Southern Illinois News

Students of Shawnee Community College are using 3D printing technology to help produce gear to protect health care workers during the COVID-19 virus outbreak.

“We are grateful to have an opportunity to meet the needs of our local health care workers,” Shawnee Community College communication director Ron Betts told a reporter for KFVS-TV 12. “Our college offers both allied health and nursing programs, which means that many of these health care workers on the frontlines are part of our Shawnee College family. It is also good for us to see this 3D printing equipment meant for training students to be utilized in such a practical application for our community.”

Referred to as “PPE,” personal protective equipment is protective clothing including face masks, helmets, goggles, or other garments or equipment designed to protect the wearer's body from virus infection. According to the KFVS report, college educational technology specialist Rob Lucas is heading a newly created a team of student volunteers using their 3D printers to produce PPE equipment. The equipment will be donated to local health care facilities.

Shawnee Community College staff made the first donation of PPE equipment to Rural Health in Anna. Rural Health intends to distribute the items to its teams throughout the region.

The college will make PPE for distribution health care facilities – including local ambulance services, area hospitals and long-term care facilities – for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis.