With film and television productions suspended around the world, I.A.T.S.E union members in NYC have been looking for a way to help out during the COVID-19 pandemic. They found the perfect project for their craftsman skills and idle workshops: Intubation Boxes.
An Intubation Box protects doctors from patient-to-doctor transmission at the most dangerous moment of care: the placing of the ventilator tube into patients in intensive care. These reusable boxes are made of 1/4 inch plexiglass and serve as protective barrier enclosures to limit the spread of contaminates while allowing access to a patient’s head and chest during intubation.
I.A.T.S.E. Local 52 member and scenery construction carpenter Bret Lehne spearheaded the intubation box initiative in NYC, with the union’s backing and fellow union volunteers. The plexiglass for the prototypes was generously donated by David Kowarsky. With a projected material cost of $120 and volunteered labor, the union members were able to build a prototype box in about two hours (with a estimated reproduction speed of 1.5 hours per two-person team), and the functioning prototype was given to a local ER doctor to test the viability and usefulness.
I.A.T.S.E Local 52 member Bret Lehne is ready for work. 
Jim Link and Lydia Sudall demonstrate the box prototype.
Call for Materials and Donations
These Super Awesome People™ are super-ready to make more intubation boxes, but they need your help! If you have 1/4 inch or 3/16 inch plexiglass to donate or a specific acrylic adhesive (Weld-On 4 Acrylic Adhesive), please reach out if your materials are available for pickup in NYC or can be shipped there.
You can donate to help cover the cost of supplies at their Go Fund Me page.
Excess donations above $2,500 will be used to make more boxes, and any remainder left after the project is concluded will be donated to the Direct Relief charity, which helps communities in crisis and is currently focused on similar efforts to get PPE to healthcare workers.
Does Your Hospital Need an Intubation Box?
If you represent a hospital or hospital system in need of intubation boxes (or would like to refer a hospital), you can fill out this form here. Currently the intubation boxes can be delivered to the greater New York City area, but they are working to expand their distribution efforts to get the boxes wherever they are needed.