How to Make a Medical Mask

Avian flu, SARS and other dangerous airborne viruses scare people. Most people avoid getting sick by staying at home or not traveling in crowded areas. While not the most aesthically pleasing, a medical mask will filter some airborne diseases. If you make the medical masks at home, you maintain the quality of the material without putting a hole in your wallet. Polypropylene fiber is a material that is low in cost and readily available. It is the same material used in many medical masks today.

Things You'll Need

• Ruler
• Polypropylene fiber
• Scissors
• Mechanical pencil
• Tape measure
• Elastic bands

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Instructions

• 1

  Measure the distance one inch from the left side of your mouth to one inch from the right side of your mouth. This distance should equal the width of the medical mask.

• 2

  Measure the distance two inches above your nose to one inch below your mouth. This distance should equal the height of the medical mask.

• 3

  Place a ruler on the top edge of the polypropylene fiber. Mark the area on the polypropylene fiber the same width as you measured in Step 1. This is the top part of your mask.

• 4

  Place a ruler on the end points of the line defined in Step 3 at the top edge of the polypropylene fiber. Draw vertical lines the same height as you measured in Step 2. This is the side part of your mask.

• 5

  Place a ruler perpendicular to the vertical line in Step 4. Draw a horizontal line the same width as you measured in Step 1. This makes a rectangular shape.

• 6

  Cut the rectangular shape from the polypropylene fiber. Use this as the mask portion of your medical mask.

• 7

  Puncture a hole in the top and bottom corners of the right side of the mask portion using a mechanical pencil. The elastic band is placed in the holes. Make holes large enough for the elastic band to fit.

• 8

  Puncture a hole in the top and bottom corners of the left side of the mask portion using a mechanical pencil. The elastic band is placed in the holes. Make holes large enough for the elastic band to fit.

• 9

  Place the mask over your face. Measure the distance from the side of your mask, around the back of your head to the other side of the mask using a tape measure.

• 10

  Cut two elastic bands to the measurement in Step 9 using scissors. The elastic bands need to fit tightly to prevent the mask from falling off.

• 11

  Tie one end of the elastic band to the top right corner of the mask portion. Pull the elastic band to the top left corner of the mask portion. Push the elastic band from the back side of the mask portion through the hole. Tie a knot to secure the elastic band in place.

• 12

  Tie one end of the elastic band to the bottom right corner of the mask portion. Pull the elastic band to the bottom left corner of the mask portion. Push the elastic band from the back side of the mask portion through the hole. Tie a knot to secure the elastic band in place. You are now ready to use your medical mask.