Crowdfundingplanning Discount code for 40% offSummarySaving lives with creative art. I create life-like medical moulage (realistic injury simulation effects) for realistic simulation training for emergency responders.  Since June 2007, I’ve used my knowledge of cultures, religions, and languages (Spanish, Arabic, and American Sign Language), my personal experiences, and my skills in moulage, to assist police, military, EMS, and CERT civilian responders in their training. My characters and scenarios teach them how to handle a variety of different emergency scenarios, illnesses and injuries, and cultural and language challenges. This broadens their understanding and prepares them for any number of situations that they will face. In order for the training to be effective, it needs to be as detailed and realistic as possible. You can only do so much with a plastic rescue dummy wearing a tag that says, "19-year-old female with gunshot wound to chest." It's much more effective for responders to be confronted with a realistic-looking wound, and have to figure out how to handle the blood, gore, and serious injury. Unfortunately, it’s often difficult for emergency response groups and military training personnel to have access to quality moulage/FX supplies and artists who know how to use them. This is why trained and knowledgeable personnel like me, and projects like mine, are so important.You can see pictures of my work in my Flickr album HERE. ------ What I Need I’ve been hired to provide training support and moulage makeup for several exercises in 2015. This will be a great learning experience, as well as a much-needed paycheck! The moulage requirements for these exercises mean that I need to buy some new supplies, ones that I can’t work without. Depending on the exercise scenario and the conditions that we are working in, there are specific requirements (waterproof, able to last for several hours, etc) and specific materials that we need to use. I’m “between a rock and a hard place” – without these supplies, I won’t be able to work, which means I won’t get a paycheck. But I don’t have enough money to buy them. Most of the groups that I work with don't have any moulage materials or anyone trained in how to use them, which is why they rely on me. Any materials that I use, I have to purchase myself. I work with so many different groups - asking all of them to provide materials for me for all the exercises simply isn't practical! The total cost of the supplies that I need to purchase is $1,200. This will be a one-time supply purchase; the moulage pieces that will be made from these supplies are re-usable. Liquid material to make wound pieces – $170.00 Set of 20 prosthetic molds - what you pour the material into to sculpt/shape the different pieces - $460.00 Gelling agent to solidify the pieces - $20.00 Fruit/jerky dehydrator to dry and set pieces so they can be used - $50.00 Alcohol activated makeup palette to properly color the pieces - $28.00 Paint, fake blood, and other finishing products to properly color and finish the pieces for use – $165.00 Shipping costs – $150.00 Fees (IndieGoGo, PayPal) - $160.00 TOTAL: $1,205 ------- The ImpactMost of the exercises with local responders, here in my home town, have been as an unpaid volunteer. I do it because I love it; it is my way to give back to the responders who have done so much for me. That was my starting point, and it’s opened the door for several other wonderful opportunities. I’ve gotten to work with the US military, and several agencies that provide training for responders around the US and the world. Having these supplies will open up MANY more opportunities for me to participate in exercises, here in my community and in other states (and other countries). The requirements for larger, longer exercises are different than the requirements for shorter, smaller exercises. Having these materials would allow me to do whatever they need, so I would be able to participate in more opportunities when they came along. More exercise opportunities for me means more training courses being conducted, which means more people being trained in important skills. Civilians: The CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) program trains civilians in disaster preparedness, search & rescue, and emergency first aid, so they can help their family, neighbors, and community members in a disaster. Medical and military: Professional responders (police and medical personnel) and US military members receive training in emergency medical care, humanitarian aid, disaster response, conflict resolution, cultural awareness, and foreign languages. This will allow them to help people in their communities, across the United States, and in other countries around the world. ---------- Ways You Can HelpPlease, will you help me reach my goal? Every little bit helps - $1, $10, $20, $50, $100 - it all adds up. Every single penny is GREATLY appreciated, and means more to me than I can ever explain! Even if you aren't able to contribute financially, you can help by getting the word out! Share the link to this campaign on your Facebook, Twitter, and other social media. More shares means more people seeing this! Whether you contribute by donating to the project, by sharing and promoting it, or both - it all is greatly appreciated! THANK YOU! |
