A DERBY teacher is appealing to local businesses for donations of acetate sheets and polypropylene so he can make more protective visors for staff in local care homes.
Simon Moore, who is head of arts at Murray Park Community School, in Mickleover, is among dozens of teachers to make face visors for those who are on the frontline in the fight against coronavirus.
His first batch of 31 visors are being given to The Limes Residential Home, in Mickleover, and Amber Lodge Care Home in Allenton that cared for Mr Moore’s mother-in-law before her death last year.
He has been using the school’s laser cutter to make adjustable polypropylene headbands following a template downloaded from the internet but needs more 180-micron acetate sheets to make the visors which clip onto them.
The non-printable acetate, which is used in overhead projectors and to protect photographs and presentations, are quickly selling out online and Mr Moore hopes Derby companies may be able to step in.
Mr Moore said: “It really doesn’t take long to make the visors – only a matter of minutes – but without more acetate sheets, preferably in A4, and polypropylene we can’t make any more, although we do have some on order.
“It’s the sort of material that many businesses may have lying around unused, especially at the moment, with so many offices closed. Made into a visor it could be the difference between life and death for some frontline workers.
“If anyone thinks they can help we would be really grateful. Obviously, I am doing some marking and setting work for pupils to do at home, but if I can do something practical to help in between time, then I am very keen to do so.”
Nationally, more than 170,000 items of personal protective equipment have been made by school teachers, along with scrub bags, ear relievers and masks.
Mr Moore has been helped by drama teacher Olympia Pattison-Corney, who has already given a visor to her physiotherapist partner, who is going to work in one of the new Nightingale Hospitals.
Staff at Murray Park School are also donating the science department’s protective googles to local residential homes.
Head teacher Nicola Caley said: “Murray Park is already supporting keyworkers by keeping the school open for their children, but I’m delighted that staff have been able to make use of our equipment to do something so worthwhile.
“We have some great links with local care homes already, our children have been in to read and sing to residents, and hopefully with support from Derby businesses we will be able to provide lifesaving equipment in this battle against Coronavirus.”
If you have any 0.8mm polypropylene or 180-micron acetate sheets please contact Mr Moore by email at [email protected]
ENDS
For further information please contact Sarah Newton at Penguin PR on 07974 502 764 or email [email protected]
