Clinton County EMA is asking for assistance from any manufacturer who is willing to help with the shortage of PPE masks for our public safety personnel. If your facility can donate, once EMA gets additional supplies, they will be replaced back to the manufacturer. In order to donate, please contact the Clinton County Call Center provider line at 765-652-6502 to make arrangements for someone to pick them up.
Clinton County is also asking the public to assist in sewing and making masks to assist in shortages. The guidelines are based on what the CDC recommends. Below are the requirements for the hand-sewn masks:
How to Sew a Face Mask
Please follow these guidelines to ensure the masks are CDC-compliant and acceptable alternatives for us to use.
Supplies:
Cotton fabric – please make sure it is 100% cotton
Please do not use flannel
• Use a different color/pattern so that staff can distinguish between the inside and outside of the mask.
• Please make sure that any design is placed horizontally
• Elastic or elastic cord: 1/8 inch or ¼ inch
• Standard pipe cleaners
(Please remember that both men and women in a variety of roles will be wearing/using these masks when choosing fabrics)
Directions:
Two sizes available: Adult or Child: for adult masks, pay attention to ear loops for a difference between sizing for men and women
For MEN’S ADULT MASK: Cut the elastic 7 inches long and tie a knot at each end
For WOMEN’S ADULT MASK: Cut the elastic 6.5 inches long and tie a knot at each end
For CHILDREN’S MASK: Cut the elastic 6 inches long and tie a knot at each end
• DO NOT knot the ends of the flat piece
1. Cut two difference pieces of fabric for each mask -Cut 9×6 (Adult men and women) or 7.5×5(Child)
2. With right sides together, sew ¼” seam along the top edge. Sew again ½” below this seam to make a casing for a pipe cleaner.
3. Insert pipe cleaner that has been folded in half into casing. This allows the mask to fit snuggly around the nose.
• Do not worry if you sew over the pipe cleaner; it will not break your needle
4. Starting at the center of the bottom edge, sew to the first corner, stop.
Sew the elastic with the edge out into the corner. A few stitches forward and back will hold this.
5. Sew to the next corner, stop. Bring the other end of the same elastic to the corner and sew a few stitches forward and back.
6. Now sew across that top of the mask to the next corner. Again, put an elastic with the edge out.
7. Sew to the next corner and sew in the other end of the same elastic.
8. Sew across the bottom, leaving about 1.5-2 inches open. Stop, cut the thread.
Turn inside out
9. Pin 3 tucks on each side of the mask. Make sure the tucks are the same direction.
10. Sew around the edge of the mask twice
For completed masks:
• Please put your finished masks in clear, Ziplog bags
• Please separate the masks for men, women and children based on sizing and ear loop elastic differences
• Call ahead to the Clinton County Call Center provider line at 765-652-6502 between 10am-12pm and 4pm-6pm to make arrangements to have someone pick them up.
