Pandemic…face masks

TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY OF OUR JANUARY GIVE AWAY !!!!

First I need to apologize for not posting a fun business yesterday. I have become involved with a new business opportunity and I have focused lots of energy there. I am very excited about the product and possibilities so I have been distracted. I do have a couple of really fun people and their sites to share with you so hopefully tomorrow I will be able to get my camera to cooperate and my time to be available to get one of those highlighted. Carmen and Nancy, I haven’t forgotten you.

I have had so many emails this week asking questions about face mask so I decided I needed to talk about them once again. I have spent hours on the internet and talking to my contacts in the medical field and those prepariong communities for the pandemic. So here goes.

First everyone seems to agree that N95 respirators, masks should be stored. Every community I spoke with is storing them and every medical office and hospital recommends storing them. The Center for Disease control recommends storing them as well as the World Health Organization. They also all agree that N95 masks will not provide complete protection. Be aware that the best protection is still to remain at least six feet from anyone who is ill or to self quarantine until the threat is over. I was asked about N94 masks but can not find anyone with “authority” who is proposing the storing of these masks.

I realize that masks come in sizes but they are very difficult to find at a cost that is affordable. If anyone has a good source let me know. Although masks may not fit tightly everyone seems to agree that any mask is better than none. If you are caring for a patient you should have them wear a mask while you are in the room as the flu is spread mainly through moisture particles from coughing and sneezing. If a patient wears an N95 mask these germs will be contained within the mask protecting the care giver.

I have seen washable masks and masks that have replacement filters that are slipped inside. Washable masks are expensive when you consider that they would need to be washed after every contact with someone who is or may be ill. The masks that have filters would be contaminated on the outside and would also need to be washed after every use to remove the contaminants. I would opt for the one use variety and throw them away after ever use. It seems handling a contaminated mask as you take it to the washer would just increase your chances of getting the germs on your hands and then into your system if you rubbed your eyes or even covered your mouth as you yawned or coughed.

No one really knows exactly what will work during a pandemic because we really don’t know what form a pandemic may take. Right now it is assumed the most likely would be caused by the H5N1 virus (bird flu) but pandemics can come in many forms. As I find more information I will pass it along.

This article is interesting. When you see that most of us are at the bottom of those who will be “protected” it become obvious we need to be prepared to care for ourselves.

http://www.startribune.com/local/38705357.html

5 Responses to “Pandemic…face masks”

1. Sondra says:

   January 30, 2009 at 9:04 pm

   Emergency Essentials at http://www.beprepared.com has N95 face masks on sale. For a box of 20 masks they are now $14.99 (reg $29.99). I don’t know how long the sale will go on. The item code is AY1-MP-G020.
2. Michelle says:

   January 31, 2009 at 12:12 am

   I am unsure what “stored” means – you should have them onhand or they should be stored in a special way?
3. Jeanette W says:

   January 31, 2009 at 2:09 am

   I was told by the employees in the first store in which I bought my masks that they should be put in a plastic bag and kept very dry so that they would work the best when needed. They were told this by a local doctor who had gone to national meetings on the pandemic
4. Armeda says:

   January 31, 2009 at 12:52 pm

   We had an emergency preparedness workshop at our church this week. I was one of the presenters on preparing for a pandemic. I referred your blog to everyone. A man who had been paramedic for several years said the N95 face masks should not be put on small children as the are very hard to breathe through. He said an adult would have a hard time wearing them for very long period. Have you heard any information to this regard. I think it is worth further investigation. I have stored them and would definitely us them but I am now worried about using them with a child.
5. n95 masks says:

   August 7, 2009 at 12:13 pm

   Depending on how small the child is the mask might not even fit properly to remain effective.