Face shields have become an important commodity, especially among front lines workers battling COVID-19. That’s why many manufacturers have shifted their gears and have started making shields to protect and block any potential droplets from spreading the virus.

A firefighter at the Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District decided to lend a hand in that cause by making sure all his fellow firefighters are protected.

According to a LAFCRD press release, Javier Bermudez, a firefighter at the Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District, developed a new hobby during the COVID-19 pandemic: fashioning face shields for his co-workers after he recognized the need for additional protective equipment.

“The project started after firefighter Bermudez returned home from a shift in early April and discussed the need for face shields with his wife, Sarah. She was inspired by an article she read about doctors in Houston fashioning their own face shields, looked up the materials they would need to make the shields at home,” said Katie Heck, Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District spokesperson.

“They worked with our logistics chief to obtain the materials needed to build the masks and quickly got to work. Using instructions found online, and with no access to a 3D printer, they fashioned each mask by hand,” continued Heck.

Last week Firefighter Bermudez and his wife presented 100 face shields to the Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District. The protective face shields are an additional layer of protection for both EMTs and paramedics as they treat patients.

For Bermudez and his wife, this is just the beginning and they plan to keep making the shields for those who need them.

“We are still making shields. We have donated some to Lehigh Regional ER and for the floor where my wife works at Gulf Coast. We also made them for different doctor’s offices in the county that asked for them. My wife is even teaching other people how to make them,” Bermudez said.

Heck said that currently their fire district has enough face shields and masks, but others may not.

“While we have not run out of any PPE supplies yet, we are being very mindful of conserving what we have as there is a shortage nationwide and ordering additional supplies is very hard right now,” Heck said.

Face shields are not deemed as necessary protective gear for the average citizen, but are important gear for first responders.

“We use the face shields for splatter protection and to protect against the spread of COVID-19 during medical treatments,” Heck said. “I would encourage someone who would like to make shields to contact their local fire district, hospital, or medical facility to confirm that they are in need of them.”

For anyone who would like to make face shields for local first responders, hospitals, or even themselves, LAFCRD suggest following these helpful instructions online: https://newbo.co/building-face-shields/.