European researchers retrofit snorkel masks for Coronavirus fight
2 Apr, 2020
Researchers in Europe have been converting low-cost snorkel masks into respirators to treat patients or protection for medical workers battling to contain the coronavirus outbreak that has stretched healthcare resources. The researchers said that tests had showed the retrofitted masks surpassed the protection of masks carrying FFP3, considered one of the highest grade filters. Some countries as Belgium, Czech Republic, Italy or Spain are already working on this initiative.
The idea was proposed by Italian engineers, who put their design online, as an alternative to a more invasive technique of placing a tube directly into a sedated person's throat when medical masks are unavailable to pump oxygen to the lungs. They have published the instructions to convert the mask in their official website, Isinnova.