Wear a Mask!

[Tango]

We have a friend that works for the CDC. He's a scientist that works on virus's. He suggests we ALL WEAR A MASK. I know they are impossible to come by. But 2 layers of ordinary cotton will block 60% of the virus. If you are lucky to posses a "N95" mask. Wear it! :chat: Spread this to all you know! It just may save someone's life.:firstplace: Tom :spyder:

 

[Peteoz]

Interesting, Tom. Dept of Health out here says definitely don’t wear a mask unless you have contracted Corona. So many mixed messages :dontknow:

Pete

 

[Gwolf]

If the masks don't help anything, why are all the medical personnel who are dealing with the virus patients in the hospitals wearing them?
Do they know something that the department of health don't know?

 

[canamjhb]

Lots of information, some good, some not-so-good. The most compelling thing I've heard about wearing a mask is that it prevents you from touching your face. That makes sense to me. I live alone and don't have to contend with those short, crawling germ and virus carriers (grandkids). No one has been in my home for several months except for me. I'm not inclined to wear a mask..... Jim

 

[mcalva]

There are many patients who do not have symptoms but are contagious and wearing a mask will avoid contagion to the rest.

 

[ARtraveler]

One big problem is that there are currently not enough masks to go around.

I looked up the US population # as of 2019 and they said 329 million.

Medical personnel currently are saying there are not enough masks to go around and some are using the ones they have for a week at a time.

So once again, a dilemma. I am glad that we have about 20 bandanas. :dontknow:

 

[Gwolf]

It is not the right kind of mask, but I guess any mask is better than no mask. When I have to go to the grocery store or the feed store, I wear the masks and gloves that I had for painting and mowing. They are for dust and paint spray. May not stop a virus, but maybe slow one down. There is about a 2 month backlog even for more dust masks.

 

[bmccaffrey]

I'll shed a little light.
N95 mask are made for the viral and adjustable to get a good seal. Some are one time use others are disposable
The blue mask are surgical mask and are reversible. Blue side out stops germs getting in. Blue side in keeps germs in.
Unless u have goggles on virus still can enter the eyes. N95 and surgical should be for front line responders only at this time because of shortages. You can use home made shield from bandannas. or another material. Will no- Rags will work also. A lot of people are carriers and non systematic and this will help. This will not stop virus from entering but better than nothing. As i've heard they are recommending mask for hot spot areas. God Bless and be safe

 

[Bfromla]

Also complications of beards & masks. What about Dust mask (or bandanna) that has been saturated
(least decently sprayed with sanitizer. )? Also what about this ez mask at the dentist just a string with a alligator clip on either end to hold a paper towel over nose & mouth?

 

[Gwolf]

Might not be a good idea to go in the bank with a bandana over your nose and mouth................

 

[ARtraveler]

Might not be a good idea to go in the bank with a bandana over your nose and mouth................

I was thinking about that. Here, it is currently drive in only...so I think we are good there.

 

[ARtraveler]

I did see an online direction for making home made masks.

They suggested t-shirt material. Two different colors sewed together so you can keep track of the inside (contaminated) side from the outside (uncontaminated). Not perfect, but better than nothing at all.

 

[wyliec]

If the masks don't help anything, why are all the medical personnel who are dealing with the virus patients in the hospitals wearing them?
Do they know something that the department of health don't know?

When I work or worked in the hospital I was always in close contact with the patient; the reason you currently see many medical personnel with mask and face shields. If you keep the social distancing, there should not be a problem without the need for a mask. But, if you feel more comfortable wearing a mask, don’t forget eye protection.

 

[crazycanuck]

A friend who has a small business making skirts for racket sports is now is making face masks just to keep her company afloat. She had a very good response from buyers so far as lot of colors were sold out. Good to support a small business

facewearfashions.com

 

[Flamewinger]

Wearing a mask is easier than coughing in your elbow. You don't have to wear a mask like we see the hospital workers wear. We only need to wear something that will block a sneeze or cough like your elbow. AS mentioned, we might not have any symptoms but we could be positive so wearing something over the nose and mouth will keep OTHERS safe. I'm getting some Buff headbands and Bandanas. Even one of these will do. The more comfortable it is, the more you'll wear it.

 

[Tango]

Wife is making some masks now also. Two layers of cotton. Can be increased to three layers. Found the pattern online. :thumbup: Tom :spyder:

 

[Little Blue]

Mask

Thanks for the Tips on the Masks. Remember to be Safe and Stay Healthy. ......:thumbup:

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

When I work or worked in the hospital I was always in close contact with the patient; the reason you currently see many medical personnel with mask and face shields. If you keep the social distancing, there should not be a problem without the need for a mask. But, if you feel more comfortable wearing a mask, don’t forget eye protection.

:agree: .... imho wearing a mask mostly helps everyone else, adding the eye protection is what will help you ...... Mike hyea:

 

[Eviltwin]

The recent turn around in regard to the general population wearing masks is that they can help stop the spread of virus from people who are infected but may not know it. As we get more experience with this disease, they are finding that some folks can be mostly asymptomatic yet still be a carrier and of course in the spring time we have all this pollen which makes people sneeze and cough and spread droplets into the air.

Unless you are wearing an N95 mask that has been fitted for a tight seal (no beards) then you are not blocking the virus from entering your lungs which is where it wants to go to replicate. Surgical masks and home made masks and bandannas will stop you from spreading, but wont stop you from inhaling virus particles if they happen to be floating by. You see lots of RN's and Docs on the news lately wearing surgical masks, but that is because they have nothing else to wear. Only the N95 masks or respirators with fine enough filtration will filter out the virus particles.

And if you are in a store shopping or filling up gas, wear some sort of gloves and dispose of them properly when you are done. That will keep you from picking up any virus on your hands. Hopefully having gloves on is also a signal not to touch your face, which is a hard thing for most folks to learn not to do. Lots of us have disposable gloves from HF which will work very well. And of course wash your hands as often as possible.

 

[Steve W.]

And if you are in a store shopping or filling up gas, wear some sort of gloves and dispose of them properly when you are done.

The local news last night showed the area around a local gas station. You would have thought it was overflow from a dumpster at a hospital. Gloves and masks lying on the ground everywhere. Seems that a lot of people did not follow the directions to "dispose of them properly". pps:

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