There is a great video highlighting the tremendous work done by our Peralta College's FabLabs to produce much needed safety equipment during the COVID-19 crisis
In late March, technicians at both the Laney College and College of Alameda FabLabs worked together to prototype and produce both fabric masks and face shields to help local hospitals in need of supplies as cases of COVID-19 climb in California. Dubbed the LaneyShield, their face-shield design was made of a foam headpiece, adjustable strap, and plastic shield. The first 500 LaneyShields were assembled on April 3 at Oakland’s Port Workspaces.
Danny Beesley has helped coordinate an ever-growing team around the Bay Area who are producing PPE for essential workers for free. In April, Coca-Cola generously donated about 20,000 lb which will produce about 60,000 face Shields. The network has grown since then and is expected to double the number of manufacturers utilizing that material. Which means more PPE production in the same amount of time.
With a production factory in Alameda and a developed network of about a hundred volunteer sewers, a delivery and logistics system has evolved to safely and effectively move fabric to get sewn and recollected for sanitization and distribution out to those who need it most, including: nurses, homeless shelters, hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Danny is currently in the process of starting production of bonnets and booties as well as other sewn goods to meet the needs of medical persons and healthcare workers on the frontline.
Additionally, nearly every former staff member or hired student technician that have come out of the Peralta FabLabs at Laney College and College of Alameda are a part of this global effort. For more info about the Laney face shield project, please visit: https://www.laneyshield.laneyfablab.org For up to date Coronavirus/COVID-19 information including FAQs and other resources for students, faculty & staff, and the community, please visit: https://safe.peralta.edu
Other videos in the series include this look at plastic injection-molded face shields created at the Laney FabLab:
Other videos in this series about the FabLabs include a spotlight on Javon Williams, Laney College FabLab alum:
And this spotlight on Jimmy Krehl at the Laney FabLab:
And of course the original video in the series that was published in May 2020 and now has over 1200 views on YouTube!
These videos were produced in-house by Angel Hunter, a Peralta TV producer within the Department of Marketing, Communication & Public Relations. These were a labor of love for Angel and it shows. Thanks Angel!