MASKS

Important information about masks.

Recommendations about what to get.

Recommendations about sources.

Recommendations about usage.

Recommendations about re-use.

Originally posted by MaryKay:

Do buy a N95, N99, N100 mask.
Don't buy a surgical mask unless you plan on doing surgery. These masks are designed to protect the PATIENT from the health care worker's germs, not the opposite. They do not fit snuggly against one's cheeks, therefore they are useless. Their holes are 50 times {Approx.} the size of a N95. Virus is a tiny fraction of the size of bacteria.
Don't fold, bend, crease a mask. This causes a long hole, allowing virus in. If I was in this situation with no other mask available I would tape the fold on the outside.
Don't touch the outside of the mask with bare hands once you've worn it in public. When removing always use gloves. After use, hang indoors, away from humans, for three days before reuse. Bagging it is fine.
Don't reuse if mask becomes soiled, fluids.
Don't wear goggles if they interfere with mask, get smaller goggles. Goggles need to be air tight if effective, tape holes on side of goggles if you've purchased standard protective goggles.
Don't wear a mask with a beard. This will interfere with seal. The beard's gotta go.
Rubber bands go on upper head and upper neck area.
I can't find a suitable/well fitted mask for my 12 year old so if she must go outside I will completely tape the perimeter,{rim} of the mask securely to her face.
Store mask in a cool, dry place, not in sunlight as this will break down the material. {Second law of science, thermodynamics}
I find that masks don't fit as snuggly as I would like, the top, sides of the nose bridge area seems a tiny bit loose, even after I have adjusted the metal band, so I will tape the nose bridge area with a bandaid or paper tape, .....call me paranoid. : )

I purchased masks from http://store.pksafety.net/dustmasks.html

and had them in 48 hours. :)
I live in the same state they shipped from which helped too, but they shipped the same day that I ordered them.

Regarding the child size masks, the 3M 8110 N95 Particulate Respirators fit my 9 year old daughter quite well.

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1 box of 20  - 3M 8110 N95 Particulate Respirators (size small)  - $16 USD

1 box of 20 - 3M 8210 N95 General Use Particulate Respirators (size regular) - $13.75 USD

Priority Shipping - Approx $4.

I AM RE-POSTING THIS POST IN THE "PRIORITY PREPARATIONS" SECTION, HOPING FOR MAYBE A FEW MORE RESPONSES.  THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO REPLY:

This is my first post to this forum.  First of all, thanks to all of you who have been posting and replying.  I have been reading this forum for several days now and find it very helpful.  My girlfiend thinks I am a nut for stockpiling water, respirators, latex gloves, soap, bleach, alcohol-based sanitizer and other household products.  I am now turning my attention to canned goods.  My goal is to be self-sufficient without going out for 90 days.  Not there yet and she thinks I'm an absolute loon.  ANYWAY, I'm sure there has been plenty of discussion about respirators on here, but I have a question:  Has anyone tried the 3M 8210 Plus respirator?  I ordered about 500 of the 3M 8000 (without first trying it on) and could not get a good fit.  So I sent them back and orderd about 360 of the "better" model, the 3M 8210.  I can't afford to pay much over a dollar per respirator if I am to have any meaningful quantity. Anyone have any comments about the 8210?  Any other comments would be helpful.  Am I correct to assume that, even though the H5N1 is only one micron, a N95 will still be effective because the virus will travel in clumps or on larger water droplets? Also, any thoughts on what else I should be stockpiling?  Batteries, razors & other toiletries, lighters, candles, etc. etc.?   THANKS AGAIN TO ALL OF YOU FOR BEING THERE.  Hope to hear some replies.

Welcome RetroShaggy.

I have ordered 3M 8210 N95 masks for myself, and I am pleased with the fit. I also may consider using medical tape along the edges if I feel any doubt, but I am pretty confident.

I also ordered 3M 8110 N95 masks for my 9 year old daughter and am pleased with the fit as well.

I ordered from http://store.pksafety.net/dustmasks.html and was super pleased with their prices, customer service and delivery speed.

P.S.  we had a member write a helpful review of another type of mask, the nanomask http://superflutalk.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1034 

So far I have one box of each. I am not sure how many I will end up buying. It is the only kind of mask I have so far. That is a great idea about having a better mask for higher risk areas. (Dont forget eye protection!)

Using 3 masks per week for 18 months will need 216 masks per person (that will add up quickly $$$!). Keep in mind that the masks are only recommended for a short while (30 minutes of use if I recall correctly), be sure to double check that and compare it to your usage intentions.

(Though you could contract it from surface contamination as well, dont forget some surgical gloves. Costco has boxes of 300 gloves for $9.99 right now).