Two University of Texas at Dallas alumni have designed and manufactured a valve attachment that can convert a snorkel mask into safety gear for health care workers in the event of a shortage of personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The resulting mask actually replicates the functionality of an N95 mask. In the hardest-hit U.S. cities, health care workers are limited to using one mask per week. The resulting mask actually replicates the functionality of an N95 mask. It’s free — we just want to help doctors.” James Griffin BS’18“I started looking around to see if there are other ways that we as health care professionals can protect ourselves,” Baek said.