The second installment of the How to Help column takes a look at how regular people can help fill the medical supply gap.

The Wall Street Journal reported last week that hospitals across the country are running out of masks and other key equipment, and that the U.S. strategic stockpile of medical supplies is outmatched by the spread of coronavirus.

Items in particular need include personal protective equipment, or PPE, which health-care workers require to keep themselves safe while treating infectious-disease patients.

On the website GetUsPPE, started by a group of doctors and supported by a volunteer team of developers, designers and organizers, more than 1,500 requests for donations have been made by health-care workers across the country seeking things like N95 respirator masks, surgical masks, hand sanitizer, face shields and protective gowns.

Hospitals are rationing and recycling PPE in light of anticipated and existing shortages. The Cambridge Health Alliance, which operates three hospitals and a dozen primary care practices in Massachusetts, is treating its N95 masks with ultraviolet light to decrease a chance of the virus being present when they are reused, according to Jill Batty, the organization’s chief financial officer.

“PPE is like the floor you walk on or the toothbrush you use to brush your teeth. It never occurs to you that it’s a precious commodity until you don’t have it,” said Dr. Esther Choo, a Portland, Ore.-based emergency physician who started the trending hashtag #GetMePPE.

Nurses in California with boxes of donated medical supplies they got through GetUsPPE.org. From left, Barbara Urnes, Tonya Richardson, Zusette Ho and Victoria Castro. Photo: GetUsPPE Bay Area

If I have spare masks and other supplies at home, how do I donate them?

The American Medical Association recommends anyone who has PPE to contact their local hospital or health department “to ensure these resources are appropriate and can be distributed based on need,” AMA President Dr. Patrice Harris said in a statement.

You can also visit GetUsPPE.org for instructions submitted by health-care workers themselves, which include specifications for items they need most, as well as how to get those items to donation sites. The website is searchable by region and state.

If you have supplies to donate, but aren’t able to get them to a donation site yourself, you can also fill out the form at the bottom of this page to be contacted by a volunteer for pickup.

Personal Protective Equipment: Waging a Virus War The need for PPE is growing while stockpiles are precariously low. A look at what exactly is needed to protect our health-care personnel while all-important testing and treatment takes place. Mask Effectiveness Health experts say that properly used, the N95 respirator mask can guard against the new coronavirus. Frequently changing disposable masks, and washing your hands after, are important steps to avoid contamination from pathogens that cling to the outer surface. Experts say N95 masks are designed for health-care workers in the hospital, not the general public. Masks 1 N95 masks offer more protection. But they only work if they fit properly, and aren’t suitable for children or people with facial hair.2 Surgical masks don’t offer full protection against airborne viruses. They don’t fully seal off the nose and mouth. 3 Face Shields are thin clear plastic shields secured with a visor-like device. This may not stop you from contracting the coronavirus, but it will lessen the chances. It is good at blocking sprayed liquids that may contain the respiratory pathogen. Airborne Droplets Surgical masks are highly effective against large airborne droplets. These traditional masks are less effective with small droplets, as such droplets can travel farther and in unpredictable paths affected by wind and other gusts. The droplets can be inhaled around the sides of the masks. 1 Small droplets 2 Large droplets. PPE Gowns, Scrubs and Gloves 1 Gowns are thin polymer robes that are normally all that stand between patients with Covid-19 and health-care personnel. They are certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. If a hospital runs out of these certified gowns, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends using reusable patient gowns. 2 Scrubs are fabric or fabric-blend clothing worn by health-care personnel for on-the-job use or in a manner similar to street clothes. Most scrub tops have short sleeves, which makes them ill-suited for PPE, as PPE must cover the arms down to the wrists, to protect them from aerosols. They can be worn under PPE and undergarments. 3 Nonsterile gloves are recommended for PPE. For added protection, two pairs of gloves can be worn­—one pair under PPE and one pair over it. Hoods, Shoes and Shoe Coverings 1 Hoods were recommended for Ebola virus health-care personnel in 2014, but not for Covid-19 health-care workers. They can be used for added protection. 2 Fluid-resistant shoes are recommended by the CDC, but shoe covers 3 can also be worn for an added degree of protection. Shoe covers were in use during the Ebola crisis in 2014. Sources: CDC, FDA, BMC Infectious Diseases, Journal of Hospital InfectionResearch: Lindsay Huth Taylor Umlauf and Kevin Hand Graphic: Kevin Hand and Alberto Cervantes/THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

(Take an in-depth look at personal protective gear for medical professionals.)

Can I donate homemade masks?

Health-care professionals are mixed on the efficacy of homemade face masks, and not all hospitals and clinics accept them.

Nurses shouldn’t wear cloth masks because they don’t afford significant protections, according to American Nurses Association President Dr. Ernest Grant.

Some doctors, however, encourage people with the means to sew their own face masks to do so anyway. “Any face mask is better than no face mask,” said Dr. Choo, who suggested members of the public check their local hospitals or clinics about their individual policies toward homemade mask donations.

Related Video Health-care workers who treat the new coronavirus wear personal protective equipment, or PPE, designed to prevent exposure to infectious materials. Here’s how the equipment works, and why it's crucial in the battle against the epidemic. Photo: Getty Images

Another idea is to keep the homemade face masks for yourself and donate any supply you may have of medical-grade masks to your local hospital, said Andy Shin, the Chicago-based chief operating officer of the American Hospital Association’s Center for Health Innovation.

“There is literature out there that supports the use of homemade face masks,” said Dr. Bryan Wolf, a Portland, Ore.-based radiologist who created a guide to making face masks after noticing a need in his community.

Even if hospitals don’t accept donations of homemade face masks, Dr. Wolf recommends making them for workers at health-care facilities who might not have access to hospital-approved PPE, like hospital receptionists and janitorial staff.

“I think some people are forgotten,” he said.

People interested in Dr. Wolf’s guide for homemade face masks and face shields, with additional background information, can find it here.

From left, Krista, Andy, Alex and Dr. Bryan Wolf. Photo: Bryan Wolf

If I don’t have personal protective equipment to donate, how else can I help?

According to the American Nurses Association, contact your elected officials. “Encourage them to use the power of the federal government to send PPE to those in most need,” said Dr. Grant.

Some hospitals are also requesting monetary donations to support coronavirus treatment, as well as to go toward supporting hospital staff. New York University’s Langone Health hospital network, for example, directs people who are interested in donating to this site: https://nyulangone.org/give/funds/covid-19. Check your local hospital’s website for its specific donation site.

Many health-care workers are dealing with child care and meal preparation on top of their duties at work, said Dr. Megan Ranney, a Providence, R.I.-based emergency physician at Rhode Island Hospital and one of the founders of GetUsPPE. Hospitals, including her own, have set up ways to link health-care providers with child-care assistance, and people can consider ways to support these efforts.

Lastly, the best way to help health-care workers in this pandemic is to stay home, said Dr. Grant, a point echoed by doctors, nurses and medical staff across the nation.

How can I help if I am the owner of a manufacturing business?

The Food and Drug Administration has released new guidance that allows for more manufacturers to make ventilators. If you currently manufacture ventilators or want to begin, you can read their guidance here.

Some states, like New York, are encouraging companies with the proper equipment or personnel to begin to manufacture PPE. New York’s guidelines can be found here.

The American Hospital Association has also put out a call for manufacturers to help their local hospitals produce surgical masks and face shields. More information can be found here.