topic Re: Mask question! in Wellness

Mask questions

FlowerBear — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 15:29:01 GMT

We were told all along not to wear a mask if you werent sick. But what about all of the healthcare workers and others that wear them to avoid getting sick? Should we not be wearing a mask also to avoid getting sick? I know some masks dont help alot but are they better than nothing? I have asthma and I am concerned.

Re: Mask question!

I am still oxox — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 14:54:31 GMT

Where are you going and what about social distancing, I was told by my Immunologist not to wear a mask, I have asthma, afib and I am immunosuppresed.

Her best advice was to stay close to home and not expose myself at all

Re: Mask question!

Mom2Dogs — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 15:17:56 GMT

Masks are needed by health care workers...for quite some time we have been told the masks are for sick people...steer clear of people, and keep you hands clean and off your face......it's the best remedy for staying healthy.

Re: Mask question!

SilleeMee — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 15:39:15 GMT

Surgical masks don't keep out virus particles. That kind of PPE keeps coughing and sneezing particles from going out into the air. Health care workers wear masks to protect their patients , not because the worker is trying to keep from getting sick themselves. Workers wear masks so they don't give any germs to their patients.

Respirators, N95, will filter out the virus when you breathe in and it will also keep it from leaving your nose or mouth if you sneeze or cough.

Both of these PPE devices are in short supply. Don't wear them if you are not sick. Do wear them if you are sick or are health compromised and if you are around other people.

Re: Mask question!

Bibione — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 15:30:23 GMT

I am an Italian immigrant.I get daily updates from friends and family ,plus I read every day comments from Italians on facebook.

Until a few days ago,masks were in short supplies.I have heard that some countries confiscated shippings of masks that Italy ordered and paid for.

Anyway,now that factories like Gucci are making masks now,more are available to the public.

The other day they started telling citizens on tv to wear them outside the house.On the videos I watch most Italians wear them.

I watched a segment on Italian tv where a Chinese expert said to the popuation that they all need to wear a mask and to stay home.

My husband can wear a mask provided by his job,but he doesn't want to wear it.

Re: Mask question!

KingstonsMom — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 15:58:00 GMT

@FlowerBear

I'm 67 and have asthma, COPD and high blood pressure and my Dr. recommended that I try to limit contact with others, stay home if I can, if I have to go out, wear a mask, gloves, use sanitizer.

DH also has an autoimmune disease so he's under the same orders.

I'm a homebody anyway, so self isolating is working just fine for me, but if I had to go out, I would follow my Dr.'s protocol for our particular health issues.

Re: Mask question!

CelticCrafter — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 16:12:34 GMT

If there are only certain masks that will work, why have I seen tons of posts all over Facebook sewing, quilting and crafting groups asking people to make them?

Re: Mask question!

patbz — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 16:28:59 GMT

On CNN they just said that some medical personnel are extending the life of their N95 masks by covering the outside of the device with a homemade mask.

Re: Mask question!

Spacrazy — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 16:30:45 GMT

@FlowerBear My granddaughter is a “new” RN (two years now) and landed her dream job at a large trauma center in a big city and she loves it. They ran out of masks yesterday and hustling to revamp protocol. I am very worried for her and her colleagues - she is not. They have a wonderful get-it-done attitude.

This brings me to question who should have the masks - the person working inside you or someone out walking their dog?

Re: Mask question!

BlueFinch — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 17:11:04 GMT

@FlowerBear Remember that nurses can't 'social distance' from their patients. They are face to face, delivering care. Suctioning, turning, positioning, administering fluids, meds, etc. They handle blood and body secretions. They have to be protected.

With a known, or suspected transmittable contagion, they wear the N95 mask. This is a more occlusive, fitted mask designed to protect the wearer. It's a mask that requires an annual test for fitting. If not used properly, it can be ineffective, too. They are uncomfortable to wear for any length of time. If you're working with one on, you begin to feel claustrophobic and like breathing is somewhat obstructed. Coming out of an isolation room, you can't wait to rip them off.

The less protective 'surgical mask' is to protect others. It prevents some vapors and possible airway, or facial secretions for affecting others. They do not offer protection from a virulent contagion for the wearer. They are NOT fitted masks. They fit loosely on the face. They are nice for mowing the lawn, or other allergy inducing activities, keeping out some larger particles. Microscopic particles? Nope, not if you get too close.

Re: Mask question!

janeec — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 02:43:17 GMT

Part of the reason people were told not to wear masks if they weren't sick was to preserve the supply for health care workers. If you are sick, you should wear one to protect others. Healthcare workers are wearing them because when testing for Covid-19 the patient cannot wear a mask. Try having severe respiratory problems and breathing through any mask.

The regular surgical masks keep out larger particles, such as bacteria, but viruses are smaller which is why N95 masks are preferred as they keep out much smaller particles.

Any mask will lose some of its effectiveness when it becomes moist, and we all lose moisture during exhalation. The cotton covers can be washed and reused, particularly if they have a mask inside. or an N95 filter.

At this point, any barrier is better than nothing. The best thing is to stay home as much as possible, limit grocery trips, and stay as far away from other people as possible. Good health to you.

Re: Mask question!

FlowerBear — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 12:33:32 GMT

i appreciate all the messages. i do understand more now so thank you so much. so far when anything i see about the virus on tv many people are wearing a mask. i guess they feel more secure with one, even if it might not help!

Re: Mask question!

SilleeMee — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 12:40:20 GMT

If you own any masks or respirators now then don't waste them by wearing them if you are not sick. You may regret it if you run out and need it if you do become sick.

Re: Mask question!

FlowerBear — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 12:48:26 GMT

thanks so much. good to remember and I will!!!

Re: Mask question!

goldensrbest — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 12:51:05 GMT

The national cathedral found 5,000 masks they had stored away for years.

Re: Mask question!

SilleeMee — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 13:10:03 GMT

@goldensrbest wrote:
The national cathedral found 5,000 masks they had stored away for years.

Those are probably expired. Masks and respirators come with expiration dates posted on their packaging.

Re: Mask question!

goldensrbest — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 13:16:25 GMT

@SilleeMee wrote:
@goldensrbest wrote:
The national cathedral found 5,000 masks they had stored away for years.

Those are probably expired. Masks and respirators come with expiration dates posted on their packaging.

I do wonder,if they will be used any how.

Re: Mask question!

CatBagLover — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 13:26:30 GMT

True, they say not only do masks help protect you from others...they also keep you from touching your face, thus keeping you safer.

Someone on a bus in China exposed 9 people around the bus to his germs. Yet anyone on the bus who was wearing a mask was not infected. That's more than coincidence.... And they mostly wear plain cloth ones - nothing fancy.

Re: Mask question!

FlowerBear — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 13:36:33 GMT

@SilleeMee wow do all masks???

Re: Mask question!

SilleeMee — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 13:54:17 GMT

@FlowerBear wrote:
@SilleeMee wow do all masks???

@FlowerBear

Yes, because the materials used to make them start to breakdown and that will make them ineffective.