Alderwood residents Erik and Lynn Graham have created and donated more than 4,000 “ear savers” to area hospitals and are seeking support to produce more.

The 3D-printed plastic combs are designed to prevent painful ear chafing caused by mask elastics. They make a big difference for health care workers and volunteers who must wear protective gear all day. Recipients include workers at the Hospital for Sick Kids’, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Etobicoke’s Dorothy Ley Hospice.

The Grahams have launched a GoFundMe campaign to help defray the costs of producing this equipment and would welcome support in any amount. So far they have raised just under $1,000.

“I am a retired small business owner who is currently 3D printing a form of PPE (personal protective equipment) known as Ear Saver,” Graham says. “My purpose is to raise funds to support the purchase of two more Prusa 3D printers and defray the expenses of the PLA filament and shipping costs.”

Eric has invested $2,700 in the project so far and would like to raise $3,500 to keep the initiative going.

“My intent is to make this campaign completely and utterly revenue neutral, any residual funds will be donated,” to a list of hospitals, he says.

Many health care workers agree that wearing the masks for long periods of time is “spectacularly uncomfortable.”

“Nurses in particular are now reporting that they are getting physical sores from the rubbing of the elastic bands on the soft tissue behind their ears,” his material says.

The Ear Savers are printed using plant-based filament, biodegradable polymer and are easily sanitized with soap and water in the work place. They are durable and have been designed to be a “one size fits all” device.
You can make a donation at their Go Fund Me page at https://gf.me/u/yc79a2