Research has shown that over 80% of individuals that have tested positive with the coronavirus deal with the virus at home. There are not enough beds available at hospitals, so only people who have met certain conditions will be permitted to stay and be taken care of. Entry conditions vary in hospitals and states, but one common entry condition is having a temperature over 100°F. However, it has been found that 2/3 of corona virus patients don't have fevers. Those that do not meet these conditions have to stay at home, even if they are sick. In order to solve this problem, University of Maryland undergraduate students have compiled a list of materials that have been recommended from outside sources and medical professionals in order to fight COVID-19 at home. Below is the step-by-step procedure that anyone with an Arduino sidekick kit can build and give to someone in need.

In order to build the COVID-19 care kit you will need...

• A "safety box"

  • Cardboard box or bubble wrapped package

  • Recommended size would be 8 1/2'' by 11 1/2'' by 6'' (A shoe box would be a good fit)

  • Tissue paper or bubble wrap to ensure safe packaging

• DIY Hand sanitizer

  • Isopropyl or rubbing alcohol

  • Aloe vera gel

  • Essential oil or lemon juice

  • Small travel shampoo/conditioner bottle

• Masks

  • 2 hair ties

  • Plastic sandwich bag

  • Strip of cloth 22'' by 22'' or bandana

• Tissues

• Hand soap or bar of soap

• Rubber gloves

• Arduino thermometer (Refer to Building Arduino Thermometer)

Video created by Mary Mae Robinson

1. Lay out all the materials you will need on a flat surface.

2. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before beginning to build kit.

3. If possible wear gloves when building the kit in order to help keep things as sterile as possible. If you do not have gloves, then ensure to wash you hands thoroughly after creating each component of the kit.

4. Start by creating the DIY hand sanitizer.

   1. Using a freshly washed and dried spoon and bowl, combine 2 parts alcohol to 1 part aloe vera. This 2:1 ratio should be followed as closely as possible.

   2. Mix the 2:1 ratio using the spoon and add a few drops or tea tree oil, lavender, lemon juice, or any other essential oil to the mix.

   3. Finally, pour the mixture into the travel size shampoo/conditioner bottle.

5. Now that the DIY hand sanitizer is completed, we can move onto the mask.

   1. Take the 22'' by 22'' fabric or bandana and open it up in front of you.

   2. Fold the top of the fabric down hamburger style.

   3. Again, fold the fabric in half creating a long rectangle.

   4. On each end of the rectangle fabric, put the hair ties about a quarter of the way from the end.

   5. From here fold one end of the fabric into the middle, then take the other end and tuck it into the first folded fabric.

   6. Finally, put the mask into the sandwich bag and set to the side.

6. In order to build the thermometer, visit the Building Arduino Thermometer page.

7. Once all the materials have been created, the box is ready to be assembled.

8. Wrap all the components in bubble wrap or tissue paper.

   1. Hand sanitizer

   2. Mask

   3. Tissues

   4. Soap

   5. Rubber gloves

   6. Arduino thermometer - this component needs the most care because wiring can be undone

9. Then, place all the wrapped components into the box and fill in any extra space with excess tissue paper or bubble wrap.

10. Finally, tape the box closed in order to give to someone who needs it.

More detailed instructions for hand sanitizer:

https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-make-hand-sanitizer

More detailed instructions for masks:

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Bandana