N-95 respirator masks are the newest hot selling item for “flu preparedness”, but do they work? Yes. And No. N-95 respirator masks were made to protect healthcare workers from `airborne` illnesses such as tuberculosis, chicken pox and the flu. They DO work under tightly controlled circumstances, but the general public is not apt to be in those tightly controlled circumstances, so they will more than likely not benefit from them.
Face masks were first used through the 1918 flu epidemic as `protection` from the flu. It likely failed to do a bit of good, but laws were enacted and those that didn`t wear them were considered “mask slackers” who could be fined, imprisoned or simply just ostracized. Using the swine flu claiming more and more victims in the US, folks are starting out react by wearing masks again. But this time, the greater technology Masks For Covid-19 is all the rage.
The N-95 is NOT your grandfather`s surgical mask or maybe the identical to surgical masks worn by doctors and nurses today like you see in operating rooms. They may be specialized items which were created to protect hospital workers against `airborne` illnesses like tuberculosis, chicken pox and influenza. Many of these are extremely small infectious particles that remain airborne after being exhaled by an infected person. There has been lots of misinformation about these masks. Some state that they work, some say that they don`t. So what is the truth?
The truth is N 95 respirators DO protect wearers from the flu- at least in theory and when used properly. The N 95 respirators ARE Airtight and Are Designed to protect the wearer from airborne particles as small as Mycobacterium Tubuculosis- approximately 45 nanometers in width or about 1/2 micron. The swine flu virus, by contrast, is nearly two times as large at approximately 80-120 nanometers. Within the hospital setting when utilized by trained practitioners, as set by Centers for Disease Control guidelines, these masks are amazing at preventing transmission of such tiny particles
But there are numerous explanations why the N-95 respirators are unlikely to work for the public. The very first reason is that it is hard to get the right fit. Health care workers who wear surgical masks are told, “Here, put this on”. Surgical masks could be worn by anyone, anywhere for too long periods of time. As shown by folks China wearing masks while riding bicycles to function or perhaps jogging, they are pretty comfortable and easy to use. But a health care worker who uses an N95 Masks For Sale must actually proceed through a brief workout. First, the approximate correct size to your face is chosen and placed tightly on the face with 2 tight straps fitting on the head. Second, the metal band on the nose bridge is smoothed down to acquire a tight fit. When a correct fit is approximated, the top is placed in to a large plastic tube to approximate a confined space. A trainer, often a nurse, sticks a spray bottle in to a small hole and continuously sprays a saccharine solution in to the plastic tube whilst the wearer turns the top back and forth and up and down to make certain that you can find no air leaks. If the saccharine solution is tasted, then a good `fit` is not obtained and the procedure is repeated with another sized mask until an airtight seal is obtained: sometimes difficult for those that have particularly small or large faces or those who have facial hair.
The next reason is that N 95 Respirators are uncomfortable, hot and tight. While a surgical mask may be worn for several hours without the problems, an N-95 respirator becomes uncomfortable and claustrophobic even just in an awesome hospital room in just minutes. After looking after someone even for a brief while, the breath feels hot and uncomfortable and many commence to sweat- some people sweat PROFUSELY! Taking off the mask after wearing one for just a quick while feels as if you stepped into an awesome fresh breeze after just getting away from a sauna. Wearing one inside an air conditioned theater while just sitting and watching a movie could be unbearable. Wearing one while riding a bicycle or while shopping would be simply just impossible.
Any mask- whether it be surgical or Face Masks Wholesale is made to be utilized for under twenty minutes at the same time. It is because the mask itself can become saturated with condensation from exhaled breath. And as soon as it really is saturated, then wzxegl pore filter size may be changed making the mask ineffective and potentially even trapping the offending viruses right up against the wet mask- Right Next to the Face!
So, while N-95 masks DO effectively protect health care workers from even face to face transmission of airborne contaminants such as the flu, inappropriate usage by untrained lay folks real-world circumstances would likely get them to ineffective and nullify any of the potential protective effects of these effective filtration devices.