MASKS

I also asked the CDC/NIOSH guy about how long a respirator can be worn.  I told him I had heard they are effective anywhere from 30 minutes all the way up to 8 hours.  He would not give me a solid answer, but said they recommend changing after one of three events  1) it has gotten wet 2) it has been damaged 3) breathing resistance increases.  He said that in dry particle environments one of these things can last for a few days.  I plan on discarding after each use, so I didn't go into any more detail with him on that. 

I ordered from www.labsafety.com

About a month ago, before I knew I could find out anything I needed to know in here, I was at Longs looking for masks.  I knew the ones they had wouldn't do it.  So I called the 800 number on the box, and asked what kind I should get for bird flu.  The guy gave me the above website.  They arrived within a week.  I got 2 kinds, wasn't sure what to do so I got both.  Here is my actual order and what I paid.

RESP N95 DISPSBL 3M 8210 NIOSH         & nbsp;  

 

2    37746         & nbsp;       BX  1      Available  LSS         &nb sp;         &nb sp;        

18.40

     RESP N95 DISPBL MOLDEX STD NIO         &nb sp;  

 

3    4573         &n bsp;        PK  1      Available  LSS         &nb sp;         &nb sp;        

 

Unfortunately there is remarkably little information about masks. I agree
that fit is priority one. The following was the only references I could find
regarding recent experiences with masks that might be relevant.

"When we compared use of N95 to use of surgical masks, the relative
SARS risk associated with the N95 mask was half that for the surgical
mask; however, because of the small sample size, the result was not
statistically significant. Our data suggest that the N95 mask offers more
protection than a surgical mask.

This study focused on critical care nurses working at the first SARS
hospital outbreak in Toronto. Since use of personal protective equipment
was not standardized during the study period, it was possible to assess
the effect of personal protective equipment. The use of personal
protective equipment was highly variable because the nurses were often
unaware that their patients had SARS. Our results highlight the
importance of using personal protective equipment when caring for SARS
patients. We estimate that if the entire cohort had used masks
consistently, SARS risk would have been reduced from 6% to 1.4% per
shift."

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol10no2/03-0838.htm#1

Rick,

Do you have a good source for ordering the 3M 1860's.  (Like 100 of them.)

Thanks for your info!

 

 

You need to try on a mask to see how they fit.
The higher rated masks "N100" will be less comfortable to breathe than N95.
The following site might help with your questions. There is a sample of
some below.



http://products3.3m.com/catalog/us/en001/safety/occ_health_s afety/
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gvel_RL5PK085P3gl/theme_us_ohes_3_0/command_AbcPageHandler/
output_html

hi Striper.  I have posted the following  information on this and other threads, but I'll repeat it in case my experience can help someone.  3M is not the only manufacturer of N95s.  When I first started shopping, I was stuck on 3Ms because they were a name I recognized and trusted.  So I ordered the 8000's without having first tried one on.  They were very inexpensive, so I could afford a bunch and I thought having a bunch would be important.  BUT I made the mistake of underestimating fit. 

An N95 is an N95 when it comes to how they are rated (95% or greater at .3 microns), BUT they are not all created eqally when it comes to fit.  The 8000's didn't even come close to providing a secure fit.  So I had to spend about $30 to send them back to the distributor and wait for my credit card to be credited. 

Based on my knowledge that the 3M 8210 was the best selling N95 on the market, I made the SAME mistake and ordered some of those without trying one on.  In the meantime,  I orded a sampler pack from Masksnmore.com (I HIGHLY recommend these guys.  They are friendly and fast)  Anyway, I was able to try 12 different brands, including the ever so popular 3M 8210.  Guess what?  The 8210 didn't fit, either.  So I called the company from whom I ordered the 8210's and cancelled my order. 

Based on the sampler pack from Masksnmore.com, I narrowed my selection down to the North 7140 and the Moldex 2200.  Both fit very well.  The North has an exhaust valve but the Moldex does not.  Keep in mind that neither model is the "best" that the respective companies have to offer--there are higher models, like the Moldex 2300 and 2400, for example.  BUT I had to find the line between getting the best I can but at the same time getting enough to last through 3 or 4 waves of pandemic. 

I personally could not afford to buy 400 N95's at $6.00 a pop or more (See Tryosin, etc.)  So you have to sort of find that line and buy within your comfort zone.  I am not bashing 3M.  They just didn't fit MY face.  They may work well for you. 

The point is, don't make the mistake I made TWICE--try some out for you and your family and then buy the highest quantity of the best model(s) that you can afford, depending on how many you think you will want or need.  Remember--the fanciest, highest qualty N100 with all the bells and whistles is WORTHLESS unless it fits properly.  Fit is the most important factor when finding the right N95 for you.  If it leaks, nothing else matters.  Good luck! Hope this post helps someone.

**** The following is from 2003.




http://allnurses.com/forums/f82/n95-mask-shortage-34313.html

main1297500.shtml">http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/02/08 /health/
webmd/main1297500.shtml

"Everyone wore one in 1918 and there was still a pandemic". I think the
quality of the masks or the information available was below par.

Hi Striper,

I was equally confused about masks but found this blog by Anita very helpful.  Seeing all the photos and reading the descriptions really helped me know what I wanted to order.  I have two types now, but my latest purchase (after viewing this site) are the 3M 1860's. 

As far as Tamiflu goes, I got it right away when I first heard the words "bird flu".  I like knowing I may have something that "could" help during a time when there is nothing else more promising.

Best of luck

Hope

"The amount of contradictory infromation out there is amazing. One day
it is "Wear face masks". Another day it is "Face masks may not help". I
remember reading a month or two ago a declaration by a scientist in Asis
that Tamiflu is useless as a therapy for Avain Flu. Most of us know that
Tamiflu is not a vaccine but a medicine that helps control and shorten the
flu once we get it. I am puzzled by all this contradictory stuff. I am even
more confused about the masks to purchase."

----------------------------

The WHO has no official position about non-medical
people wearing surgical/face masks during a pandemic. In light of what
you currently know, does this seem like a prudent/common sense
position? Consider the risk versus reward ratio.