East Arizona News

Blue Ridge School’s Fab Lab gained statewide attention for its students’ work creating protective face shields and ventilators for health care workers.

Students from the Physics and Engineering Club and Fab Lab teacher Kevin Woolridge gained plenty of support and help on this project. Steve Gouker, director of the U of A Cooperative Extension for Navajo County, the Arizona Makers Fighting COVID-19 Working Group and local community members joined in the project.

In a statewide address, Gov. Doug Ducey recognized the Blue Ridge Unified School District and these partners.

Blue Ridge Superintendent Mike Wright told White Mountain Independent that the Fab Lab got authorization from the Banner Pulmonology group to test a ventilator prototype that supports four patients at once.

“All this work is done in the Blue Ridge School’s Fab Lab. The work is backed up by research and theory, requiring only application, and testing,” Wright told White Mountain Independent.

Wooldridge said a major goal is to produce personal protective equipment (PPE) that can be sanitized and reused.

“One of the biggest concerns is coming up with an evidence-based process for making N95-equivalent masks,” he told White Mountain Independent. “Many of the DIY masks are inappropriate and give the wearer a false sense of security while not protecting them from even the largest of viruses.”

Face shields produced in the Fab Lab can be washed and sanitized. They also can be dry heat sanitized up to 80 degrees Celsius (176 degrees Fahrenheit).

Some of the team goes to the school’s Fab Lab to work while practicing social distancing. The rest work remotely. The team can produce up to 75 face shields in an hour.

“Our goal is to continue to work as long as we have the materials to do it and as long as there is a problem that we can help with," Woolridge told White Mountain Independent.