Firefighter Answers Different Type of Call; Filling Need For Protective Face Shields

Javier Bermudez, a firefighter at the Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District, has developed a new hobby during the COVID-19 pandemic: fashioning face shields for his co-workers after recognizing 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. Sarah, 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. Working with the Logistics Chief, they were able 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. 

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

If you would like to make face shields for local first responders, hospitals, or even yourself, we found these helpful instructions online: https://newbo.co/building-face-shields/.