Author: Steve Goldsmith

  • How you can help

    Makers, In this difficult time you can put your skills, time and energy to use helping the community get through this.

    • Sew Face Masks:  Supplies of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers are being seriously strained.  As the COVID-19 case count increases, this will become an ever increasing problem.  Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center is asking for donations of home made fabric face masks.   You can help right now by donating your time and skills.   More information is available here on the Dartmouth-Hitchcock website.
    • Help crowdsource Repair Information for Hospital Equipment: iFixit is building a central resource for maintenance and repair of hospital equipment. This is an attempt to centralize all the documentation and resources necessary to keep these life saving machines operating and to help the biomedical technicians who service them working as efficiently as possible when machines need repair.
       
    • Digital Fabricators (3D printers, CNC plasma torch operators, CNC router operators): There’s a need for 3D printed parts including ventilator valves and reusable face masks as well as other fabricated parts.  We are still investigating what specifically hospitals in the region are asking for or will be asking for in the near future and what the best design solutions are.  In the meantime, if you are interested in helping, please contact ryan@claremontmakerspace.org who has offered to help coordinate this effort.

     Other resources and information:

    • If your business is impacted by this crisis, the Upper Valley Business Alliance has information about current resources available for regional businesses. 
    • if you’re hungry and looking for a place to get takeout, here’s a list from the Upper Valley Business Alliance ofUpper Valley Restaurants that are offering delivery and curbside pickup options.   
    • The Greater Claremont Chamber of Commerce has a list with information about local businesses, special hours and programs. 
       

    Additional Maker resources coming soon:The Claremont MakerSpace will be setting up a website where members of the community can share ideas, designs, materials and support. Look for information on that shortly.

    Be healthy and keep makin’ 
    The Claremont MakerSpace Team

  • How you can help – Face Masks

    How to Make a Face Mask

    Thank you for donating your skills and your time to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health! Due to COVID-19 one of our greatest needs is to increase our supply of Personal Protective Equipment (“PPE”). According to the CDC, volunteers can help increase our supply of PPE by making fabric face masks, which are usable in a crisis response when necessary.

    Read First: Infection Prevention

    Please answer these questions for yourself:

    1. EXPOSURE: “Have you been in contact with anyone suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 in the past 14 days?” 
    1. SYMPTOMS: “Do you have fever, cough, or shortness of breath?”

    If “no” to EXPOSURE and SYMPTOMS, then proceed with making masks. 

    If “yes” to EXPOSURE and/or “yes” to SYMPTOMS, please do not make any masks. If you are experiencing cough, fever or shortness of breath and have concern that this might be COVID-19, please call your primary care provider for a risk assessment. If you do not have a primary care provider, please call the state at: NH: 2-1-1, VT: 802-863-7240.

    Practice good hand hygiene when making your masks! Wash your hands whenever you start and end a sewing session. In addition, we will wash all masks when they arrive at our facility.

    Guidelines for Making Face Masks

    Materials:

    100% unused cotton fabric (front) – no metallic fabrics

    100% cotton or cotton flannel (back)

    ¼” or 3/8” flat elastic

    You may provide your own fabric or pick up a kit with all needed materials (except thread) from us. Please see: “Connect with Us” below.

    How to Make a Face Mask

    A video and instructions for making the masks can be found at this website (thank you to the Turban Project and Deaconess Health System). We strongly recommend watching the very helpful video from Deaconess. For your convenience, we’ve listed the instructions here as well.

    (Note: the instructions list two sizes, Adult and Child. We would recommend making adult-sized masks primarily. If possible, making a few larger Adult masks would be helpful as well, simply by adding an inch to the cut fabric.)

    1. Put right sides of cotton fabric together. Cut 9 x 6 (Adult) or 7.5 x 5 (Child) or 10 x 7 (Lg. Adult).
    2. Starting at the center of bottom (long) edge, sew to the first corner, stop. Sew the elastic into the corner. A few stitches forward and back will hold this.
    3. Sew to the next corner, stop, and bring the other end of that same elastic to the corner and sew a few stitches forward and back.
    4. Now sew across that top of the mask to the next corner. Again put an elastic in the corner.
    5. Sew to the next corner and sew in the other end of the same elastic.
    6. Sew across the bottom leaving about 1.5” to 2” open. Stop, cut the thread. Turn inside out.
    7. Pin 3 tucks on each side of the mask. Make sure the tucks are in the same direction.
    8. Sew around the edge of the mask twice. 

    Connect with Us

    Once your masks are made, you may drop them off in bulk in resealable plastic bags at our donation center located at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Service Center, Green Warehouse, 50 LaBombard Road North, Lebanon, NH. Drop-off items will be accepted 7:00am to 3:30pm, Monday through Friday, and 9:00am to 2:30pm, Saturday and Sunday.

    If you would like a kit, please call ahead for availability to the donation center hotline at 603-650-4217. This number is open M-F 7 AM to 3:30 PM.

    Thank you again for your generosity. If you have any questions, please contact Kristin Roth at kristin.a.roth@hitchcock.org.

  • Claremont MakerSpace Update

    Claremont MakerSpace
    Dear Claremont MakerSpace Community:
     

    We would like to update you on important steps that the Claremont MakerSpace is taking in order to do our part to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to continue to provide a safe environment for our members and volunteers.

    This weekend New Hampshire and Vermont declared a state of emergency and ordered all public and private schools closed. In keeping with that, the Claremont MakerSpace has cancelled all classes through April 6th.

    The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has advised that there should be no gatherings of over 50 people for the next 8 weeks, and as such the Claremont MakerSpace Open House that had been scheduled for May 1st has been cancelled.

    The Claremont MakerSpace remains closed to the non-member public and tours of our facility have been suspended indefinitely. We remain accessible for members.

    Thank you for your continued understanding as we continue to take steps necessary to keep our members and volunteers safe.   This is a rapidly unfolding situation, and we will continue to make adjustments to our operations as necessary, and will keep you posted.

    Stay healthy, keep makin’, wash your hands and stay home if you or a family member are feeling ill or at elevated risk, really.

    Claremont MakerSpace

     

    Best Practices to Protect Your Health
    We ask you to do your part!
    • Stay home when you are sick and seek medical care if needed
    • Stay home if you have been in contact with infected persons
    • Avoid close contact with people who are sick
    • Use elbow bumps or fist pumps instead of handshakes and hugs
    • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue away
    • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
    • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
    • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds