Coronavirus: Local 3-D printers being used to make covers for N95 masks

People in Dayton are using their 3-D printers to create mask covers and face shields to protect our health care professionals.

One of those people, Belinda Bickel, spoke to News Center 7’s Katy Anderse.n about the project.

“The idea is to be able to wear the shield over the mask and then be able to sanitize this however the medical provider sees fit, to be able to reuse that again,” said Bickel.

Bickel was inspired by her friends and family who are working on the front lines.

“They're being asked to wear the same N95 masks all day and sometimes bringing it back the next day and wearing it for multiple shifts,” said Bickel.”

Each shield takes 38 minutes to create and Bicekl has made over 80.

Oakwood High School teachers, Scott Zipperian and Tony Rainsberger, are also creating these covers after finding a template online.

Their masks are going to essential workers.

“I believe this batch goes to Children's of Dayton but there's a spreadsheet that was shared where there is probably 1,000 orders for masks, so we are just meeting a small bit of that,” said Zipperian.

All of them are paying for the supplies out of their own pockets.

“We are just trying to get this out to as many people as it can help and praying for the day they are no longer needed,” said Bickels.

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