Safety first

Sewists:

• Use tightly woven 100% cotton (quilters cotton works best)
• Avoid elastic in case someone is allergic to latex.  Plus, elastic is running out quickly.  
• Wash your fabric before sewing.  This can help decontaminate the fabric and ensure the mask doesn’t shrink when the wearer washes it.
• Wash the masks after you’re done sewing them and put them in a plastic bag.
• If someone is picking up the masks to be delivered, leave them on your porch.  
• When accepting a material delivery, wear gloves, open the bag outside, discard the bag(s) outside, and wash your hands after you disinfect supplies and put the material in the washing machine.  DO NOT TOUCH YOUR FACE.
• Practice social distancing and self-quarantine as much as possible.  If you feel sick STOP WORKING ON THIS PROJECT and let us know right away.
• Wash your hands regularly and don’t touch your face.

Delivery people - we practice the "drop and go" method:

• Wear gloves in the store and disinfect anything you touch. 
• Wash your hands regularly and don’t touch your face.
• If picking up fabric at the store call ahead to schedule curbside pickup to limit time in the store.  
• If picking up at someone's house, let them know when you'll be there so they can set the bag outside on the porch.
• Do not knock on the door or make contact with the person you are delivering to.  Call them ahead of time and ask where they want you to drop the supplies.  DROP & GO.
• Practice social distancing and self-quarantine as much as possible.  If you feel sick STOP WORKING ON THIS PROJECT and let us know right away.

Mask receivers/wearers:

• Wash the masks before giving them to the wearer.  
• Communicate with the delivery person to instruct them how and where you want them dropped off.  
• Do not make physical contact with the delivery person.  Delivery people are instructed to drop and go.  
• Masks need to be washed between uses.
• To remove Person Protective Equipment (PPE) properly: If you are wearing a mask and gloves, you should remove the gloves first and then the masks before washing your hands.  When removing gloves remove from the cuff/wrist and turn them inside out during removal. Discard immediately and wash hands.
• These masks are not the end all be all.  These are a last resort because of a lack of N95 masks.  You should continue to take all precautions - don’t touch your face, wash your hands, practice social distancing, etc.  

Thank you for your support.  We are all in this together.  Stay safe and email masksforiowa@gmail.com if you have any questions.  We are not medical professionals and encourage you to seek medical advice about any of the suggestions we have given above.