Coronavirus: Nike repurposes footwear to create face shields for frontline healthcare workers
Nike has announced it is repurposing elements of its footwear and clothing to create personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers.
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, ensuring that healthcare workers on the frontline have access to protective equipment has been a cause of concern echoed around the world.
It was recently reported that NHS staff had been forced to share masks due to shortages, while Italian doctors warned that protective equipment is vital to prevent the collapse of the country’s healthcare system.
Sportswear label Nike has stated that its innovation, manufacturing and product teams have come together with health professionals at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) to help manufacture face shields for healthcare workers, in addition to creating air-purifying respirator (PAPR) lenses “to protect against the coronavirus”.
“When OHSU shared its current face shield, finding a way to reproduce the equipment with Nike-owned materials and manufacturing facilities became an immediate goal,” the company said.
“The aim was not just a high-functioning shield, but also one that allowed a simple model of production.”
The brand outlined that the healthcare workers at the university “instantly became field testers of the prototypes and validators of the final equipment”.
“Nike’s version of the full-face shield transforms elements of the brand’s footwear and apparel and into much-needed PPE,” the firm said.
“Collar padding once destined for shoes is repurposed; cords originally earmarked for apparel reconsidered; and, most important, the TPU component of a Nike signature — the Nike Air soles — reimagined.”
Tonya Miko Enomoto, MD, associate professor of anesthesiology and perioperative medicine at OHSU’s School of Medicine, explained that healthcare workers “are at a higher risk of contracting the virus” without adequate facial production, which could in turn “place substantial strain on the healthcare workforce in the months ahead”.
“The full-face shields help protect healthcare workers’ faces and also help to prolong the length we can safely use a surgical or N95 mask,” Dr Enomoto said.
“Nike’s generous response to the Covid-19 crisis helps to instill an added layer of confidence and support for healthcare workers, that we can safely carry out the jobs we were born to do.”
The first shipment of donated full-face shields and PAPR lenses was made to OHSU on Friday 3 April.
“OHSU’s mission is to support the health and wellbeing of all Oregonians, and we can’t do that without adequate supplies of personal protective equipment,” said Danny Jacobs, MD, president of OHSU.
1/32
People clap from a block of flats opposite St Thomas’ Hospital in London. Briton’s were encouraged to clap for carers at 8pm local time to celebrate employees of the NHS
EPA
2/32
Staff outside the St James’s University Hospital in Leeds, wave to people applauding them from their balconies
PA
3/32
A sign by Wembley Park Tube Station in London that thanks the hardworking NHS staff
PA
4/32
Barbara Leigh, aged 93, (second left) rings a bell for the NHS, with her family who are all staying together throughout the lockdown, from their front garden across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester
Getty
5/32
NHS staff respond as people in Blackpool join in the national applause
PA
6/32
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak applaud outside 10 Downing Street
Reuters
7/32
Staff from the Royal Liverpool University Hospital join in a national applause
PA
8/32
Tyne Bridge lit up in blue to support the NHS
Reuters
9/32
Residents in a Northampton street applaud
Getty
10/32
Princes George (right), Louis (centre) and Princess Charlotte joining in a national applause for the NHS as people across the country showed their appreciation for all NHS workers who are helping to fight the coronavirus
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge/PA
11/32
People in Woodford Green, London, join in a national applause
PA
12/32
People in flats wave the Scottish flag in Glasgow as they join in a national applause for the NHS
PA
13/32
Ventura’, a Grand-class cruise ship of the P&O Cruises fleet, docked at Southampton Docks shows its support for the NHS by lighting up rooms on the cruise ship to spell ‘#I LOVE NHS’
Getty Images
14/32
Staff from the Royal Liverpool University Hospital join in a national applause
PA
15/32
The SSE Hydro in Glasgow is lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to the hardworking NHS staff
PA
16/32
Residents applaud NHS staff for all their hard work during the Coronaviroutbreak in Glasgow
Getty Images
17/32
Wembley Arch in London is lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to the hardworking NHS staff
PA
18/32
Dr Olivera Potparic Anestesis applauds her colleagues after finishing a 12 hour shift at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
Reuters
19/32
Residents in a Northampton street applaud in support of the NHS
Getty
20/32
People applaud infront of big screen in Piccadilly Circus
Reuters
21/32
People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital
Getty
22/32
A police officer joins staff from the Royal Liverpool University Hospital in a national applause for the NHS
PA
23/32
The London Eye is pictured lit blue in support of the NHS
Reuters
24/32
People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital
Getty
25/32
NHS workers wave from a window at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
Reuters
26/32
People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital
Getty
27/32
Redcar Pier lit up in blue
Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council/PA
28/32
Duchess of Cornwall and the Prince of Wales joining in the national applause for the NHS workers battling coronavirus, coupled with photos from previous visits to NHS facilities
Instagram/clarencehouse/PA
29/32
People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital
Getty
30/32
A family applaud outside their home during the Clap for our carers campaign in support of the NHS in Newcastle-under-Lyme
Reuters
31/32
People applaud outside their homes in Parsonage Gardens during the Clap For Our Carers campaign in support of the NHS, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, EnfieldPeople applaud outside their homes in Parsonage Gardens during the Clap For Our Carers campaign in support of the NHS in Enfield
Reuters
32/32
People show appreciation outside Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
Reuters
1/32
People clap from a block of flats opposite St Thomas’ Hospital in London. Briton’s were encouraged to clap for carers at 8pm local time to celebrate employees of the NHS
EPA
2/32
Staff outside the St James’s University Hospital in Leeds, wave to people applauding them from their balconies
PA
3/32
A sign by Wembley Park Tube Station in London that thanks the hardworking NHS staff
PA
4/32
Barbara Leigh, aged 93, (second left) rings a bell for the NHS, with her family who are all staying together throughout the lockdown, from their front garden across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester
Getty
5/32
NHS staff respond as people in Blackpool join in the national applause
PA
6/32
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak applaud outside 10 Downing Street
Reuters
7/32
Staff from the Royal Liverpool University Hospital join in a national applause
PA
8/32
Tyne Bridge lit up in blue to support the NHS
Reuters
9/32
Residents in a Northampton street applaud
Getty
10/32
Princes George (right), Louis (centre) and Princess Charlotte joining in a national applause for the NHS as people across the country showed their appreciation for all NHS workers who are helping to fight the coronavirus
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge/PA
11/32
People in Woodford Green, London, join in a national applause
PA
12/32
People in flats wave the Scottish flag in Glasgow as they join in a national applause for the NHS
PA
13/32
Ventura’, a Grand-class cruise ship of the P&O Cruises fleet, docked at Southampton Docks shows its support for the NHS by lighting up rooms on the cruise ship to spell ‘#I LOVE NHS’
Getty Images
14/32
Staff from the Royal Liverpool University Hospital join in a national applause
PA
15/32
The SSE Hydro in Glasgow is lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to the hardworking NHS staff
PA
16/32
Residents applaud NHS staff for all their hard work during the Coronaviroutbreak in Glasgow
Getty Images
17/32
Wembley Arch in London is lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to the hardworking NHS staff
PA
18/32
Dr Olivera Potparic Anestesis applauds her colleagues after finishing a 12 hour shift at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
Reuters
19/32
Residents in a Northampton street applaud in support of the NHS
Getty
20/32
People applaud infront of big screen in Piccadilly Circus
Reuters
21/32
People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital
Getty
22/32
A police officer joins staff from the Royal Liverpool University Hospital in a national applause for the NHS
PA
23/32
The London Eye is pictured lit blue in support of the NHS
Reuters
24/32
People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital
Getty
25/32
NHS workers wave from a window at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
Reuters
26/32
People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital
Getty
27/32
Redcar Pier lit up in blue
Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council/PA
28/32
Duchess of Cornwall and the Prince of Wales joining in the national applause for the NHS workers battling coronavirus, coupled with photos from previous visits to NHS facilities
Instagram/clarencehouse/PA
29/32
People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital
Getty
30/32
A family applaud outside their home during the Clap for our carers campaign in support of the NHS in Newcastle-under-Lyme
Reuters
31/32
People applaud outside their homes in Parsonage Gardens during the Clap For Our Carers campaign in support of the NHS, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, EnfieldPeople applaud outside their homes in Parsonage Gardens during the Clap For Our Carers campaign in support of the NHS in Enfield
Reuters
32/32
People show appreciation outside Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
Reuters
“I’ve been so inspired by how our community has united to meet this health crisis. We are forever grateful to the commitment of our colleagues at Nike, as their dedication to our united effort will help save lives.”
Nike outlined that the full-face shields and PAPR lenses “will be provided to health systems in Nike’s World Headquarters region, including Providence, Legacy Health Systems and Kaiser Permanente, and others across the state of Oregon”.
In a press release, the firm stated: “Nike will continue to seek ways to further support the courageous healthcare workers in their tireless efforts to support, heal and comfort our communities through these extraordinary times.”
