It seems everywhere you look, someone in town is stepping up to help in the fight against COVID-19, whether through local dinner donations for front line workers, or grocery drop offs for elderly neighbours, there is goodness all around in the Bradford community, and it's contagious.
When Bradford Volunteer Firefighter Association President Jeff Torcato saw the need for more PPE equipment for health care workers, he knew he wanted to help in some way.
Even while working a full time job, and volunteering part time with the BWG fire crew, he took it upon himself to invest in a 3D printer so he could make PPE for front line health care workers in his spare time.
“Obviously my main priority has been Bradford Valley Care Community,” he explained about his production. He has been making ear band relief clips and visors for face shields from instructions and template files found online.
“We’ve also done some (ear bands) for a local Tim Horton’s store, because they are wearing surgical masks as well,” he shared.
Torcato recently made equipment for Swarchuck’s Funeral Home in town and for a nursing home in Beeton, and provided 30 visors and 40 ear relief clips to Credit Valley Hospital's maternity ward.
His producs are in high demand, and he works closely with fellow volunteer firefighter and Holy Trinity teacher, Craig McLaughlin, who is also printing PPE from his house, fulfilling orders from health care workers in the community and beyond.
Torcato said it takes an average of one hour and 45 minutes to create just one visor.
“Between Craig and I we have been tweaking the file to try to speed things up,” he explained.
Together the pair recently finished an order of ear relief bands for Emergency Room staff at both Southlake and Mackenzie Health hospitals. The most recent order they have been working on is for the BWG Fire crew, an order of 250 visors.
“So the printer has been running non stop just to try to keep our own guys safe as well,” said Torcato.
And he likes to get creative with his work, recently adding super hero designs to the PPE.
Some of his latest patterns include Wonder Woman, Batman, Superman and even Bradford Fire logo. “I’ve been doing some fancier ones for the hospital just to give them a motivational boost,” he said. “Just to show our frontline workers that they are essentially heroes."
He found instructions on how to make the logos online and taught himself how to layer the print with multi colours of plastic. The feedback he has received on them has been quite encouraging. “They (front line workers) keep on asking me for more, so that’s a good thing," he said.
As of right now, Torcato is covering the costs of materials and is not seeking any compensation for his efforts. If down the line he requires more funds, he said he would present the option to the Association to see if they would cover some of the associated costs of the materials.
“I am just glad I can help out,” he said. “It’s good to see other people are taking the initiative and doing what they can."
