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LAS VEGAS, Nevada - One Filipino doctor from Las Vegas is doing his part to help protect his colleagues in the frontlines of the battle against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Dr. Rhigel Tan of iCare Psychiatry creates face shields and distributes them to local hospitals.

“You know there’s a big shortage of PPE (personal protective equipment) and here come the surge of COVID here in Las Vegas where a lot of hospital units are turned into COVID units and those nurses are very very worried,” Tan said.

Tan said that he decided to create face shields because he knows wearing masks alone would not be enough.

“That shield makes you think of not touching your face. It prevents you from splashing but at the same time it also prevents direct droplets. But you still need a mask because when you don’t have the mask some of the droplets can go under here. That’s why it has a dual purpose – protects your face and it allows you to be closer to the patients,” he said.

Tan’s iCare face shields are made of transparency paper, swim noodles, and clips to fasten the sides. He said they’re reusable, easy to wear and clean.

His face shields have been distributed to seven major hospitals in the Valley, not only to frontliners, but also to those who need it most in the community.

Tan has been personally funding the protective gear he creates but has also gotten donations from friends and even strangers who have been touched by his dedication to help.

“The main goal really is to help people around. It actually fills in the time gap I have, during this quarantine and even if you are under quarantine you can still help the people around you and make a difference,” he said.

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