Comfortably vented, indigenously designed (COVID) fabric helmet to curb infection spread in education, healthcare and other community settings

Abstract

Considering the current scenario of Coronavirus outbreak and the post-pandemic situation, the need for protective gears such as face-masks assumes utmost importance for the common populace, as well as in the areas of concern such as the community and healthcare settings. Earlier reported researches show that although masks' usage may help curb the infection spread, a major issue stems from the lack of adherence to proper ways of wearing/taking off masks. The users touch their face, ears, eyes, nose, etc. after taking off the masks, ultimately making themselves more susceptible to infection and thus, reducing the efficacy of the suggested measure of using face-masks. The existing masks are quite inadequate. It covers only the nose and mouth, leaving room for the users to touch their face, ears, nose, and eyes, all the vulnerable gates for infection transmission. The masks are uncomfortable and require regular adjustment, there are problems of humidity build-up inside the masks, high chances of leakage, problems with breathing, and one even needs to take off the mask for ingesting liquids, food, medicine, etc. even if one is in a community setting or a crowded region. Further, since these masks provide insufficient protection, there is an additional burden on the supply chain requirements for other personal protective gear. The researchers have designed a low-cost Comfortably Vented, Indigenously Designed (COVID) fabric helmet to address these limitations of the commercially available masks. It is designed so that usage of this cheap helmet, along with the usually worn cloth, is enough to provide complete protection to an individual. The fabric helmet is integrated with many innovative design features that will not only address the concerns of the users but will also be comfortable, cheap, and ease pressure on the requirement for expensive and already scarce personal protective equipment; and thus, greatly curtail the COVID-19 infection spread in the country. Most importantly, the design will serve as a very effective device in protecting the pediatric population in the educational institutions and in residential and healthcare settings, as situations spring back to normalcy in communities around the globe.