Art and textile teachers from Arthur Mellows Village College in Glinton near Stamford make special headbands for key workers
Two art and textile teachers are making special headbands for nurses and other key workers to stop their ears getting sore while wearing face masks.
Lisa Mitchell, 47, and Hana Senior, 24, responded to a call from nurses who are fed up with having to hook the painful elastic behind their ears all day at work.
The masks are part of the personal protective equipment (PPE) that must be worn by frontline staff in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic.
Lisa and Hana gave the issue some thought and decided the best solution would be a comfortable headband with buttons sewn in to hook the elastic around.
They posted some photos on Facebook and have now been inundated with requests from both the private sector and NHS hospitals as far as Yeovil in Somerset.
“Nurses are already struggling with really sore ears after wearing masks throughout their shifts,” said Lisa, who works at Arthur Mellows Village College in Glinton and lives in Stamford.
“They are dreading putting them on!”
The dynamic duo have made around 70 bands so far and are preparing to send between 20 and 30 to the hospital in Grantham next week.
“We’re making and sending them totally for free - I’d never want to make any money out of it,” added mum-of-two Lisa.
“By this time next week we will hopefully have happier nurses with happier ears!”
They are waiting for approval to send more to Peterborough, Yeovil and Leicestershire, and private companies are also ready to take a stack of the headbands for their staff.
In fact the pair reckon they’ll be so busy they are asking for donations of textiles and buttons, as well as volunteers with sewing machines who can help out.
They have also started making laundry bags for health workers to put their uniforms and scrubs in.
“As key workers we are at school still trying to get Year 11 and 13 students up to their exams,” said Lisa, who used to be head of art at Stamford Welland Academy.
“At home we’ve got laptops and sewing machines on, answering messages from kids and supporting them with their coursework.
“But this is something we felt we could do to help. It’s easy for us but it could make a huge difference.”
Lisa has also called on the help of husband Darren, of first aid company MJD Training, who is not currently working.
“He’s a former prison officer so he knows how to sew a good button on!” said Lisa.
“If everyone does what they can with what they’ve got then we can make a big difference. Often too many people just expect someone else to do it.”
To help out or offer to donate, call Lisa on 07791 606015. Also check out the Stamford area covid-19 support Facebook page.
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