(View the website that this Call to Action has coalesced into: getusppe.org)

COVID-19 cases are spreading around the the world and most regions are unprepared to protect health care workers. The New York Times wrote ‘At War with No Ammo’ highlighting the crisis, and there are reports of health-care workers creating their own safety equipment from office supplies. We are in the early days of this crisis; to quote a healthcare worker from the NYT article: “We’re on mile one of a marathon, what does mile 25 look like?”

We’re asking Burners to go through their playa bins and take out clean, unused, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as N95 masks, goggles, and gloves to donate to medical centers in need.

The most important thing: Only contribute items that are truly helpful. 

We want to make the situation better, not overwhelm others with well-intended, but unusable materials. We don’t want to overrun the hospitals/medical/service centers. It’s neither safe nor helpful if large numbers of people drop off PPE donations individually.  There are many groups around the country putting together distribution centers to receive, track, and distribute donations in a safe and sanitary way. Whenever possible, we’re going to help you connect with the people already doing this critical work near you. We are stronger together. 

Call To Action for Donations: 

1. Collect packaged/unused N95 masks, goggles, rubber gloves, and surgical masks to support medical responders.
2. Three ways to give:
   1. Search for PPE needs in caregiving facilities near you to donate directly: https://getusppe.org/states/
   2. Submit your supplies at https://getusppe.org/Give to be matched with a healthcare facility in need.
   3. Go to Mask Match to mail your small donation directly to a critical healthcare worker without leaving your home.
3. Tell us what you’re donating so that we can tell the story of impact from the burner community. Fill out this quick survey to log your donations. Take a photo with your donations and hashtag #BWBPrepared 
4. Made your donation? Ready to share this campaign with your friends? Here’s some sample language to share on social media alongside your donation selfie:
   

“I just went through my playa bins and found clean, unused, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as N95 masks, goggles, and gloves to donate to medical centers in need. Burner Fam: We all already have tons of protective gear, a lot of it unused or easy to clean. Around the country, individuals and distribution centers are organizing to collect them and turn them over to hospitals, clinics, and care centers in need. Do you have any? Add them in! #BWBPrepared #StrongerTogether <https://bmanbwb.wpengine.com/projects/covid-bds>

“We just collected 50+ in the first few hours in the East Bay–contactless drive up/drop off service, just put them in the bin in the back of the truck. They’ll be going to UCSF hospital, where doctors and nurses are already being forced to re-use PPE over and over because no spares are available. #BWBPrepared #StrongerTogether  <https://bmanbwb.wpengine.com/projects/covid-bds>”

* Please note that homemade masks, masks without filters (including nuisance masks), 3D printed masks, and/or fabric masks cannot be used by medical providers. They may be used at shelters, senior centers, and other places where those who are sick need to wear masks to contain the spread of the virus. Check the Community Resources to find places to donate these masks.

Call to Action:  Making Your Own Personal Protective Equipment:

In the past few days there has been a global grassroots movement to make masks and other equipment in response to a shortage for healthcare workers, senior centers, shelters and other vulnerable communities. Dozens of patterns and guides have been generated, and different styles/materials are appropriate for different PPE uses.

Join the Maker Community at GetUsPPE: Supported by our friends at Nation of Makers, all projects listed here have been reviewed and approved by medical professionals (the OSCMS Medical Review Team)

Open Source COVID-19 Medical Supplies: link to comprehensive summary of OSCMS needs and how you may be able to design, manufacture, or engineer different types of PPE. This is an umbrella directory and general knowledge document that’s appropriate for someone looking for a deep dive into open source medical supplies. 

If you are interested in making your own masks to donate, here are some Mask Specific Resources:

• OSCMS: Surgical Face Masks
• Sew Masks Project
• 100 Million Mask Challenge 
• IdeaFabLabs: How to Make a Facemask
• Instructables Mask Tutorial (designed by a nurse to fit over her certified masks)
• Find The Masks- General PPE needs for national hospitals, each location indicates whether they accept hand-sewn masks, some do.

Want to help us organize this project further?  Email: bwb@burningman.org
This project is being put together using multiple burner, and non-burner resources, thank you to everyone who’s helped us create this.

Shout out to the Burners starting local drop off centers for their own communities:
Richmond, Virginia Burners Drop-Off Call-out
BWB Arizona/Phoenix Drop-Off + Campaign Call Out

Got a burner drop off center/local campaign to add to our list? Email bwb@burningman.org

Tom Price already gathering masks in the San Francisco Bay Area:

“We just collected 50+ in the first few hours in the East Bay–contactless drive up/drop off service, just put them in the bin in the back of the truck. They’ll be going to UCSF hospital, where doctors and nurses are already being forced to re-use PPE over and over because no spares are available. #BWBPrepared #StrongerTogether  <https://bmanbwb.wpengine.com/projects/covid-bds>”

Burners in Los Angeles have made a drop-off box to collection donations!

Donation of 50 masks by BWB-Houston!

> How to create a Project.