WACO, TX — The shortage for medical supplies continue to grow throughout the United States as COVID-19 had its deadliest week to date. In order to flatten the curve, some cities are requiring individuals to not go out in public without masks.
Some Central Texans are now using household items to make their own personal masks and medical supplies.
Becca Kinerd is not much of a seamstress, but that isn’t stopping one central Texas woman from using her own home craft supplies to develop ear guards for doctors and nurses.
“It’s wearing blisters behind their ears. There skin is cracking. Its bruising. Its super super painful. I guess I really didn’t realize how bad it was until I offered these to people got about them," said Becca Kinerd.
Becca’s daughter is a nurse. This is personal for her and given all that’s happening she wanted to do something to help.
“I was like, what do I have in my craft closet. I have binding bags. Like for making presentations so I was like let me give those a try and it worked, and it actually worked really well,” said Becca Kinerd.
Sunday night, Becca saw a 3D printed design for ear guards online and decided to give it a try on her Cricket. Within 24 hours, she is now receiving requests from clinics and organizations across Central Texas.
“Its actually just when its done.. Its this little piece of plastic. It starts out... its on my cricket board here. But its just one piece of plastic sheet, like a thick vinyl. It goes through the cricket. It cuts six of them out and I peel off six of these,” said Becca Kinerd.
If you are unable to sew and do not have access to masks, you can also still make your own homemade masks to go with the ear guards. All you need is two pony tail holders and a bandanna or handkerchief.
I decided to try out several tutorials online. You can make this simple mask in less than two minutes, and then when you’re done, you can throw the bandanna in the wash to sanitize it.
To contact Becca Kinerd for more information on ear guards, you can email her at kinderdcrib@gmail.com.