Health & Fitness
DC Coronavirus: Group Uses 3D Printers To Make PPE For Hospitals
A network of volunteers is using 3D printers to create face shields for D.C.-area frontline personnel dealing with the coronavirus.
WASHINGTON, DC — Over the last few weeks, a network of volunteers has been manufacturing PPE for first responders dealing with COVID-19, the illness associated with the new coronavirus.
Print To Protect is a group of makers who use their 3D printers to produce and donate face shields, CPAP valves, and other essential medical gear. To date, the group has donated more than 3,000 face shields to area hospitals and other health-care facilities.
"We've been organizing 3D printers throughout the area in order to print specifically face shields, but anything else that hospitals and health-care institutions need with all the shortages going on," said Jonah Docter-Loeb, a senior at Georgetown Day School. "Face shields are about 75 percent of what we've donated."
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About 160 people are involved in the effort, including drivers delivering the PPE to hospitals and others conducting online research. In addition 60 individuals are operating 90 3D printers out of their homes.
"We have a centralized distribution center set up with different disinfectants and protocols," Docter-Loeb said. "Half of it is the organization in terms of getting people to print for us from home. The other half of it is distributing them, cleaning them up, and assembling them at the distribution center."
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Eaton DC, a hotel located on K Street, has donated space where printed parts can be dropped off and assembled.
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"Once they're delivered, we take inventory, disinfect them, quarantine them for three days, and assemble them, if the hospital requested that we assemble them,"Docter-Loeb said. Volunteers then pick up the packaged materials and deliver them to local health-care facilities that need them. Print To Protect has already donated PPE to Unity Health Clinic, Medstar Washington Hospital Center, Inova Fairfax Hospital, United Medical Center and Holy Cross Hospital.
In addition, the group responded to a request from D.C. Fire and EMS for CPAP valve adapters. Within 48 hours, Print To Protect was able to deliver 700 parts.
According to Docter-Loeb, Print to Protect will continue producing PPE as long as necessary.
"We have a lot of volunteer opportunities on the website and we're always looking for more help," he said. "Beyond donating on the GoFundMe and purchasing 3D filaments on the Donation Registry, people can also help by donating their own 3D printers. ... Beyond picking things up, you can actually just help us by researching at home. We have a bunch of topics we need researched and no expertise is required."
Print To Protect is also going to be taking part in a Zoom call on Saturday, May 2, with other volunteer groups in the D.C. area to brainstorm how to more effectively provide PPE to those who need it. Groups interested in participating must register online.
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