Border firms doing their bit to help shield carers from coronavirus infection

We reported last week that face visors, to protect care workers from spray if patients cough while being treated, are being produced at Borders high Schools using their 3D printers.

Kelso High School craft, design and technology teacher Stuart Meldrum heard about a school in Lochaber in the Highlands putting together the shields after designing a program to print them off.

And he, along with other education staff across the Borders, got a copy of that program and began manufacturing them too while their schools are shut after Scottish Borders Council specialists tested them to ensure they are compliant with the relevant safety requirements.

A council spokesperson said: “We are fortunate that a number of craft, design and technology teachers have been utilising equipment within high schools to produce protective visors to support the council, NHS Borders and the community in responding to the current coronavirus outbreak.

“More than 300 have been provided to NHS Borders, and it is anticipated that by the start of next week between 700 and 1,000 more will have been completed.

“The council has also engaged two local firms to supply the necessary high volumes required to support its frontline care services.”

One of those companies is Promo Plastics at Kelso’s Pinnaclehill Industrial Estate.

The company’s boss, Tim Reader, says he has been working on making the face visors for a fortnight, producing around 750 a day.

Tim said: “We’ve been doing them since the school at Kelso asked us to help out really, about two weeks now.

“We’ve managed to get out about 6,000 visors so far.

“They are able to be cleaned and reused as well, which helps a lot.

“They are going to the NHS, Scottish Borders Council and SB Cares, among others.”

Among the other companies making visors available is the Garvie Group in Selkirk.