Help in-person schools get FREE PPE equipment
THE MISSION:
Provide FREE germ-resistant equipment to combat the growing spike of COVID-19 infections among U.S. students and teachers in in-person and hybrid learning environments.
Thirteen year-old, Mizan Rupan-Tompkins, desires to make this happen through his Silicon Valley award-winning device: The Safe Touch Pro Handle.
THE PROBLEM:
Since schools have reopened in the U.S., nearly 100,000 children have tested positive for COVID-19 in just the first 2 weeks alone. That's a 40% increase in children cases.
U.S. teachers are classified as essential frontline workers and students infections are being downplayed.
Masks and hand-washing alone aren’t enough. Reducing touch and exposure to school bathroom doors and classroom doors are critical to safety and health.
Election news coverage is drowning out stories just like one associated with these recent headlines:
• "Coronavirus cases spike among school-age children in Florida while state orders some counties to keep data hidden" -Washington Post
• "Over 8,600 Illinois Children Infected With COVID Since School Began, Averaging 180 Infections Per Day" -Newsweek
• "CDC was pushed to play down the risks of Covid-19 in reopening schools, former Pence staffer says" -CNN
• "As students return the deaths of at least six teachers from COVID renew pandemic fears" -Washington Post
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT & HONORABLE MENTIONS;
✓ Dr. Oz's Sharecare.com
✓ San Mateo County California - Day of Proclamation
✓ Safe and Sound School's Winner - 2020 Better Day's Ahead Winner
ABOUT:
At age 8, Mizan was tinkering with microprocessors and coding in several programming languages. By age 10 he had received accolades from Barnes & Noble bookstore as one of its “Mini Makers” of the year. Months later he found himself presenting his “Age Guessing Bot” at Maker Faire Bay Area to thousands of people.
His latest venture combines public health with technology.
Shortly after San Francisco enacted the Shelter-in-Place order in March, (the first city in the U.S. to do so) Mizan put his creative mind to work designing, iterating, and prototyping the perfect solution for avoiding germ-filled surfaces in our everyday lives: Safe Touch Pro Handle™(www.safetouchprohandle.com).
He was tired of watching his parents use their sleeves to open doors in the name of protecting themselves from Coronavirus. “There had to be a better way, a better design, and a way to reduce germ exposure for people. I also wanted to use an eco-friendly plant-based material; something good for the earth,” he recounts.
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DONATION LEVELS & REWARDS:
Open donations
Any amount is greatly appreciated to help protect students and teachers.
Half-a-Class ($100)
Includes a special commemorative Safe Touch Pro Handle, exclusive to “Operation Student Shield” to remember your contribution to this historic effort.
Classroom ($200)
Includes 2 special commemorative Safe Touch Pro Handle, exclusive to “Operation Student Shield” to remember your contribution to this historic effort.
Half-a-School ($1,000)
Includes 5 special commemorative Safe Touch Pro Handle, exclusive to “Operation Student Shield” to remember your contribution to this historic effort.
Plus an honorable mention on our “Operation Student Shield” website donor page
School ($2,000)
Includes 10 special commemorative Safe Touch Pro Handle, exclusive to “Operation Student Shield” to remember your contribution to this historic effort.
Plus an honorable mention on our “Operation Student Shield” website donor page
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FAQS:
Aren’t many K-12 students doing remote learning only?
The vast majority of U.S. states are relying on local health officials to determine what school reopenings look like by district. This means your state might have in-person learning in several districts or counties, hybrid learning in other counties and remote learning in other areas. California is a perfect example of this. States like Florida, Texas, and Iowa are a few examples of states that have mandates for in-person learning
Do schools with remote learning qualify for FREE devices?
Yes, schools with remote learning do qualify for FREE protective devices to be shipped to their school address, however the primary focus is on schools with in-person learning and hybrid learning environments. We believe that ALL U.S. students should have protective devices regardless of their current learning environments.
What is “Antimicrobial”?
Antimicrobial is the term used to describe products that slow or kill the spread of microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, protozoans, and fungi. Silver nanoparticles are so effective in fighting microbes. Recent studies show they even exert antiviral activity against HIV-1 (1)
Isn’t hand washing and hand sanitizers good enough?
While hand washing and hand sanitizers are great ways to manage hygiene, they only address germs AFTER a student or teacher is exposed to a surface. If face masks act as shields for aerial threats, students and teachers should also be able to shield themselves from high-touch school surfaces like classroom and bathroom stalls doors.
Is it eco-friendly?
All of our products are 100% RoHS compliant, plant-based (corn and sugarcane), biocompostable, cruelty-free, and environmentally friendly.
How does it stop harmful microbes?
The Safe Touch Pro Handle™ is protected by RoHS compliant antimicrobial silver nanoparticles all throughout its material (the same found in many hospitals). Once these silver nanoparticles confront harmful bacteria, they punch through its cell wall and attack its DNA to stop replication. Next, it disrupts respiration (energy) and causes the harmful microbe to die. It even causes bacteria to turn against each other. (1)
What colors are included?
Each shipment includes a mix of colors. Colors range from: Tangerine, Passion Fruit, Coconut, Mango, Dragon Fruit, Matcha, Lime, Charcoal and Cotton Candy.
