A 15-year-old schoolboy has turned his bedroom into a factory churning out face visors for staff on the frontline of the coronavirus fight...
A 15-year-old schoolboy has turned his bedroom into a factory churning out face visors for staff on the frontline of the coronavirus fight.
Harry Cooper from Middlesborough is making them on a 3D printer he got for Christmas and is handing out the safety equipment free of charge.
Harry has been raising money for the materials he needs with a funding page so that he can continue manufacturing the desperately needed PPE.
He's already taken over 100 orders from key workers such as health care assistants, community workers, dentists and shop assistants.
Harry Cooper (pictured) from Middlesborough is making them on a 3D printer he got for Christmas and is handing out the safety equipment free of charge
Harry said: 'I have the printers and have been using them to make the bands that go around your head. I enjoy making things and like a challenge so it was a no brainer to help key workers out at the same time.
'We have about 100 going out to community carers and care homes. I just wanted to do my bit.'
His mother Donna, 46, a primary school teacher from Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, said: 'He was like a dog with a bone when he realised he could help with the shortage of protective equipment.
Harry (pictured wearing one of visors he made) has been raising money for the materials he needs with a funding page so that he can continue manufacturing the desperately needed PPE
'He did his research and when he figured out he could make visors for people he jumped at it.'
Harry plans to produce three visors every 39 minutes with the use of three printers - one which was donated by a well-wisher.
Harry will have his joiner father Nigel, 52, on hand to help with packaging along wither brother Alfie, 12 and sister Emily, 19.
Harry plans to produce three visors every 39 minutes with the use of three printers (pictured) - one which was donated by a well-wisher
Donna added: 'We are just waiting for materials to arrive and then it's just going to be non stop production of them.
'Nigel and I have agreed to help deliver them to whoever needs one locally, so it's going to be all hands on deck soon. We all just want to help in any way we can, so this is our contribution.'
Paperboy Harry has also written a note to each one of his customers to say he will shop for their essentials if they need him.
'He's such a good lad,' Donna added. 'We are immensely proud of him and will do everything we can to support him.'
Harry will have his joiner father Nigel, 52, on hand to help with packaging along wither brother Alfie, 12 and sister Emily, 19. Pictured: part of the visors
Public Health England say that any clinician working in a hospital, primary care or community care setting within two metres of a suspected or confirmed coronavirus COVID-19 patient should wear an apron, gloves, surgical mask and eye protection.
Eye and face protection provides protection against contamination to the eyes from respiratory droplets.
Government advice says this can be achieved using a surgical mask with an integrated visor, a full face shield or visor, polycarbonate safety spectacles or equivalent.
His mother Donna, 46, (pictured) a primary school teacher from Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, said: 'He was like a dog with a bone when he realised he could help with the shortage of protective equipment'
Their guidance adds that regular corrective spectacles are not considered adequate eye protection.
Much like the mouth and nose, the eye contains a mucous membrane, via which the virus has a passage to the rest of the body.
The virus is most likely to enter in through these membranes after people touch an infected surface before touching their face.
Paperboy Harry (pictured) has also written a note to each one of his customers to say he will shop for their essentials if they need him
Harry is not the only one who has been creating visors to help health care workers.
Daniel Mooney, 32, who works for a computer game company in Dublin has also been using his 3D printer to make visors.
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