Havertown children use creativity to help Einstein employees needing face shields
HAVERFORD » When the Emergency Department at Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia faced a potential shortage of face shields, a group of employees was asked to come up with an alternative until a new shipment came in. J.P. McFadden of Havertown immediately knew whom to consult: His three children, ages 11, 10 and 7.
Seamus, Carly and Ruairi McFadden, who are home from school because of the COVID-19 outbreak, are always working on craft projects. Seamus and Carly go to Haverford Middle School and Ruairi goes to Coopertown Elementary School, all in the Haverford School District.
“We have a craft table in the basement. Whenever I come home, my kids have a new craft and there are always beads or paint all over the house,” said McFadden, director of construction for Einstein Health Care Network. “I knew I had the right team.”
The family, including McFadden’s wife, Katie, set to work, guided by a picture of a commercial face shield and a photo of people making impromptu versions in Seattle.
“They were all excited,” McFadden said of his children, “and very helpful after being a little stir crazy.”
After an evening of experimentation, the McFaddens created a prototype made of pool noodles, elastic stretch headbands, clear cellophane paper and – of course – duct tape. McFadden brought the model to work the next day. “He brought a bag with arts and crafts materials,” said Sherry Driscoll, office manager for the Facilities Department. “I thought it was great. Everybody laughed.”
A few modifications were made. There was a dash for supplies to Staples, CVS, and the dollar store. And then 10 employees in the department’s maintenance division created an assembly line around a large table in the carpentry shop and began producing the shields. By the end of day one, they’d made and distributed 200 to the Emergency Department. Dr. Ryan Overberger was grateful.
“I had a chance to look at a prototype and it seemed as good or better than the stuff you get commercially,” said Overberger, an emergency medicine physician and medical director for the Hospital Emergency Response Team. Face shields are used to protect the eyes of healthcare workers. Their previous use was restricted to patients with certain contagious diseases. These days, because of the risk of COVID-19, they’re used with every patient who comes into the emergency room, along with masks, Overberger said. He was especially grateful for the homemade version because he was notified that the anticipated delivery of 5,000 face shields was reduced to 500. “The supply chain is really disrupted and this is a great example of ingenuity,” he said.
The production line has continued to create the shields, laminating the clear back cover of threeringed report folders as the see-through shield; a portion of pool noodle as the forehead cushion; and stretch headbands to hold them in place. And every day, more volunteers work the assembly line.
Craig Sieving, Vice President of Facilities Management, who’d relayed the original request for substitute face shields to his department, said he was “extremely proud” of their response.
“Their dedication and creativity were inspiring to see during these difficult times,” he said.
McFadden has been at Einstein for five years, developing and managing all the network’s construction work – needless to say, nothing like the face mask project. In fact, the only similar experience McFadden has ever had was being required, as an undergraduate engineering student at Bucknell University, to create a device that allowed a raw egg to survive a twostory fall, uncracked. His didn’t. But then he didn’t have the option at the time to consult with Seamus, Carly and Ruairi.
“They were very proud of the work they did,” McFadden said. “It’s exciting for them to have had a hand in helping me and helping Einstein.
Ridley lunch workers lauded for making sure students get meals
Scott Mann, the Ridley High School cafeteria manager, wants to share the kind and generous spirit that is alive and well in Ridley during this time of need.
Ten “super lunch ladies,” as Mann calls them, under the guidance of Food Service Director Dimitria Barrios, are still coming to the Ridley High School Kitchen,
801 Morton Ave., Folsom,
8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday to make breakfasts and lunches for children who are no longer able to get meals at school while schools are closed. The workers are supported by three bus yard staffers who drive the delivery bus to designated location for distribution. Some Ridley administrators have also been on the buses to assist.
“This is truly a Ridley team effort,” Mann said. “I just wanted to say thank you to them and to let them know that what they are doing may not be seen, but will also not be forgotten. Until we can serve cyber meals during these trying times, the selfless generosity of these ladies is very appreciated.”
Correction
In Sunday’s paper, we ran a photo of Michele Sun and incorrectly identified her as her twin sister Jessica Sun. We also misstated that Jessica was the sole designer of a poster. In fact, both Jessica and Michelle were codesigners of the poster. We regret the error and congratulate them both for their creativity and community spirit.