MEBANE, N.C. — A high school nurse at Eastern Alamance High School is creating face masks and ear savers for frontline health care workers.
High School Nurse Trish Garrett said she’s started distributing masks by handing them to people in need including bus drivers and nutrition staff who come into her neighborhood.
“With the nature of my job I am not currently a frontline employee but know we will be when we are all welcomed back into our buildings, this motivates me to support in any way I can,” she said.
According to a spokesperson for Alamance-Burlington Schools, Garrett has donated over 400 ear savers and counting which are small thin plastic devices which can be placed on the back of your head.
“You (can) attach your mask straps to the ear saver instead of it sitting around the ears,” Garrett said. “This helps take the pressure off of the back of the ears.”
The spokesperson said Garrett has donated the ear savers across the state and nation.
Garrett said materials have also went to multiple frontline workers including her family and friends throughout the country providing relief to the flight team at Akron Children's Hospital, Green Fire Department, the Navy Corp of Nurses stationed in New York and Guam, the San Diego Sharp Grossmont emergency room.
The spokesperson said Garrett is scheduled to deliver to the Alamance Regional Cone Health location in Burlington later this week.
“I’ve been able to donate to Mebane/Burlington Pediatrics, Duke Primary care and UNC Hillsborough,” said Garrett. “Being a nurse, I more than understand how uncomfortable the N95 masks can become after long periods of time and the thought of my frontline colleagues wearing them every waking minute inspired me to look for ways to help.”
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