topic Re: HOMEMADE MASKS? in Among Friends

HOMEMADE MASKS?

Shanus — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 21:59:35 GMT

More than wonderful that people have volunteered to make/sew masks at home. How sanitary would they be for medical personal to be wearing?

Re: HOMEMADE MASKS?

Spacrazy — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 23:08:38 GMT

They are not.

Re: HOMEMADE MASKS?

pigletsmom — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 23:11:23 GMT

A few people did it here and the hospitals had to refuse them.

Re: HOMEMADE MASKS?

Shanus — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 23:11:51 GMT

@Spacrazy Uh, who will receive these possibly contaminated masks? Medical staff? People trying to protect themself from getting sick?

Re: HOMEMADE MASKS?

september — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 23:13:12 GMT

Health facilities can run these items through their autoclave systems to sterilize them

Re: HOMEMADE MASKS?

Shanus — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 23:27:26 GMT

@september Really?

Re: HOMEMADE MASKS?

september — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 23:29:57 GMT

@Shanus Really. Anything can be sterilized if it is needed.

There are different methods for doing this, including steam, gas, or irradiation

Re: HOMEMADE MASKS?

Nataliesgramma — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 23:30:53 GMT

No one wants then here

Re: HOMEMADE MASKS?

Kachina624 — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 23:31:37 GMT

I'd be more worried about their effectiveness or lack thereof. I heard a doctor say anything other than the regulation mask is like trying to block a broken dam with a chain link fence.

We have a group of artists who are busily making very artistic masks. I laughed.

Re: HOMEMADE MASKS?

Spacrazy — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 23:32:46 GMT

@Shanus Sorry I can’t answer your questions. Yes, the community effort toward this need is outstanding but I don’t know of any medical facility or personnel in our area that have accepted them.

My knowledge is limited to my immediate family members that are “hands on” patient care and all in different hospitals, surgical and trauma centers.

What will help are prayers and any and all are welcome.

Re: HOMEMADE MASKS?

1Snickers — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 01:13:15 GMT

As a child I recall helping my grandmother roll bandages for the WW 2 soldiers. I don't know how they were sterilized or if they were.

Re: HOMEMADE MASKS?

on the bay — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 01:15:14 GMT

@1Snickers -

Wow, that is an amazing memory

and legacy!

Re: HOMEMADE MASKS?

1Snickers — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 01:20:33 GMT

@on the bay We also saved aluminum foil and rolled it in balls to be reused. (Even from chewing gum wrappers). Red rationing stamps fascinated me. people all helped then.

Re: HOMEMADE MASKS?

on the bay — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 01:22:29 GMT

@1Snickers -

I can imagine they did!

My mother still washes tin foil and plastic bags!😳

Re: HOMEMADE MASKS?

Dusty1 — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 01:58:42 GMT

I suspect it is mostly to make people feel like they are doing something productive & helpful.

My aunt that works at a hospital requested seamstresses to make masks.

My local quilt shop cut the fabric, batting & elastic (all things that they donated) & put them into kits to make 25 masks for our local hospital.

I doubt that they are very effective masks, but I will "roll my bandages" because people that I care about asked me to.

Re: HOMEMADE MASKS?

KrissyE — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 03:13:55 GMT

The masks aren't contaminated. The material they are made from lets in particles of the virus potentially.

Re: HOMEMADE MASKS?

Shanus — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 13:04:18 GMT

@KrissyE wrote:
The masks aren't contaminated. The material they are made from lets in particles of the virus potentially.

@KrissyE That's worse than if the people making them or someone in the house is carrying the virus.

Re: HOMEMADE MASKS?

CelticCrafter — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 14:26:26 GMT

@Shanus wrote:
@KrissyE wrote:
The masks aren't contaminated. The material they are made from lets in particles of the virus potentially.

@KrissyE That's worse than if the people making them or someone in the house is carrying the virus.

All the posts I've seen about homemade masks say to leave an opening in the top so that some sort of a filter can be put in them.

As far as the filter I've heard coffee filters, rinsed and dried Clorox or Lysol wipes, tee shirt fabric and interfacing.

I don't who are using all these homemade masks, I think it makes people feel like they are doing something useful and good.

If a lot of places aren't taking them, it's a waste of well meaning peoples time and material.

Re: HOMEMADE MASKS?

Scooby Doo — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 15:19:07 GMT

These home made masks are not meant to replace the hospital N95 mask. They will be a cover to go over the N95 mask and will help to prolong use of the N95. Many nurses are given one N95 that has to last them all day. The fabric mask can be changed and washed several times a day.

Re: HOMEMADE MASKS?

riley1 — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 16:02:47 GMT

@Shanus - Hospitals in my area have said they cannot be used by medical staff. So, while the thought is wonderful, many other people may get use out of them.