Courier: 1819 Innovation Hub aims to make 10,000 face shields for Cincinnati Children's, UC Health
First of several weekly deliveries was made Monday
Personal protective equipment for medical professionals has been tough to come by since the COVID-19 pandemic reached the United States. The University of Cincinnati is doing its part to support local medical facilities.
As first reported by the Cincinnati Business Courier, UC's 1819 Innovation Hub has manufactured and delivered hundreds of face shields to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and UC Health. Each organization received 600 shields in their first delivery.
UC Chief Innovation Officer David J. Adams
UC Chief Innovation Officer David J. Adams says the 1819 Innovation Hub's Ground Floor makerspace plans to make and deliver a total of 10,000 in the coming weeks.
"We have the opportunity to leverage our currently unused capabilities here to support those on the front lines during a unprecedented event," Adams told the Courier. "When President [Neville] Pinto charged me with connecting the resources of the university with the community, I could not have imagined this. We are just happy that we can help."
UC Health and Cincinnati Children's are being charged for the cost of materials, with the 1819 Innovation Hub donating the labor. The 1819 Innovation Hub's efforts could be expanded to include the region's other medical facilities depending on capacity and need.
Featured image: A laser cutter is one of the tools being used to shape the components of the face shields being manufactured at the 1819 Innovation Hub. Photo/provided
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