First 500 emergency masks made by Sikh activist Gurinder Singh Khalsa going to first responders.
Amid the Coronavirus pandemic, Fishers, Indiana based businessman and activist Gurinder Singh Khalsa and his family were thinking of ways they could help the public and first responders.
Just a couple of days ago, after learning about a great shortage of masks in the US from media reports, he had an idea. Khalsa called up a doctor friend and asked if he could contribute by providing homemade masks packaged in sanitary conditions.
“I immediately spoke to some of my doctor friends,” he said. “Based on online research and advice from public health practitioners, we have started stitching these general-purpose emergency masks.”
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Once he got the green signal, Khalsa, his wife Gagandeep Kaur and rest of his family got busy spending whole of Friday making more than 500 emergency masks.
He wants to give these masks first to the city officials, first responders, police and first departments who are doing a great job in the service of the city residents.
Khalsa believes that his emergency mask program would allow persons who cannot access the N-95 and medical masks to obtain reusable and washable masks for community use.
The masks are available starting Sunday, March 22, 2020, For availability please call at 317-308-1050 or KhalsaBliss@gmail.com
He emphasized that these masks produced and packed in a safe environment are essentially intended for those who must leave their homes with some protection.
The use of Khalsa’s homemade masks with double layers of thick cotton fabric will reserve the medical and N-95 masks for healthcare and emergency service personnel.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released new guidelines for using face masks in response to the shortages in surgical and respirator masks. It advises using fabric masks when no other masks are available to the healthcare worker.
Khaksa’s masks would be a godsend people looking for things they would need during the quarantine period when essentials are flying off the shelves of grocery stores.
“These Emergency Masks are being made available at the cost of production,” Khalsa said. The family also intends to extend the benefit of their initiative to those who may be experiencing financial pinch during these times.
“We also hope to offer employment to those who are in need of employment,” he said by taking in at least 100 people in a month for making emergency masks.
The masks are a necessity at this moment, Khalsa said. Their home made product will fill the gap in the market and sold at a low cost for general public.
“We will be providing a chance of working at home or work at our safe location,” he said speaking of benefits offered to those needing a job. “Sewing machines will be purchased if a worker needs one.”
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