Shielding NHS workers from coronavirus

So far, 450 head bands and 910 visors have been delivered to the Royal Sussex County Hospital and the South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAMBS) using equipment and facilities at the university’s Moulsecoomb campus, but with requests already received to create more, help is needed from the local community to donate materials.

The team from the School of Architecture and Design was assembled by James Tooze, Course Leader for BSc(Hons) Product Design and Professional Experience, who was responding to an urgent call for more personal protective equipment (PPE) from SECAMBS.

With permission to re-enter the university’s buildings to make the PPE secured, the team tested an online open-source design by Sean Drummond and Kitronik and published by Nottinghack, before modifying the specification to speed up production. Materials such as polypropylene sheets, clear Perspex and photocopying acetate sheets gathered up from university stores and the Student Union shop and brought to the workshops at Mithras House.

James wearing prototype face shield

Claire, Ted, Rob and James making shields

Glenn Longden-Thurgood, Deputy Head of School, said: “The team is keen to make more PPE as soon as possible, but we are quickly running out of materials. Face shields from the initial run are currently in use and the team will incorporate feedback into the next batch.

“Since the pandemic disrupted public life in the UK, we’ve been desperate to join the university’s efforts in responding to the crisis. There are numerous examples of teams from diverse disciplines doing all they can to contribute to the national effort against the outbreak”.

The University of Brighton team is investigating ways to source equipment, both inside and outside the university, to continue production. If you can help out with any of the following, please contact James Tooze (j.tooze@brighton.ac.uk) or Glenn Longden-Thurgood (gl@brighton.ac.uk): 

• 0.8 mm to 1.5mm clear plastic sheets for A4 visors (210 x 300mm)
• A4 or A3 clear acetate sheets
• 0.5 mm to 1.2mm polypropylene sheet A2 or larger
• 4mm to 8mm wide Elastic cord

In total, 350 headbands and 650 acetate visors have been distributed to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, with 100 headbands and 250 visors going to the South East Coast Ambulance Service.

Packed shields and straps