Westlake is 3D printing ear savers for staff at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at River Bend in Springfield. Ear savers are adapters that improve the fit of surgical and N95 masks by making them more comfortable to wear for long periods of time. Once printed, the intent is to continue distributing them to medical facilities in need throughout Oregon.

The effort was spearheaded by Charles Blair, an Associate and Industrial Measurement/3D Laser Scanning Senior Project Manager, whose wife is a child life specialist at the PeaceHealth facility.

The flexible and adjustable ear savers have been well received by hospital staff with requests for more coming in. The ear savers work by relieving stress elastic bands place on healthcare workers’ ears during 12-hour shifts.

Westlake is grateful to contribute in this small way and we encourage our AEC colleagues to think creatively about ways to donate to our frontline workers who are keeping the rest of us safe and healthy.