PEORIA, Ill. — The local healthcare community has asked for the public’s help in securing personal protective equipment.
Homemade masks are being accepted for UnityPoint Health, OSF Healthcare, Heartland Health, University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria, the fire departments of Peoria and East Peoria, and the Pekin Police Department.
“Primarily, we are looking for cotton weaved fabric that’s tightly woven with no lace,” said Dr. John Miller, UnityPoint Health.
“No frayed edges or missed seams.
“They don’t need to be stylish, just functional.”
Miller estimated UnityPoint, alone, would be needing 1,500 masks per week until the peak of the pandemic has passed.
“Right now, we’re just looking for numbers. Just trying to get the most numbers because we have a fairly large need.”
Dropoff locations for the masks include Heartland Health, the Hult Center for Health Living in Peoria, the Peoria and East Peoria Fire Departments, the Pekin Police Department, and the UICOMP campus.
Patterns for the Olsen mask and surgical style mask may be found here.
