobilize people from all over to come up with teams and wrap up their device designs before the end of June of 2020 comes, before getting validated and scaled up mass production to address hospital shortages.

The hospital was vocal in expressing their support to the participants and will do so by providing them their technical and medical panels to help and guide them in their design layouts.

When you think of respirator machines, you also need to think about their small components which are a bit expensive, the reason why they are not kept on shelves. They are only manufactured when they’re needed, or if there is a high demand for it like now.

Can We Utilize 3D Printing for Making Masks, Gowns, and Other Types of Personal Protective Equipment or PPEs?

When you talk about PPE, this would include protective gowns, clothing, face shields, gloves, face masks, goggles, and respirators. Anything qualified to help in keeping the wearer safe and protected against any kind of injury or the spread of illness or infection.

While taking advantage of 3-dimensional printing in the production of certain kinds of PPEs is highly possible, one needs to be aware about the manifold of technical challenges. You need to surmount them first otherwise it will not be effective enough or will fall short of expectations.

For instance, if you make use of a 3D printed PPE, it may work great in providing you with physical barrier but may not be exceptionally good when it comes to giving air and liquid barrier and filtration protection in much the same way as to how the N95 respirators and masks were cleared by the FDA.

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How Safe Is It to Swim in a Community Pool During the COVID-19 Pandemic According to a Pool and Spa Warehouse?

Health, Home Improvement / Billie Fleming

While temperatures across the country are on the rise, there are several ways that do a better job of keeping us cool as opposed to just taking a swim. But with the current ceasing of operations of the vast majority of community recreational pools across the country and around the world, too, many are left to wonder how safe it is to go and return to community pools the moment they resume their operations.

With respect to the findings of McMaster University in Hamilton biochemistry professor, who has committed himself to the study of the novel coronavirus, he asserted that the COVID-19 can’t be transmitted through water.

The COVID-19 is classified as a type of respiratory virus that is kind of different in comparison to the other types of viruses like the one causing polio. It is also unlike the cholera virus which gets spread easily through the water. Therefore, the odds that you can get contaminated with this coronavirus by virtue of the pool water itself is very low.

community pool women swimming

While there is no comprehensive research yet done on the lifespan of the COVID-19, say, in pool water, the CDC or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention asserted that there are no evidence yet that can prove this type of virus can spread to humans by means pool water, water playgrounds or hot tubs.

This statement is from the CDC spokesperson and it cleared the air for those who are planning to acquire a hot tub or a swim spa from spa supplies near me. This signifies that there is nothing to worry about the use of a swim spa or hot tub during the COVID-19 pandemic since the virus can’t be transmitted through water.

Once a virus gets in contact with water, it will get super diluted. Therefore, there is no chance whatsoever that you will get exposed to any appreciable amount of it.

Chlorinated pool water from recreational water facilities like community pools or hot tubs usually has an antiviral effect. Hence, there is no possible way that anyone can contract the novel coronavirus by virtue of aspiration or consumption of the water pool.

The CDC is also supporting this view, adding that proper operation and maintenance practices of these aquatic venues, as well as water disinfection habits using bromine or chlorine, will significantly help in inactivating the virus.

What Measures Can You Take to Alleviate the Risks?

Apart from the numerous guidelines already provided by health officials as well as the government, spa supplies near me say that common sense will tell you not to let any amount of pool water get into your mouth.

If you are gracing community recreational pools, you need to be very conscious about social distancing, even when you are in water. Additionally, you should avoid dispersing water to the air from your mouth. When you are not in the pool or you are just simply sitting poolside, you will need to wear a face mask.

You can also take a shower first before you go for a swim and right after taking a dip in the pool water. And in doing so, see to it that you will thoroughly scrub your hands, too.

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The Importance of Lighting During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Health, Information Technology, Medical Supplies / Billie Fleming

In the hopes to defeat the Covid-19 pandemic governments all over the world are prioritizing the supply of medical supplies, protective equipment, food essentials, and pharmaceuticals. Next to such are the other important sectors. However, one serious risk is being overlooked and taken for granted- it is the role of light.

Artificial lights are very important in today’s time of crisis. With lights, we can get doing all the basic things we need to do. Most of all, functional lights play an important role in keeping test facilities, hospitals, highways, supermarkets, and distribution centers running both day and night.

The Role of Lighting in Today’s Crisis

Front Line

It is not only the visual property of lights that is making a huge difference today. Although not everyone realizes it, bit UV radiation plays a key role in disinfecting hospitals. Also, it utilized disinfecting police stations, factories, schools, offices, and post offices. For example, a UV-C radiation that comes with a wavelength of 254nm can break down the DNA of mold, bacteria, and viruses. It can even purify water and air.

Here are more ways on how lighting improves the quality of life, while adding essential value during this difficult time in our lives today.

Health at Home

With an overwhelming number of individuals who are now staying in their homes, the importance of light for their well-being and that of their family should never be underestimated. In fact, even before this crisis came to exist, almost 90% of our time was being spent inside with not enough daylight. Indeed, light is very essential to everyone’s health and well-being as it helps regulate our sleep-wake cycle.

In addition, it could help with people’s daily routine. A bright and functional light can keep us energized and enhance our concentration levels. On the other hand, warm light can help create a cozy atmosphere that helps unwind at night. Simply put, having the right type of light would make us feel, see, and function much better.

Food Security

There is one more unsung application of light and it is in food production. With artificial lights, it is possible to grow crops in many countries, thus reducing the distance and lessening the dependence on imports that could be carbon-hungry. Such is changing the way people farm. In today’s time, when the supply chains are tested, food security is most important.

Keeping the Streets Safe and Secure

The majority of pedestrians and drivers recognize the requirement for a well-lighted street. A good quality lighting for the streets can help reduce accidents and injuries by up to 30%. In addition, a well-lit street is also safer. Police officers can tell that proper lights can help prevent crime.

Light has so many benefits, although we do not realize all of them. But one thing is for sure, our lives have become so much better because of light. And during this trying time, we can just all be thankful that lights are available to help us in many ways.

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