I have a querstion. I've got a part of a box that I bought last fall for yard mowing when it was so dusty. I didn't know there were different grades of masks so I just bought the first I ran across in the store. I couldn't use them for yard work because they about suffocated my *** when I tried them...so I went back and got dust masks. Are we still saying N95 masks don't help or not ?
N95 offers good protection against this virus if worn correctly. You can’t have facial hair and it should be fit (form a tight seal) so the air cannot go around it.
The idea is viral particles in the air get filtered out as you breath through the mask. Typically you will see people wear an N95 under a face shield or with goggles. Google: Medical Respirators N95 fitting instructions 3M health care respirator & surgical mask 1870 for a general idea of putting these on or taking them off correctly.
You have to be careful taking one off. If the surface is contaminated, touch it with your hands when removing can contaminate you. remove it from the bands. We typically are single use because you can’t avoid touching the surface to put one on.
If you are sick, you don’t wear these - as you mention it makes breathing more difficult. If you have respiratory issues already, you probably shouldn’t wear these - you really need medical clearance. If you are not sick and are caring for someone that is actively sick (coughing), then this offers a level of protection.
These are critical to protect first responders. This is the mask nurses and physicians need. That’s why they said don’t run out and buy them. The hope was manufacturers could ask distributors to locate them and pull them back for redistribution to first line staff that need them. Obviously, that didn’t happen.
