A FLINTSHIRE high school teacher has spoken about his plan to create PPE that will help frontline staff before being used in developing countries.

Russell Davies, leader of the design and technology department at Flint High School, spoke with the Leader about how the school are designing and distributing PPE to those on the frontline fight against the coronavirus.

The school are creating packs with the needed materials and dropping them off at the doorstep of those who have said they will be happy to make the masks, which Russell returns to collect at the end of the week.

He said: “I was talking to my wife, who is a social worker and the mayor of Flint, about the need for PPE when she visits clients and that’s where this all really started from.

“I was then thinking of ways we could contribute and, also with everyone being at home and just a small number of pupils having access to the school resources, I was thinking how best to approach it which is when I made the simple design, using simple processes and everyday materials.”

The visors use paper tightly rolled up to create the headbands and the plastic visor made using an acetate sheet is stapled on and holds a woven piece of elastic to go around the wearers head.

“It took a lot of fiddling to come up with something that was lightweight but still robust enough to give the wearer some protection,” said Russ.

Russ said that there has been a great response from people wanting the kits of materials to make themselves. He said there was enough product in school to start off the project and students across all school years were keen to get involved in the practical project.

Once PPE is made more readily available, Russell said that the visors won’t simply be discarded and are looking to – where possible – send them to developing countries that will be able to make use of the equipment.

He said: “People wanting to help by can find details of how you can make the full visor below in a series of step-by-step videos on the school website. If they can only make part of the visor, we can complete the assembly for them.

“Or if people have materials, they can donate it would be just as big a help.”

“I have exhausted stock of acetate sheets though - so no more orders can be taken for now - but a good thing in terms of the number now being made by students, parents, and teachers.”

At the time of writing, about 120 visors have been made by students at home which are then passed onto to NEWCES, based in Hawarden.

Further information and step-by-step instructions on how to make the visors can be found on the school website https://www.flinthighschool.wales/making-visors.html