School 3D prints parts for face shields to protect health workers from COVID-19

A high school community has come to the aid of health workers, employing its hi-tech educational equipment to make personal protective gear to protect them from COVID-19.

Members of the ICU team at The Prince Charles Hospital with face shields made by Ferny Grove State High School and its community.

A high school community has used its skill and resources to make personal protective equipment for people on the front lines of the battle against coronavirus.

Ferny Grove State High School was one of the organisations and individuals that answered the Metro North Health Hospital and Health Service’s call for parts for 3000 face shields to be 3D printed in three weeks.

Corey Gieskens, the head of the school’s Industrial Design and Agriculture Technology department, said they printed plastic strips that went at the top of the shields.

Get 28 days digital access free (T&Cs apply)

On the same day the school was contacted by a worker at The Prince Charles Hospital seeking 150-200 face shields.

“We put out the call to the school community,” Mr Gieskens said.

“Within 3-4 days we’d pretty much printed the 150 The Prince Charles (Hospital) wanted.

“We’ve got about 30 people printing stuff.”

The school used its seven classroom 3D printers to make about half the order, while the rest was done by people from the school community, including engineers who had access to 3D printers at work.

Staff at a Brisbane COVID-19 testing clinic with face shields made by Ferny Grove State High School and its community.

“About eight of those were interstate, (and) they started printing them for their local hospitals,” he said.

FGSHS was the only group printing the wide strip, which took much longer (three hours versus 40 minutes).

“They want that in ICU (intensive care unit) where they are wearing it for eight hours a day,” Mr Gieskens said.

“The other thing we like about the wide one is they’re re-using it, whereas with the narrow one they bin it at the end of the day.

Face shield parts (foreground) made by Ferny Grove State High School with its 3D printers (behind).

“In our design department we talk a lot about sustainability and recycling. It meets that ethos really nicely.

“We did another delivery of those yesterday.”

The school was also contacted by nurse from a Brisbane coronavirus testing clinic who asked if the school could make 20 full face shields.

“We made up the whole kit,” Mr Gieskens said.

They printed some parts and used clear overhead projector sheets and thick rubber bands to compete them.

MORE NEWS

Snake crawls out of home toilet

Coronavirus sparks backyard camping craze

Plan for shortcut between suburbs

Old photos dumped mysteriously

No holiday refunds despite virus travel ban