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Dentists donate 30 face shields to Cowichan society

Masks made locally by Project Draw Breath
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Dr. Scott Stewart and Dr. Randy Koniuk, from Island Dental Health Centre, hand over 30 face shields that were created by the Valley’s Project Draw Breath to Della James (centre) for use by the workers at the Valley Integration To Active Living Society. (Submitted photo)

The team at the Cowichan Valley’s Project Draw Breath organization is still busy in the community working to ensure local shortages of personal protective equipment are kept to a minimum during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Project Draw Breath, consisting of people from a number of disciplines and backgrounds in the Valley, was formed in March to, among other initiatives, collect 3D printer parts from all over Vancouver Island to assemble face shields to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 after it was determined there could be a shortage of PPE as the virus spread across the globe.

RELATED STORY: COWICHAN VALLEY TEAM USING 3D PRINTING TO QUADRUPLE VENTILATOR CAPACITY

Dr. Scott Stewart and Dr. Randy Koniuk, from Island Dental Health Centre, recently purchased 60 face shields from Project Draw Breath, with 30 earmarked for use in their offices and 30 to donate to the community.

Lehanna Green, Project Draw Breath’s coordinator, said the dentists were very impressed by the quality of the face shields, were delighted they are made from 3D printed parts produced locally, and were more than happy to donate 30 of them for use in the community.

She said she was also able to connect Island Dental Health Centre with the Valley Integration To Active Living Society, and the dentists have agreed to donate the extra 30 face shields for use in the society’s five local group homes.

The VITAL Society provides services to those living in the community with mental and physical disabilities, or any other complex barriers.

RELATED STORY: ISLAND HEALTH “HUMBLED” BY WORK OF COWICHAN’S PROJECT DRAW BREATH

The society’s Della James approached Lehanna Green, the coordinator of Project Draw Breath, and expressed a need for protective face shields for the society’s front-line care workers and a match was made.

“Thank you Drs. Stewart and Koniuk for showing your care and concern for the health and safety of VITAL’s residents and caregivers,” James said.

To date Project Draw Breath has assembled 600 face shields which have been distributed from Alert Bay to Victoria to medical staff, dentists, special needs teachers, retail clerks, restaurant servers, pet groomers and trainers and to individuals who want to be comfortable shopping and visiting friends and relatives.

Green said if other organizations need face shields, protective desk shields or clear work-space dividers, Project Draw Breath can help.

“Send an email to projectdrawbreath@gmail.com or look us up on Facebook www.facebook.com/projectdrawbreath,” she said.



robert.barron@cowichanvalleycitizen.com

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Robert Barron

About the Author: Robert Barron

Since 2016, I've had had the pleasure of working with our dedicated staff and community in the Cowichan Valley.
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