Girl Scouts Earn Silver Awards Making Coronavirus Face Masks

MERRIMACK, NH — Girl Scouts around the state are earning Silver Awards and helping out health care workers on the frontlines of the new coronavirus outbreak fight. While under stay-at-home isolation, Samantha Laflotte of Merrimack, a Cadette and an eighth-grader at the Academy of Science and Design Charter School, had enough interest in the field of 3D printing to have a small 3D printer at her home already. The printer was funded in part by Pulsar Security.

"I heard that healthcare workers need masks because of a shortage due to the coronavirus pandemic," Laflotte said. "They need masks to protect themselves from getting sick so they can continue to treat patients. The healthcare workers are really brave and I'm so excited that I have this opportunity to help them."

Amy Bewley, the coordinator of marketing and communications for the charter school, said they were "really proud of Samantha for seeing a need and deciding to do something about it."

Cassandra Rodriguez, another Cadette of the Merrimack troop who is an eighth-grader at Merrimack Middle School, followed creation tips offered online by Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and began cutting and sewing masks for her project. She hopes to make 100.

"Last year, I went to sewing club and learned to use a sewing machine," she said. "I'm figuring it out. I've made one mask entirely."

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Another Cadette, Hanne Stuke of Hopkinton, who is from Concord Girl Scout Troop 20507 and a seventh-grader at Hopkinton Middle School, has already donated 70 masks to Concord Hospital.

"Many of our girls have gained sewing skills through our service projects in the past such as making T-shirt bags for the homeless to carry things in," said Dr. Patricia Edwards, a troop leader.

Hanne and the rest of her troop also made blankets for sick children who are hospitalized at Concord Hospital to make them feel more at home when they did their winter lodge retreat in January.

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All three Scouts are working toward earning their Silver Awards — the highest possible recognition for Cadettes in grades 6 to 8. The Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards are bestowed on Scouts in grades 4 to 12 who take action to make the world a better place, spending as much as 60 hours on the project for a Silver Award.

Help Stop The Spread Of COVID-19

COVID-19, not unlike the flu and other respiratory illnesses, is spread through respiratory droplets, usually through coughing and sneezing, and exposure to others who are sick or might be showing symptoms.

Health officials emphasize residents should follow these recommendations:

• Avoid any domestic and international travel, especially on public transportation such as buses, trains, and airplanes.
• Practice social distancing. Stay at least 6 feet from other people, including distancing while in waiting areas or lines.
• Anybody who is told to self-quarantine and stay at home due to exposure to a person with confirmed or suspect COVID-19 needs to stay home and not go out into public places.
• If you are 60 years or older or have chronic medical conditions, you need to stay home and not go out.
• Avoid gatherings of 10 people or more.
• Employers need to move to telework as much as possible.
• There is increasing evidence that this virus can survive for hours or possibly even a few days on surfaces, so people should clean frequently touched surfaces, including door handles, grocery carts and grocery basket handles, etc.

Take the same precautions as you would if you were sick:

• Stay home and avoid public places when sick (i.e., social distancing).
• Cover mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing.
• Wash hands frequently.
• Disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

More information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services about coronavirus can be found here on the department's website.

• Guidance to schools can be found can be found here.
• Instructions for returning travelers to self-observe for symptoms of COVID-19 are available are available here.
• For more information on COVID-19 in NH, visit its site here.
• For the latest information from the CDC, visit its site here.

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• Child Safety Advocates: Stay Vigilant Despite Coronavirus
• Quarantined Firefighters Test Negative For Coronavirus

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