Teacher Uses School Lab To Make Hundreds Of Protective Masks For NHS
At the moment, hundreds of thousands of NHS workers are risking their lives to protect all of us from the spread of the coronavirus. Exhausted, afraid, and many without the correct equipment to protect them, no one knows whether they will catch the deadly disease while trying to save another person’s life.
Wendy Hayes is the head of Design and Technology at Park House School, Berkshire, and has been using the school’s lab to make hundreds of protective masks to help those who are putting their lives on the line.
She said: “After schools went into lockdown, the D&T teacher groups that I’m a member of on Facebook started to look for ways that we could help the NHS in its time of need.
“We are all very aware how scary it must be for those on the front line trying to do their jobs of helping and saving lives, without all of the correct kit to protect them.”
Since starting just two weeks ago, they have made 261 masks, with another 80 on the way.
And after hearing about the incredible effort, other schools in the area pitched in, with staff at The Downs School making 160 of their own to help Wendy meet the demand.
This means she has been able to provide much-needed equipment to local hospitals, charities and surgeries, such as West Berkshire Community Hospital, Hospital Forensic Services, West Berkshire Food Bank and The Newbury CV19 Hot Hub.
But she’s not done yet. Wendy has also set up a JustGiving page to help replenish the school’s stock and carry on providing masks to those who need them most.
She said: “I’m proud, but feel I’m not the one on the front line having to care for what are some incredibly poorly people, so only doing my bit, and the donations have really inspired me.”
However, she can’t do it alone, and while there are many other schools doing the same thing, she urges more to take up the challenge and support the NHS.
She added: “If NHS and frontline workers are struggling to get hold of the visors, they should get in touch with the Design and Technology department at their local secondary school, as they might be able to potentially provide a stopgap until the masks can be procured through official channels.”