From 3D printers to virtual reality rooms, BCIT MediaWorks was a self-service production facility offering drop-in help to students, faculty, and staff at BCIT – until COVID-19 hit. As BCIT transitioned to primarily online classes, this freed up the 3D printing capacity in MediaWorks to temporarily shift to making ear savers for frontline healthcare workers who are working tirelessly to care for those impacted by COVID-19.
A collaboration across the BCIT community
Ear savers help alleviate the irritation on the back of ears caused by a constant tugging of the mask’s ear loops. With the freed up 3D printing capacity, MediaWorks quickly teamed up with colleagues from the Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology Department in the School of Energy and the Biomedical Engineering Technology Department in the School of Health Sciences to print approximately 100 ear savers a day. To date, more than 2,100 ear savers have been printed and delivered to healthcare workers at BC Women’s Hospital, Royal Columbian Hospital, Abbotsford Regional Hospital, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Vancouver General Hospital, and BCIT School of Health Sciences students.
Thank you to BCIT staff and faculty members, including Richard Te, Treena Cardiff, Anna Chou, Jeff Dyck, William Han, and Mohammed Alnaeb, for your leadership and support on this initiative.
SEE MORE: BCIT Nursing alumnus turned instructor offers support as frontline healthcare worker
For more information about BCIT’s response to COVID-19, please visit bcit.ca/covid-19
If you have additional questions, please visit the Canada Health FAQ webpage or call the Public Health Agency of Canada COVID-19 telephone information line at 1-833-784-4397.
