Two Norwin teachers with experience on their school’s 3D printer, recently produced 40 plastic face shields for a local ambulance service.

The shields were delivered last week to North Huntingdon EMS/Rescue and were put in use by the emergency medical technicians and paramedics, according to Jared Schultz. Schultz is a Norwin teacher who worked with Robert Shuber on the project. Shuber, the technology education department chairman and Schultz, computer science teacher at the Sunset Valley and Stewartsville elementary schools, said the shields can be sanitized and reused.

With the increasing demand for protective equipment from emergency responders and healthcare personnel, “these type of face shields were difficult to find,” said Shane Spielvogle, executive director of North Huntingdon EMS/Rescue. The ambulance service had asked the school district if the face shields could be made.

“We feel privileged that we were able to utilize our technology to help out in this time of need,” Shuber said.

They use Norwin’s MakerBot 3D printers to make the headband and reinforcement from PLA filament, a typical material used in 3D. They use the Norwin High School laser cutter to slice clear acrylic material for the face shield, which are then attached to the headbands.

It takes about three hours to print each face shield, Schultz said.

“This is another example of neighbors helping neighbors, and, as EMS providers, we are grateful to receive this gift of personal protective equipment,” Spielvogle said.

Sewing face masks

A nurse at Norwin’s Stewartsville and Sheridan Terrace elementary schools is sewing cloth masks for first responders and others.

Anita Miklos said she has donated more than 150 masks to nurses at UPMC Mercy hospital in Pittsburgh, Excela Hospital and an urgent care center in North Huntingdon.

“Different facilities have asked for different kinds of masks,” Miklos said.

“I have had others that have reached out to me because they have family members that are immunocompromised and needed masks, some essential workers, as well as family members and friends,” said Miklos, who has sent some masks to Seattle and Ohio.

Sewing is one of Miklos’ hobbies and she belongs to several sewing groups.

”With everything going on with the covid-19, it was one small thing that I could do to help others in my community,” Miklos said.

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