North Michigan News

The Grayling Robotics team at Grayling High School received permission to use the school's 3D printer to produce plastic face shields to help first responders stay safe during the coronavirus pandemic. 

The 3D printer is typically used by the team to create plastic items and materials for competitions, but now it's being used to produce an in-demand item for the community, according to the Crawford County Avalanche. Rick McBride and his wife, Janet, who are both lead mentors for the school's robotics team, have taken the 3D printer home to produce face shields for first responders. 

“Janet and I have basically been keeping that thing running 24/7 in our kitchen, making visors, assembling them and distributing them,” McBride told the Avalanche.

All the face shields they create are being donated to local police, EMS workers and hospital employees. But the McBrides are receiving many requests for shields and are having a hard time keeping up with them. 

“The requests are coming faster than I can make them,” McBride told the Avalanche. “I think I’m going to be at this for a while." He says they can make 15 to 20 shields a day, and the couple makes daily delivery runs to first responders. 

“I don’t see an end in sight,” McBride told the Avalanche. “We’re just going to keep manufacturing these.”

McBride thinks he and his wife retired in Grayling for a reason. “I think there was a reason why my wife and I were called to Grayling to retire here,” he told the Avalanche. “There aren’t an awful lot of people that are capable and have the know-how to do this, and we also have the drive. I’m just proud I’m able to help and serve the community.”

The couple has distributed face shields to nurses in the intensive care unit at Munson Healthcare Otsego Memorial Hospital in Gaylord, critical nurses at the Munson Healthcare Grayling Hospital, officers at the Crawford County Sheriff's Office, workers at the Frederic Volunteer Fire Department, and EMS and food distribution workers at Grayling Elementary School. 

Many of the front line workers expressed their gratitude to the McBrides for supplying essential personal protective gear that can be hard to come by. 

Lt. Allen Ballard, the public information officer for the Frederic Volunteer Fire Department and EMS, told the Avalanche the face shields the McBrides made for the department will keep employees safe and protected. 

“The Grayling Robotics team helped us by making these face masks for us that will keep us safe from any splashes or particulates that would enter into our face," Ballard told the Avalanche. "During times like these with personal protective equipment (PPE) in such short supply, we are needing reusable-type PPE to continue to keep our staff members safe. Under Chief Doug Pratt’s leadership, all of our employees have been able to use the maximum level of protection to keep them safe.”

Rick and Janet McBride are taking requests for face shields on the Grayling Robotics team's Facebook page. To place an order, visit GHS RoboVikes 6121.