A Donegal teacher contributing his skills to the coronavirus crisis is calling on every person with a 3D printer or laser cutter to join the effort.
Garry Gorman, a metalwork teacher, has been busy at home making much-needed visors to protect frontline staff in the county. He uses a 3D printer to create the plastic headpieces which help reduce the risk of contamination from infected patients.
Garry is currently producing around eight visors a day, but he said many more will be needed in the weeks to come.
PPE visors in production in the 3D Printer
“I have three members of my family working in healthcare. I was told that these visors can’t be sterilized and they have to be dumped every four hours. So the demand is astronomical,” Garry told Donegal Daily.
Garry sourced the method for producing the masks from a 3D Printing group and has been working in consultation with a consultant at Letterkenny University Hospital to ensure they are suitable.
Now, he is hoping that all teachers, businesses and individuals who have the technology and materials can contribute to the cause.
“My 3D printer can only make eight a day and that means I can only make enough for one patient a day. Basically, we need to get every 3D printer and every laser cutter in the county to make visors, so whenever the rush comes, healthcare workers are as safe as they can be.
“I have the file if anyone is willing to print them,” he said.
A number of post-primary schools and the LYIT are already supporting the effort.
Garry added that laser cutter visors can be produced quicker, and A3 laser cutter would be very useful. Anyone who can cut laminate sheets for the front of the visor or donate elastic bands is invited to get in touch.
Garry can be contacted via message on his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/garry.gorman.3
