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When Tragedy Strikes, Protective Gear Is Crucial To Survive

Aug 09, 2021
When Tragedy Strikes, Protective Gear Is Crucial
Rescue crews searching for survivors of the deadly Surfside Condominium collapse in Miami were faced with many of the same risks as 9/11 first responders. Propane and gas leaks from pipelines within the building infrastructure, burning rubble, and various forms of building material debris has been carried, and in some cases fueled, by Florida’s ocean breezes and humidity, much to the detriment of crew members, nearby communities, and their residents...

Wildfire Preparation: How to Prepare for Wildfires

Jul 05, 2021
Wildfire Preparation: How to Prepare for Wildfires
The month of June is dubbed Great Outdoors Month. As we emerge from our COVID slumber, people are getting outside to reconnect with one another and with nature towards the goal of better health. But what happens when the fresh air you seek is polluted with particulates from nearby ranging wildfires or factory smog? This time of year is also riddled with natural disasters ranging from tornados and hurricanes to floods and wildfires...

The Price of Safety

Jun 15, 2021
The Price of Safety

Corner stores everywhere are flooded with seemingly inexpensive disposable masks. While we’re no longer experiencing a severe mask shortage similar to the onset of the pandemic, there’s still a major problem with mask accessibility.

Finding cost-effective (and eco-friendly) mask solutions is difficult among the sea of options available. Disposable N95s, surgical masks and fabric masks might seem like an easy short-term investment – but the cost per wear really adds up...

Waking Up from Mask Fatigue

Jun 12, 2021
Waking Up from Mask Fatigue
Fatigue is one of the most common COVID-19 side effects healthcare professionals have been able to document. What’s not as commonly tracked, but perhaps universally felt, is the fatigue we get from the amount of mask-wearing we’ve all done in the past year...

BARDA Mask Innovation Challenge: OCTO® Safety Devices Selected as Semi-Finalist

Jun 09, 2021
Octo Safety Devices Semi-Finalist Bard Mask Innovation Challenge

OCTO Safety Devices has been selected as a semi-finalist in the BARDA Mask Innovation Challenge, from a pool of over 1,500 submissions.

To support the mass development of mask designs that meet stringent, pre-defined performance standards and provide increased comfort and durability for the average consumer, United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in collaboration with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), partnered together to create the Mask Innovation Challenge: Building Tomorrow’s Mask. 

4 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Ditch our Face Mask Just Yet

Jun 03, 2021
Reusable Respirator Mask - OCTO Respirator Mask

As the summer months and sunshine-filled outdoor activities loom, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has shared optimistic guidance concerning mask wearing. As more Americans choose to get vaccinated, COVID-19 numbers (cases and deaths) continue to slowly decline, precipitating a desire to ditch face masks altogether. 

But wait! Not so fast... 

Staff Spotlight: Meet Melanie Orel

May 14, 2021
Melanie Orel

A company's excellence out in the world starts from within. We hire the best, brightest minds we can find — and we take care of them to the fullest extent possible. Team OCTO® is diverse, savvy, dedicated, highly skilled, and supremely passionate. And you should meet them. So, we're introducing you to the team with a new Staff Spotlight interview series. 

In honor of Nurse's Week, let's kick this off with our very own in-house nurse and medical technology and operations expert Melanie Orel...