Maintain the social distance from health security? In some professions, particularly those focused on human relationships and working with fragile populations, this is simply not always possible. In places that welcome disabled people, in educational homes for young people, professionals at the front take risks for their health and, quite involuntarily, for that of their protégés due to the lack of protective equipment.
Aware that the masks must be distributed as a priority to the nursing staff, Ivan Haro, director general of PRO, and Pierre Coucourde, director general of Clair Bois, have found the solution: create workshops within their structures to make a model validated by medical authorities. The operation is launched and will provide the entire social and educational network.
The genesis of the project
“We discussed it with Pierre Coucourde, then PRO and Clair Bois initiated the project on Thursday March 19; PPE (Public Establishments for Integration) and the Ensemble Foundation joined our approach on Tuesday, March 24 on the same model, explains Ivan Haro. We were very worried about the lack of masks in establishments for the disabled (EPH). As of March 21, we were able to start production at PRO. ”
Pierre Coucourde, who is also president of the Geneva Association of education, teaching and reintegration organizations (AGOEER), specifies that the masks are intended for the personnel of the EPH and will be distributed, according to the needs, by the apexes AGOEER and INSOS (Cantonal Association of Institutions for People with Disabilities). “It’s a lot of people since it will also benefit the staff of all educational institutions.”
PRO was cut to carry out this mask making project. It is indeed a place of professional integration for people excluded from the traditional economy which functions like any business, developing in a very reactive way multiple assembly, manufacturing or packaging services for its customers in its premises- Petit Lancy workshops. Today, most of the activities have obviously been stopped, only remaining missions that meet public utility needs: health, hydroalcoholic gel packaging or making meals for firefighters. PRO and Clair Bois built on what already existed to create a high-performance mask. “We took as a model a prototype developed a fortnight ago by the Grenoble University Hospital Center, details Ivan Haro. We then had its protective efficacy validated by Dr. Dave Baer of the Onex Medical Group. “
“The idea is not to replace surgical masks, which provide maximum protection to caregivers in contact with people with Covid-19,” adds Pierre Coucourde. But ours is effective, for example for professionals who have to take care of everyday EPH care. ”
Technically, the mask consists of two layers, an inner cotton and an outer microfiber whose hydrophobic properties act as a filter. This last layer makes all the difference in terms of protection compared to more traditional products. “We were able to get all the materials quickly and were able to launch the workshop, which is made up of six people in sewing and one in the organization,” added Ivan Haro. The health and safety regulations are of course fully respected there. ”
Washable and reusable
Another big advantage, these masks are washable at 90 degrees (or at 60 with bleach) and therefore reusable. “The objective is to create sufficient stock for each team that needs it,” continues Pierre Coucourde. By March 30, we should be able to start equipping everyone. And it’s a great relief. ”
At the moment, the PRO workshop can produce 220 per day. “What limits our production is the lack of sewing machines,” concludes the general manager. But collaborators will complete the equipment with their own machine. We will be able to do even better and ultimately achieve 400 daily. ”
Masks in simple fabric, false good idea?
They are pink, with flowers or with skulls. The photos of “homemade” protective masks are flourishing on social networks, as are the tutorials to make them. A sewing machine, fabric, rubber band and voila, we promise. The Grenoble University Hospital Center has even distributed a pattern for making them. By clarifying however that the principle of this mask is not to filter the air, but to prevent the propagation of saliva particles which can be contaminated.
The usefulness of these “home made” masks is debated. It did not convince Professor Didier Pittet, head of the infectious diseases department at the Geneva University Hospitals. “First of all, we must note that we have enough masks for those who need them, that is to say contaminated people and caregivers.” Then, he adds, “a simple fabric does not provide optimal protection, due to its lack of waterproofness and impermeability.” A real surgical mask is made up of several materials: the dark blue, external, is waterproof. The inner layer is absorbent. A mask must also be changed every two to four hours, according to the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) because it gets wet, contaminates or even becomes contaminated. The professor would see only one indication to use these cloth protections: “If one is sick and that one must go to his doctor, and that one coughs-spits a lot, then that can be useful to retain the droplets. But just like a simple scarf that you would put in front of your mouth. “
Same skepticism on the side of the cantonal pharmacist Christian Robert, for whom there are not enough guarantees on the filtering function, as on the side of the OFSP, which does not encourage the creation of these masks. Daniel Dauwalder, communications officer, explains that these being artisanal, “they cannot be evaluated according to the criteria usually applied to hygiene masks. They cannot therefore be considered effective. ‘ Even if they are not 100% effective, is it not better than nothing for unprotected exposed professionals, such as pharmacists? “No, we cannot consider them as such.”
It should also be noted that the new cantonal doctor, Aglaé Tardin, specifies that for the population, the wearing of the mask is only recommended if one must absolutely go out and one is tested positive for the coronavirus or if one is severely immunosuppressed. “For all other cases, they are not recommended. “We think we are protected when we wear it and in fact we are going to put ourselves at greater risk of contamination.” A.T.
Created: 30.03.2020, 06:47
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