Nurse’s invention takes the ouch out of all-day masking

Soft silicone ear savers prevent chafing caused by elastic loops

Story by Sherri Gallant

Wearing a mask for hours on end often rubs healthcare workers the wrong way — leaving raw skin and chafing behind their ears due to the tight elastic loops.

When Matthew Jubelius, a registered nurse in Medicine Hat, first heard EMS workers were suffering daily with worsening pain, he went to the drawing board. A natural inventor all his life, Jubelius has a knack for finding solutions to stubborn issues, and is always on the lookout for ways to make things better.

“I always ask why we are doing it this way. For me, people often conceive of it as ‘the way,’ but I think, no, that’s just a limited option that we have right now. Why don’t we create a solution to a problem? I’ve been solving those weird problems for a decade and I love it. It fuels me.

“They approached me and said, ‘you know, our ears are really hurting, and you’re great at making stuff,’” adds the 41-year-old. “Their ears weren’t getting a chance to heal. Some people were in such pain they were having trouble doing their jobs. I design a lot of things when it comes to healthcare and safety education. I thought, what if we could make a product that was functional and could increase the safety of my colleagues and of patients?”

While he knew ear savers were not a new concept, he didn’t like what he saw when he studied some of the available products, including some that were 3-D printed. “I could see where the material could break down and splinter, getting caught in the hair and poking the skin,” he says.

A dab hand at molding and casting, Jubelius created his own design and produced a few dozen for a pilot with about 60 people. Made of pure silicone, his creations are re-usable, medical grade and skin-safe. Pliable and easy to clean, they were an instant hit.

“I felt like I needed to put something out into the world for healthcare people and frontline folks — something that, from the Alberta Health Services’ perspective, increases continuous-masking compliance and also makes life easier for everyday folks.”

Jubelius works in Correctional Health at the Medicine Hat Correctional Centre. He has experience in cardiovascular intensive care was the manager of health simulation at Medicine Hat College. Under his guidance and expertise, the simulation centre has expanded to include several health programs. He’s also won praise for streamlining the way laboratory spaces are used to make the centre more efficient for faculty and students.

“What’s special about this project is not only the health and safety aspect,” adds Jubelius, “but I’m also donating part of the proceeds to local charities and non-profits. COVID-19 has impacted people’s mental health. People have lost jobs. There are so many people impacted. I was like, how can I help?

Each ear saver costs $10. A donation from each sale goes to support Medicine Hat’s The Inner Man Project Foundation. If sales continue to grow, Jubelius intends to broaden his support to include other charities.

For more information, e-mail mhearsavers@gmail.com or visit Facebook and search “Amoveo Training” or “mhearsavers”.