Scuba Shack Helps ANOAAT
On March 29th 2020, Cozumel recorded its first case of Covid-19, shortly after that 2 cases, and then 4 cases. To date Cozumel has had 13 persons that have tested positive, 1 that has fully recovered and 1 death. Right after the first case appeared the ANOAAT, which is the oldest and largest aquatic sports association on the island and Scuba Shack Cozumel is a member of, began talking with hospitals here on the island about how we could combat the virus here. We contacted some of the doctors and nurses and found out that advanced PPE that is required to attend to the patients was lacking here on the island. We had also seen that in Italy, they had adapted filters to the full face snorkel masks with filters to protect the hospital teams. So we started getting the info on what we needed to do
First the mask. We choose the Cressi Duke Full Face Snorkel Mask.
There also needs to be a filter and an adapter to put the filter into.
This was the difficult part. But with 3D printers, we could find the specs online and there are a couple of people who have these printers here on the island, and they were willing to print/create them. So, once we had the design, then all we needed was the money.
So, the plan. We thought that maybe 20 masks would be good for 1 hospital. Enough for the staff during a shift as well for a number of the patients so that the hospital could hopefully minimize contaminating others. As we started to collect money, a number of things happened.
The first thing that happened was the adapters that were being printed were taking too long. So one of the nurses came up with an alternative – cut off the tip of a baby bottle nipple. It works great. One of the biggest issues with the 3D adapters was that they were too porous, and difficult to clean. And the silicone of the baby bottle is much stronger.
The second thing that happened, as the dive shops came together, we realized that we could get more than 20 masks. We could come up with almost 40 and able to help 2 hospitals instead of just 1.Then, that same day, Cressi Mexico announced that they had donated 33 masks to Cancun and to Playa del Carmen. Well, we felt a bit put out here in Cozumel – why didn’t the island get any? At that point in time, Cozumel had only 1 case, and both Playa and Cancun had many more. But we pushed, and nicely enough, Cressi Mexico would donate 5 masks since we were purchasing 35. For a grand total of 40 masks. Well 40 kits. And they paid for the shipping.
The fourth thing that happened was another group of people organized themselves as well and were able to get 20 masks donated. But just the mask, not a full kit. But the staff at the various hospitals have been adapting them. So with their contribution, we were able to donate to all 3 hospitals on the island.
So, this past week, we received the masks, purchased the baby bottle nipples (not an easy task… don’t think there are any more large size nipples available on the island) and filters. Added in the tie wraps, and the masks were good to go.
This is an example of the completed kits we put together.
There are 3 public hospitals on the island
IMSS – this is the hospital that all employers need to register their employees so that they have health care. The hospital here in Cozumel has been designated as a Covid hospital.
SESA – this is the public hospital for people who are not working, that they can get health care, and is also a designated Covid hospital.
ISSTE – this is 
the public hospital for all government employees – teachers, gov workers, police, etc. This is not a Covid hospital, but if a gov worker has a case, they would enter this hospital, before transferring to one of the Covid designated hospitals.
