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Friday, March 29, 2024

3D printing enthusiasts join fight against coronavirus

Duration: 02:28s 0 shares 3 views

3D printing enthusiasts join fight against coronavirus
3D printing enthusiasts join fight against coronavirus

As demand for face shields and other personal protective equipment (PPE) has skyrocketed, volunteer 3D printers have stepped in to support doctors, nurses and first responders, who are all in danger of contracting the coronavirus.

This report produced by Yahaira Jacquez.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) OSCAR VALERA, 3D PRINTER ENTHUSIAST DEMONSTRATING HIS FACE SHIELD, SAYING: "Hi everybody.

So this is the 3D-printed piece here.

Oscar Valera is a New Jersey high school teacher who is turning his personal hobby toward an urgent need: to supply hospitals with protective gear now in short supply.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) OSCAR VALERA, 3D PRINTER ENTHUSIAST AND VOLUNTEER FACE SHIELD PRODUCER IN METUCHIN, NEW JERSEY, SAYING: "Some people that were contacting me were asking for 40 to 50 shields to be used at these large hospitals in the state.

I started thinking, these hospitals are owned by huge multi-billion dollar health services, and they don't have PPE?

It just blew my mind." In just four days, Valera has printed and distributed 200 face shields to medical professionals across the country.

Demand for face shields and other personal protective equipment, known as PPE, has skyrocketed amid the crisis.

The shields are designed to block droplets that may contain the virus that are released by coughing, sneezing and speaking.

Across the country, in Sunnyvale California, a nonprofit that has been running 13 3D printers and three laser cutters nonstop, producing 1,800 masks for local hospitals.

And there are requests for another 13,000.

Eric Hess, general manager of the nonprofit, Maker Nexus, says 300 volunteers are helping in the effort.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) ERIC HESS, GENERAL MANAGER OF MAKER NEXUS, SAYING:"It's amazing.

You know, I'm one person and, you know, trying to kind of organize the people who are really doing the work, which is all the volunteers who are printing at home, they're self isolating." About 500 shields made by Maker Nexus have gone to the nearby Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.

Dr. Sanjay Kurani is the medical director at the hospital.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) DR. SANJAY KURANI, HOSPITAL MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT SANTA CLARA VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER, SAYING: "On any given one patient and talking to our nurses, per shift, we're going through about five sets of PPE.

You multiply that by three shifts, you talk about 15 PPE changes per patient.

Once we hit the surge, we could be in very critically low supplies." Back in New Jersey, Valera says he'll continue to do his part.

He says he's received pictures from staffs at hospitals across the country using his shields.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) OSCAR VALERA, 3D PRINTER ENTHUSIAST AND VOLUNTEER FACE SHIELD PRODUCER IN METUCHIN, NEW JERSEY, SAYING: "It just affects me very much."

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