PHOENIX - Emergency room physician Ben Reeser is on the front lines helping patients infected with the coronavirus, or COVID-19, and he needs the help of manufacturers.
Shortages in protective equipment prompted Reeser to begin a movement around intubation boxes - inexpensive temporary protection devices for health care workers.
"The Intubation Box works by sitting over the head and shoulders of a patient as they are intubated by a provider," says Reeser on a GoFundMe page. "The box acts as a protective shield between the patient and medical staff, thereby hopefully minimizing spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).
"After each intubation, the box can be cleaned with a bleach or an alcohol solution," Reeser continues.
Each box costs around $200 to make - including materials, fabrication, labor, and shipping.
The only supplies needed are plexiglass, masking tape, and some kind of acrylic adhesive. A CNC makes the build easier, but is not required. Reeser has set up a website with detailed instructions, covering both CNC and conventional, non-CNC fabrication.
Some manufacturers, including Phoenix-based Urban Plough Furniture and mattress maker Tuft & Needle, have begun building boxes.
Reeser hopes to cover costs through donations on his GoFundMe page. So far, he has raised $18,200 of a $50,000 goal. In five days, he has managed to deliver 23 boxes to Arizona hospitals.
Learn more at https://intubationbox.com/
A team of volunteers in Canada are leading a similar movement at CovidBox.org. The team is looking for companies with large CNC routers willing to make boxes and ship them at scale.
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