Back to school usually means new clothes, fun backpacks, and a return to familiar routine. This year though, things are certainly different. Routines have been disrupted, and many people are starting a new school year with trepidation instead of excitement.
While you can’t change the current conditions, you can make decisions that have an impact on the health and safety of everyone in your school. Today we’re sharing a new line of products that Gary Plastic Packaging has developed to help you safely make the transition back to in-person learning.
All of our products are reusable, recyclable and made in the USA right in our own New York facility.
Reusable Face Shields With Folding Frames
Wearing a face shield in combination with a cloth mask has been shown to offer superior protection from coughs and sneezes. These face shields are crystal clear, which means that you retain full 360-degree visibility without obstruction. They’re lightweight and comfortable, reducing fatigue from continued use. And they’re an effective barrier to protect your eyes, nose and mouth against airborne liquids.
In addition, shields can also provide a barrier to help you avoid touching your face and transferring germs from your hands.
Our shields are made from 100% post-consumer recycled rPET, and are easy to clean with soap and water, alcohol or disinfectant. They can be cleaned and reused time and again without losing their clear surface.
During manufacturing we follow GMP and hygienic best practices and are authorized by the FDA under an EUA for use as personal protective equipment, making them ideal for school personnel including administrators, office staff, maintenance, cafeteria staff, and more.
When shields need to be replaced, especially those with a foam forehead rest that can begin to wear or dirty over time the reusable frames with shield is a better option. Frames can be kept indefinitely and a new shield can be inexpensively attached whenever you need it.
As an added benefit, frames fold, making your protective equipment smaller than other face shields and far more portable and easier to store on shelves, in your car, or in desk drawers.
During difficult times when morale may be low and tension high, it can be just as important to protect the emotional health of students and staff as their physical health. For an added touch of school spirit and motivation, shields can be imprinted with your choice of design or message without obstructing visibility.
Counter Shields/Sneeze Guards
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend a number of safety precautions when reopening schools. Among them are maintaining an appropriate distance from others, wearing cloth face coverings, and washing hands.
In schools, where one-to-one interaction and personal communication is so important, it can be difficult to maintain the recommended distance between staff, students, teachers, and visitors.
For situations like this, the CDC advises installing a physical barrier. Our counter shields/sneeze guards are the ideal solution, offering a crystal clear surface that creates a barrier to help eliminate direct contact with others.
These counter shields are easy to wipe down and can be cleaned and disinfected as needed, something so important in the vulnerable school environment.
Shields are available in a standard size of 23.5″ high x 23.5″ wide with an acrylic plastic barrier that is 3/16″ thick. Choose a counter shield with or without a slot, which can be used to safely pass documents, books, or other small objects back and forth.
We also offer a larger size of 23.5″ high x 31.5” wide for a horizontal configuration, or 31.5” high x 23.5” wide for a vertical configuration.
Use these shields in the school office or student desks, at food stations, in the library, or anywhere a physical barrier would enhance safety. The flat guard panel slides easily into a sturdy base that won’t tip or be knocked over, while the shields remain portable and easy to move around. That means you can use these shields wherever they may be needed, even in temporary locations like a school craft sale or after school event.
We live in challenging times, where back to school means new routines and a new set of precautions to protect the health and safety of all. With our plastic face shields and counter shields, you now have additional weapons in your arsenal to help you fight the spread of Coronavirus.
If you would like to purchase these, or other protective products, email [email protected]. Our product specialists are available to answer questions and help you make the right purchasing decision for your school.