#covid19 #mask #elastomeric #respirator #vax #vaccine #masks #respirators #covid #pandemic #prep
A properly worn respirator is the most effective way to prevent infection and spread of COVID-19 disease.
The most effective respirator at a reasonable price is an elastomeric respirator with detachable filters. The best filter is N100 or P100. These filters are at least 99.97% efficient at filtering out the tiny particles that carry the virus.
Respirators are effective against all variants of the virus. They are also effective against other respiratory viruses and pollen.
The respirator should be NIOSH-approved.
Make sure you do a seal check each time you wear the respirator so that no air leaks around the mask.
Make sure the filter material doesn’t get wet because it won't work as well when it is wet.
Don't ever remove the respirator when you are around other people or are where other people have been recently. Don't even remove it to eat. Find a safe place to eat away from other people who might be infected.
(Image: A cop wearing an elastomeric respirator, lic. CC-BY-AT-2.5. Attribution: Ryssby at en.wikipedia)
@Pat you can stop 100% of MVA and deaths caused by them if we outlaw cars.
Also, have you ever been fit tested for a respirator? The average person can't do it themselves. Also, no facial hair is a requirement for seal. So beards should be made illegal as well. N-95 is about 95% effective one way, vs estimated 92% for two way surgical. N-95 is a reasonable solution for those who want protection.
>"you can stop 100% of MVA and deaths caused by them if we outlaw cars. "
I don't think that is correct.
>"have you ever been fit tested for a respirator?"
I don't remember if I have or not. I haven't been fit tested since the pandemic started. I just do a seal check after I don the respirator and periodically while I wear it. I use a model that makes it easy to do a reliable seal check without risk of contamination.
>" N-95 is about 95% effective one way, vs estimated 92% for two way surgical"
N95 is AT LEAST 95% efficient at filtering .3u neutrally charged particles (per NIOSH). They are more efficient at filtering larger and smaller particles than .3u. The filter material in surgical masks is about 50-60% efficient, but those masks don't usually make an airtight seal, so in practice they should not worn when there is threat of an airborne, highly contagious, potentially fatal virus, and respirators should be used instead.
If just 40% of people had worn N95s at the beginning of the pandemic, the epidemic would not have taken hold in the US. But now the virus has mutated to a much more contagious strain, so I'm not sure if N95s alone would stop it.
Everyone needs to assess their own risk, but I think anyone who is at higher risk for bad outcomes or people who are around sick COVID-19 patients should wear N100 or P100s.
Yes, people with facial hair around the points where the respirator makes contact with the skin will not get a good fit and should do something else -- shave, isolate, or wear a PAPR, for example.
You said, "you can stop 100% of MVA and deaths caused by them if we outlaw cars. "
"cars"
If you read this thread, you will see that I specifically said I was not calling for mandates.
Yes, I know I know the difference between a fit test and seal check. I thought that was clear in what I said.
@Pat
You don't agree that if we outlawed motor vehicles, then motor vehicle accidents and deaths from motor vehicles would end? That's strange. It was to a larger point. We don't hermetically seal cities to accommodate bubble boys. It's unfortunate, but impractical. I just don't believe we should force every single person to wear masks/respirators to accommodate the few % of pop that are immuno-compromised. Maybe you aren't saying to do that. I think if someone is compromised, they kind find a very good solution in the N-95.
Fit testing is more than just checking a seal. I used to do them. To take full advantage of a respirator like that requires gas testing the seals. Most people that do it themselves do it incorrectly and lose the advantages of the respirators. That's all I was saying.