Minneapolis Review

A Dunwoody College of Technology instructor has created "ear savers" to help medical workers suffering from ear-strain and headaches associated with long hours of wearing their personal protective equipment. 

"We're used to wearing PPE, but it's the extended amount of time that we're required to wear it," Mary Willner, a senior staff nurse with Hennepin County Medical Center, said, according to KSTP. "We're definitely feeling how uncomfortable it is. If you can imagine you're wearing a mask and eyeglasses for eight, 10, 12 hours a day, it creates a lot of strain."  

The way the ear savers work is by attaching to the mask, which prevents the strain and strain from all-day use. Jazmine Darden, the instructor at Dunwoody College of Technology, is using 3D printers she has available for use and has been sending out hundreds across the country. Darden also started a GoFundMe to raise the money to keep from having to charge for the mold injection, which for an estimated 300 ear-savers, would cost around $4,500. The page is set up to raise $10,00, and that would be able to produce approximately 20,000 ear-savers.   

"I have 22 printers running down here right now," Darden said, according to KSTP. "I just can't keep up with the orders. I just sent a package out to California yesterday for 300."

She is reaching out to collaborate with a manufacturer that said they might be able to create 10,000 a day, which she wants to continue to be able to donate rather than sell. That is where the GoFundMe comes in – it is needed to but the injection mold so they can create and keep up with the demand. 

"I feel great pride to be able to help. By the end of each day, I'm like, 'Why did I get myself into this?' But then as the messages come in, it's a great reminder — especially as people get the packages and they're sending me pictures of them wearing them, and just seeing how much it's been able to help. I'm just so grateful that I'm able to help out," she said.