Double-masking may cause leakage: study
“For optimal protection against respiratory pathogens such as #SARS-CoV-2, procedure #masks shouldn't be worn over #N95 filtering facepiece respirators (#FFRs), according to a study published today in Infection Control & Hospital #Epidemiology.”
“The additional resistance created by an overlying face mask can lead to increased airway pressures that cause leakage at the N95 FFR facial seal…”
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/study-wearing-surgical-masks-over-n95s-can-cause-dangerous-leaks
Double-masking may cause leakage: study
So much of this is individual, though, and that's why some fit testing is important for anyone who's serious about it. I never double masked, but, I did find in fit testing that with some N95/KN94 masks adding a neck gaiter over the top improved the seal tremendously, with others not so much.
Double-masking may cause leakage: study
@BE How I wish quant fit testing was available to anyone, anywhere. Of course, that would probably reduce the need for double-masking for most/all general use-cases, cuz we'd just wear one we'd proved worked with our face.
Double-masking may cause leakage: study
Yeah, getting ahead of myself there.
First - Convince people it's real and not over
Second - Convince people to wear masks
Third - Convince people to ditch the cloth ones for well fitting good ones
Double-masking may cause leakage: study
@BE ha! True enough. And also 😩.
I still think if people would sincerely face the threat posed by SARS2, all options would be on the table and few would demur. Though⁷ I dunno how that happens now, after all the sunk cost, ego, and eugenics-adjacent things of which people have provided tacit approval at the very least.