Ollerton man makes thousands of strap clips for surgical masks to help save the ears of NHS front line workers

A man is using his creative experience to help protect the ears of front line workers wearing face masks.

Alan Hudson, a keen 3D printing hobbyist, has spent the last few weeks churning out thousands of strap clips for surgical masks from his five printers.

The clips, being used by doctors, nurses and the Army, are placed on the back of the head for elastic mask straps to hook on to — saving front line workers from irritation and redness to the ears, a common complaint.

Alan, of Ollerton, started printing on April 7 and, since then, has made more than 4,480 clips at his own expense, spending more than £1,675.

“We are donating the clips totally free, even the postage,” Alan said. “This action is needed. The virus has changed a lot of people but has also shown there are a lot of selfish people.

“People going to the seaside — it really makes me think this country is selfish. But we aren’t all this way, some of us have good hearts and I have the kit, knowledge and funds.”

Alan owns AJs Farmhouse Furniture in Boughton and, during the lockdown, is only allowed to craft rather than deliver furniture — giving him some extra time for printing.

“It is a very frustrating hobby and when the printers go down it’s usually a couple of hours to get them up and running again,” he said. “The record number of clips I have made in a day is 286, but on average I can make 250.”

Alan said he was contacted by an ICU nurse who said his clips were the only ones that they could use because they could be cleaned. They are also bio-degradable so, if they need to be thrown away, they will eventually decompose.

Help has also been offered by Alan’s partner Shelena Hartley, an artist who is on clip postage duty, and daughter Wynter-Rose Eddins, 7, who has been de-nibbing the clips — removing any loose bits of plastic.

Alan said: “We have sent orders directly to hospitals, including the Queen’s Medical Centre and King’s Mill, care homes and even the Army. Some police officers have requested them for personal use.

“We usually send them to sisters or doctors in bulk who then hand them to staff.”

The public have offered donations to Alan for his work, but he has insisted no money should be made from the process — and asked for donations to his late friend’s fundraising page instead at shorturl.at/dtDOW

“Simon was half-German and half-Welsh and I don’t think his parents will be able to come to the funeral, it is so sad,” Alan said.

“Hopefully these clips will help towards less deaths and more recoveries — it’s time for our country to come together.

“People should be staying in. If you end up having a family member in hospital, you will not be able to say goodbye to them.”

You can order clips at www.facebook.com/savingears/

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