FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Whelen Engineering Donates PPE to Front Line Workers Amid COVID-19 Relief Efforts
April 22, 2020 – Chester, Connecticut – As part of ongoing efforts to support communities amid the unprecedented impact of COVID-19, today Whelen Engineering announced it is donating Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) designed and manufactured in their Chester, Connecticut and Charlestown, New Hampshire facilities to healthcare providers to help support response efforts and front-line workers.
Finding a way to design and produce PPE at Whelen’s facilities became a goal very quickly as the pandemic began to ramp up in the U.S.. The aim was to utilize Whelen’s resources to create personal protective equipment (PPE) that would support first responders and healthcare workers who are at a higher risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus. To respond, Whelen temporarily reorganized some of its resources to manufacture these needed face masks and face shields.
The mask design was adapted from the Montana Mask, invented by Dr. Dusty Richardson, Dr. Spencer Zaugg, and Colton Zaugg. The shield was created from a University of Wisconsin open source design.
“As the world deals with this issue, Whelen is dedicated to serving our communities the best way we can,” said George Whelen, President and CEO. “We believe that together we can make a difference, and together, we can overcome this.”
Hospitals, nursing homes, and health care providers in over eight states have received PPE from Whelen. Whelen was proud to ship the first donations on April 16, 2020.
Whelen will continue to seek other ways to further support the courageous healthcare workers and first responders in their tireless efforts to comfort and heal our communities during this time.
Media Contact
communications@whelen.com
About Whelen Engineering
Whelen revolutionized emergency warning technology with the invention of the first rotating “anti-collision” beacon in 1952. Today, Whelen continues to push the boundaries of innovation with reliable and powerful lights, sirens, control systems, and software. Whelen encompasses two state-of-the-art facilities in Connecticut and New Hampshire, with over 750,000 square feet of engineering and manufacturing space. With quality as our foundation, we celebrate innovative engineering in every product we produce.
