DEER ISLE — Haystack Mountain School of Crafts has been producing medical-grade face shields—about 500 so far—for the past two weeks for use by local healthcare workers and others, including the staff of HOME, which operates homeless shelters in Orland and Ellsworth.
The school, which has canceled programming for 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is using a 3D printer and other equipment in its fabrication laboratory (fab lab) to produce the shields as well as surgical mask strap “ear savers.” Ear savers are attachments designed to relieve the pressure of mask straps on a wearers’ ears.
James Rutter, the fab lab’s coordinator, said all the equipment is offered for free, thanks to donors, community foundation support, and the School itself.
“Both designs have been lab-tested and approved for use in medical settings by the National Institute of Health, and we are following guidelines to safely produce and distribute these items,” Rutter said. “We are currently producing about 200 face shields per week but are preparing to ramp up production to meet a potential increased demand.”
The idea came about after Brooksville resident Jill Day asked if she could borrow Haystack’s laser cutter to cut plastic shields.
The masks are made from polyethylene terephthalate, also known as PET or PETG, or more commonly referred to as polyester, Rutter said. The masks are heat-resistant and can be cleaned with alcohol.
The staff at HOME, which has been busier than ever trying to create additional safe spaces during this time, is grateful for the personal protective equipment.
“The face masks help alleviate fear among the staff of contracting the virus and passing it on to their families and loved ones,” said Tracey Hair, HOME’s executive director. “When staff is on deck they are focused on helping shelter guests, and doing this work with adequate protection ensures that the focus remains on individuals and families experiencing homelessness without the added pressure of worrying about transmitting the virus to loved ones.”
“As we reflect on what it means to ‘shelter in place,’ we are mindful that for people experiencing homelessness the homeless shelters are their home,” Hair said.
“We’ve spent the last several weeks creating additional homeless shelter spaces in an effort to decrease crowding in our current four shelters as well as creating safe spaces to quarantine guests if they do become ill or symptomatic,” Hair said. “We currently have no positive cases of COVID-19 among our shelter guests but are prepared if that changes.”
Hair said, “People experiencing homelessness are considered tier 1 for testing, and shelter staff is quick to isolate guests who present with symptoms and transport them to testing sites if the need arises.”
“When a person calls for shelter — our initial response is to explore alternatives to the person coming into a shelter group setting — those outcomes often involve talking with family members or addressing an unpaid bill or crisis,” she said. “If a person can’t avoid entering a shelter and we have a bed available, they are screened for COVID-19, including a temperature check. The screening is not to deny shelter but rather to help us discern the most appropriate shelter for the person — quarantine or general shelter space. We are checking the temperature of guests and staff regularly.”
Hair said a couple of people have decided not to use shelter services due to fear about living in close proximity with others and HOME found alternative ways to help them.
Hair is working on a task force for homeless service providers throughout Maine on resources that will help prevent and manage the spread of COVID-19 among the vulnerable population.