An honest conversation on Masks and Respirators
Information regarding safe and proper use as well as selecting the right mask for you.
I fully expect that following this post I will likely be banned from Facebook. I would like to start this post by saying thank you. Thank you for sharing your life with me. I have loved watching your children grow, seeing your wonderful pets, viewing your tasty meals, living vicariously through your adventures, laughing with you, and being a part of your journey through life.
That being said I’d like to have a serious conversation about masks and proper mask use. I have been trained by OSHA in proper mask use and have first hand knowledge and experience in regards since 2007. I have hesitated to post on this topic because of the heavy censorship of Facebook. I’ve had many private conversations on this topic since the start of the pandemic. In early 2020 I recognized the importance masks represented on a psychological level. I thought the benefits of emotional security at the time outweighed the risk of masking. Never did I expect them to become required for lifetime use or be mandated on school children. I regret that I did not take a more aggressive stance against them as soon as they were recommended.
The science behind proper masking is hard long term science. This is not new information that has evolved throughout the pandemic. Everything I will state will be corroborated through screenshots from the OSHA, CDC, and FDA websites. Attached to this post will be the screenshots directly from the government websites confirming the accuracy of my statements. I’m also attaching some interesting government flyers showing how the statements have changed repeatedly throughout this pandemic. Below you can find a link attached for an excellent CNN article that discusses how to determine if an N95 respirator is fraudulent. It is alarming the amount of fraudulent respirators available on the market today.
The purpose of this post is to educate the reader on proper mask use and types of masks available. I am not trying to deter the reader from choosing to mask if they are more comfortable. I am deeply disturbed by the dangerous amount of improper mask use and frightened the government will turn to more aggressive mandates.
I was taught during my Osha training an “improperly worn mask is more dangerous than no mask at all.” This statement was consistently made by my instructors and I whole heartedly agree with it.
The narrative surrounding the pandemic has shifted noticeably admitting that C19 is an aerosol virus. This knowledge has lead to a push for people to wear N95 respirators. I wanted to take the time to discuss N95 respirators and important issues surrounding them before more of my friends run out to buy them. I will list these subjects as bullet points for easy reading. I apologize this will be long but important. Following the discussion on N95s I will discuss the importance of proper mask use that has not been highlighted throughout the pandemic. Proper mask use is crucial to protection against illness of all forms including C19. The guidelines for proper mask use apply to all masks and respirators. These are safety rules you should follow regardless of the mask you choose to wear.
N95 Respirators:
N95s are Respirators. They are respiratory protective devices designed to achieve a close facial fit. The edges of the respirator are designed to form a seal around the nose and mouth. N95 respirators only provide the expected protection when correctly and properly worn.
N95 respirators are NOT designed for CHILDREN or people with facial hair. The N95 respirator will not provide full protection as children and people with facial hair cannot get a proper seal.
Precautions: People with chronic respiratory, cardiac, or other medical conditions that make breathing difficult should check with their healthcare provider before using an N95 respirator because the N95 respirator can make it more difficult for the wearer to breathe.
N95 respirators are approved by NIOSH (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health) and include instructions on how to conduct a user seal check.
All FDA / NIOSH approved N95 respirators are “single use” disposable devices. If your respirator is damaged or soiled, or if breathing becomes difficult, you should remove the respirator. Discard it properly and replace with a new one. To safely discard your N95 respirator, place it in a plastic bag and put it in the trash. Wash hands after handling. N95s under normal circumstances are not considered reusable. Due to the pandemic these standards have changed but users should be cautious about reuse.
This next point has been removed from the CDC website as of this week. This practice has been a long standing point and after conversing with other OSHA certified professionals I felt it was still important to include. Prior to this week N95 respirators required fit testing. Fit testing is a critical component of respiratory protection. OSHA required an initial respirator fit test to identify the right model, style, and size respirator. OSHA also required annual fit tests to ensure that users continue to receive a high level of protection. A fit test confirms that a respirator correctly fits the user.
N95s require a user seal test each time you put it on to help ensure the best fit possible.
N95 respirators require proper training on donning and doffing (putting on and removing the respirator). This has also been removed from the CDC website.
N95 respirators do not provide oxygen. They should never be worn in an oxygen deficient atmosphere such as confined space.
Alternative options KN95 and KF94 are not certified by USA NIOSH safety standards. KN95 is manufactured in China and meet Chinese health and safety standards. KF94 are manufactured in Korea and meet Korean health and safety standards.
Surgical N95 respirators should be reserved for healthcare workers. Prolonged use of N95 respirators in healthcare workers have been known to cause adverse effects such as headaches, rash, acne, skin breakdown, and impaired cognition. Frequent breaks and hydration are recommended.
N95 are designed for contaminated environments. The exhale through N95 masks are vented to breathe straight out without filtration. They don’t filter air on the way out.
There is a substantial amount of fraud and counterfeit of NIOSH certified N95 respirators on the market right now. Below is are some recommendations on how to identify fraud:
NIOSH have approval labels on or within the packaging of the respirator. Ex: on the box itself and/or within user instructions.
Will have TC number on filtering face piece, respirator, or headband.
NIOSH should be spelled correctly.
NIOSH DOES NOT APPROVE ANY TYPE OF RESPIRATOR FOR CHILDREN.
NIOSH approved N95 has headbands not ear loops.
CDC through NIOSH does NOT certify KN95 or KF94.
There are no studies on long term use of respirator devices on children or teenagers. N95 respirators are uncomfortable to wear.
Below are Proper Mask guidelines that should be adhered to regardless of mask choice. These health and safety guidelines have been around for years and are crucial to proper mask usage. Failure to adhere to the guidelines not only risks exposure to infection from airborne illness but also can create serious health conditions for the wearer.
Cloth masks: cloth masks do not filter on the inhale and are ineffective against airborne viruses. Many officials have recently spoken out since the spread of Omicron stating cloth masks do not provide protection against infection.
Surgical masks: Surgical masks are designed for sterile environments. Surgical masks are loose fitting and allow air to escape around the sides and top. Surgical masks must be FDA approved. These masks do not protect against inhaling small airborne particles. These masks are not considered respiratory protection because they allow leakage around the edge of the mask. Surgical masks are disposable and not meant for repeat or long term use.
When removing any mask or respirator you must remove it by its straps.
Never touch your mask or respirator.
Masks/Respirators should be removed immediately and replaced if they become wet, moist, or damp. Moist, wet, dirty masks not replaced frequently are not only permeable but proliferate microorganisms and bacteria. This causes serious health risks to the wearer. Mildew and bacteria can begin to grow in a mask within 30 minutes.
Prior to C19 mask and respirator wearers were told masks should be removed and replaced every 20 - 30 minutes. This information has been removed from the website but is still crucial to safe mask wearing as moisture traps germs inside masks and allows bacteria to grow.
Do not wear masks/respirators with gaps on the sides, top, or bottom.
If anyone is interested I’d be happy to go into cross contamination and proper disposal of masks/respirators but due to the length of this post I’m going to end the discussion here. The conversation around masks/respirators includes many factors not discussed here such as speech therapy, emotional development, and people with disabilities. Masking should never be a political decision but one rooted in science. As an improperly worn mask can be more dangerous than no mask at all masking should not be a long term mandate. Proper masking/respirator use should be up to the individual depending on the environment they are entering into and timelines they will be there. I have attached screenshots to show where all this information can be found and a photograph of my six year olds mask from school on Friday.