by Nick McAdam 21, Public Relations Intern
Many health care workers continue to log in long shifts during the pandemic. While the constant wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE) may protect them, it also irritates the back of the ears, sometimes rubbing them raw.
Utica College graduate student Ann Marie Brown saw both the problem and a solution. Using a 3-D printer, she fashioned a small device that is worn on the back of a person’s head, with a clip on each end to hold the ear loops of the mask. This extends the length of the loops, removing pressure off the ears while still offering the same protection.