Workers at the Kamloops Food Bank are pictured wearing face shields printed and donated by Gregg Wright.
Image Credit: Greg Wright
April 01, 2020 - 8:00 AM
A Kamloops man has stepped up in the battle against COVID-19 by firing up his two 3D printers to make protective face shields for essential front-line workers.
After reading several news articles about shortages in personal protective equipment, Gregg Wright researched several face shield designs and decided to try and make his own.
He is now able to produce about 30 face shields a day with the cost of materials totalling $2.50 a piece.
"This morning I took some down to the food bank, and donated several masks to front-line workers,” said Wright. He will also be donating the shields to private care facilities in Kamloops.
Wright will only be donating to front-line workers at this time, and won't be distributing the visors for personal use.
The protective face shield made by Gregg Wright using a 3D printer.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK/ Gregg Wright
Wright has also reached out to medical professionals, giving some shield samples to a Kamloops surgeon.
"I have been in touch with the hospital and they’re super interested in them, but there’s all sorts of red tape right now,” Wright said. He will only be supplying shields to the hospital if and when they run out completely.
"Face shields are actually a very important part of the personal protective equipment that we use with droplet-transmitted infections like COVID-19," provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said in a press conference March 30. She added a group of ministry officials are looking into options for the production of face shields.
"3D printing of visors is something I know they are looking at and looking at what type of volumes we could do," Henry said. "It’s a very important, critical piece to protect health care workers."
Wright said he isn’t looking for funding from the public, but he urges anyone who wants to help out to pay it forward by donating to the Kamloops Food Bank.
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