When the COVID-19 pandemic began impacting supplies of critical PPE for healthcare staff, a Florida doctor came up with the idea to make masks using materials already found in hospitals.
Shabana and Tahir Chauhdry, DO, recently watched a news
segment about the University of Florida’s Dr. Bruce Spiess who designed a mask
comparable to an N95 mask using a material commonly used by hospitals to wrap
sterile surgical instruments to protect them from airborne contamination. It
sparked an idea to help the Olean community.
Shabana bought the materials and started making masks with
the help of the Southern Tier Quilt Guild and Rose and Micki Orcutt, RN. The
group personally donated 600 masks Thursday to Olean General Hospital and the
City of Olean.
In addition to the mask’s filtering ability, the mask can be
sterilized and reused. While not currently approved by the FDA, the University
of Florida is currently seeking a patent for the masks.
Shabana said the group plans to make more and donate to
first responders next. “It’s important to keep everyone healthy. (Today) we’re
donating to give back to the hospital,” she said.
“The safety of our employees is paramount. We appreciate all
you’ve been doing. This shows our community coming together. We can’t thank you
enough,” Jeff Zewe, RN, president, chief executive officer, UAHS, Bradford
Regional Medical Center, OGH, said.
“Olean is the most caring community. We always step up
during a crisis. I would like to thank the Chauhdrys, Southern Tier Quilt
Guild, Rose and Micki Orcutt and Olean General Hospital for this generous
donation of face masks to the City of Olean. With a shortage of available
protective masks, this donation will be used to protect our police officers and
other city employees who have daily contact with the public,” Olean Mayor Bill
Aiello, said.
For more information on the masks, contact the Chauhdrys at whowny@yahoo.com.
