East Wake Times

In Morrisville, a local business is helping to provide protective masks to first responders and health care workers who are on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. 

PSB Pro Services partnered with the county to supply thousands of N95 masks to keep workers on the front lines safe, according to an  April 7 announcement. The company is taking new N95 masks that were in the county's emergency services warehouse for years and replacing the elastic bands, which had become fragile from never being used and would break, according to the statement. 

“We knew the masks were in excellent condition and could provide the protection our crews needed, but without functioning bands to hold them in place, they were no good to us,” Wake County EMS Director and Dr. Jose Cabanas said in the statement. “We couldn’t let this potential opportunity pass without exploring all options to fix the bands.”

PSB Pro Services is using company sewing machines to add new elastic bands into the N95 fabric, according to the news release. 

“Thanks to PSB Pro Services, we’ll now have an additional stock of N95 masks going out to first responders and healthcare workers across the county,” Cabanas said in the release. “Although it’s not enough to completely fill the gap, it’s a great help, and we appreciate their service.”