Where are we now?
Written by: Sophia Li
Using the Origami Design to Provide Face Shields on the East Coast
As we pass through the second month of the coronavirus outbreak, the strain on frontline workers, especially a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), is not letting up. As we prepare for current demand and future outbreaks, Origami Face Shields have been a crucial design to provide easily-produced PPE.
Makers Respond, a volunteer group, has worked with the engineers of the Origami Face Shield design to solve the demand issue of this Covid-19 crisis. They have been supplying critical PPE face shields to frontline workers in Baltimore and Columbia, Maryland.
In early May, 75,000 face shields were donated to Maryland healthcare professionals and first responders. The Coca-Cola Factory and K&W Finishing partnered with Makers Respond, allowing the production to scale up and providing the resources and printing needed. Together, these organizations have manufactured more than 400,000 face shields and currently have 600,000 more in production. Their immediate production goal is 5,000,000 shields for the US medical industry.
Simultaneously, in New York, NYCMakesPPE operated within a network of volunteer makerspaces and delivery networks including the Pratt Institute and the Brooklyn Navy Yard, producing around 1000 masks per day. Furthermore, with the help of Garlock Sealing Technologies, production increased to 100,000 face shields per day in Palmyra, NY.
Origami face shields have also been distributed to various medical centers including Columbia University Medical Center, Jamaica Hospital with other centers such as Mt. Sinai Medical Center, NY Presbyterian, The Landing of Brighton Nursing Homes, the NYC Mayor’s Office, and other NJ area hospitals interested.
How You Can Help
You can donate to either of these organizations so they can continue their crucial work supplying much-needed PPE to our frontline healthcare workers!
The designs for the Origami Face Shield are presented As-Is. The goal is to present designs that can foster further discussion and be utilized in countries that permit this product. These are not finalized designs and do not represent certification from any country. You accept responsibility and release Helpful Engineering from liability for the manufacture or use of this product. This design was created in response to the announcement on March 10, 2020, from the HHS. Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) who issued a declaration pursuant to the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act.
Link to Prep act. :https://www.phe.gov/Preparedness/legal/prepact/Pages/default.aspx
ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER, EXPRESS, IMPLIED AND STATUTORY, ARE HEREBY DISCLAIMED. ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE HEREBY DISCLAIMED. THIS DEVICE (INCLUDING ANY ACCESSORIES AND COMPONENTS) IS PRESENTED ‘AS IS.’
