We are only beginning to tap the surface of the ingenuity of residents in our area who are figuring out ways to get much-needed personal protective equipment (PPE) into the hands of those on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. This story begins with an emergency department nurse at St. Anthony Regional Hospital who is a 2013 graduate of Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) in Carroll. It just so happens that Cory Thompson’s father, Jack Thompson, is a Professor Emeritus of Industrial-Electro Mechanical Technology at Carroll. Cory knew his team was going to need much more PPE than they can currently get their hands on. But a call to his dad set the wheels in motion. Jack said he didn’t have any safety glasses, but asked if they could use face shields. Cory told him that would be preferred. Jack sprang into action, assessing what DMACC had on hand; finding the welding headgear was in good shape, but the lenses were not. He contacted DMACC Provost, Joel Lundstrum. “I immediately thought it was a good cause and was needed for the safety of the medical community in Carroll,” Lundstrom said. A call to Matheson, an industrial gas supplier in Carroll, netted Jack replacement lenses that could be cut to fit. The finished shields were soon delivered to St. Anthony. “During this challenging time, when PPE is in short supply, we sincerely appreciate the outpouring of support from our community,” said Foundation Director, Trish Roberts. Jack, however, was not done. He saw a video of a simpler version and went back to Matheson for supplies only to find a freeze on sales of safety equipment. While at home, mulling over other options, Jack spotted a framed poster and wondered if the plastic could be cut to work as a shield. Trial and error resulted in success. Jack can now construct about one shield per hour, and to date, has delivered 26 of these. But he is not stopping there. “As far as making more,” Jack said, “materials are getting hard to find, but I will keep changing and making them.”
