Mother Nature does indeed seem deeply angry at us. The mask rating systems are different on opposite sides of the Pond. USA = N95/KN95 and N99. Europe = FFP2 and FFP3. They are parallel ratings.
The masks are labeled as single-use. I got the mask rotation system from front line doctors in 2020, struggling with shortages of PPE. This worked for them to keep them safe. I wouldn't try it with low-grade masks. Only with high quality masks that offer at least 95% filtration (which is what N95 means).
I'm not familiar with USA suppliers. Jess is and might chime in to say where she is getting hers. Mine usually come from Gompels.co.uk. I'm not needing to worry about counterfeits from them. It's best to order these high quality masks by the box. You are less likely to get counterfeits that way than if you buy them individually.
In light of this information, I'd like to ask if you'd explain something to me. You've mentioned previously that you eat/drink while wearing a mask, and I've done the same, but I currently use KN95s with ear loops; I grab a breath, unloop one side, eat or drink, then immediately replace the loop & mask.
N95s have the head bands, so would you briefly describe the process you use to eat, please?
There are no precautions used in my workplace and I'm the only one who masks; I usually sit in my car to eat, but I frequently drink water during the day and don't have the option to go outside to do so.
And I just thought of this: do you put the Day 1 mask in a paper bag or hang it outside? And regarding clothes: I'm still not sure about the clothes I wear & if they potentially carry the virus, so I generally put them on the balcony as soon as I change, and then wash my hands before petting my cat.
I upgraded to FFP3 a year or so ago. That's like N99 and has head loops. Eating or drinking with my mask is cumbersome.
I inhale,
lift the mask away from my face,
move it down below my mouth or up above my eyes without removing the head loops (which I have learned to do one-handed),
take a bite (with the other hand, or I can let the mask rest on my head while I cut the bite & put it in my mouth) or a sip,
move the mask back into place while exhaling into it a little before it touches my face so that I sweep out most of whatever contaminated air got in the way,
adjust the fit if necessary before chewing/swallowing.
As I said, it's ponderous and probably looks absurd. I am willing to look absurd in order to protect myself.
In the USA it is possible to fit a sippy valve into some face masks in order to be able to drink through a straw without removing your mask. The valves are not reusable and not cheap. They aren't available in the UK, as far as I know. I haven't tried them and don't know whether they really work well.
If we had more people in our household, paper bags would be good to leave masks in during their rest days. We only have myself and my wife. I'm able to hang up my masks somewhere indoors and dry without worry about further contamination. I also am not around people other than my wife often enough to need to rotate masks very often. It's frequently a week between mask wearings, so I usually have one main mask and a backup mask in case I need it on occasions too close together.
We used to quarantine clothes for 3 days or put them in the laundry after going out. We have gotten looser about that. We don't hug each other when one of us has just been out in germ soup until the one who was out at least changes clothes first. That's for typical exposures like picking up groceries or being around friends for an evening (preferably with the filter running). If it's a major potential exposure (like my flight), shower, put on clean clothes & put the exposed clothes in the laundry first.
Some pets can catch the virus, so I think it's good that you wash your hands before petting yours when you get home from germ soup--I mean work.
Thanks for the detailed response; that's exactly what I needed. I wear glasses, but I'm already used to taking them off before moving the mask, anyway. The part I wasn't sure of is whether you just shifted the mask out of the way, or took the loops off and you addressed that for me.
I knew cats were able to catch it, so I've been cautious about changing clothes and washing up before touching her. She still head butts & rubs against my legs occasionally before I've changed, but from what you've said (and what I've read elsewhere) I think her chances are minimal. I hate to push her away, but for her safety, I usually do so.
Really appreciate your feedback and advice. Thanks!
Well this is distressing. Mother Nature really wants us gone. Are your masks the paper-type ones? I didn't think those were meant to be reused after a day's use. This is the only supplier I could find of ffp3 masks in the US: https://www.ctbiotech.com/collections/n95-masks-and-respirators/products/andum-ffp3-respirator-with-headbands?variant=42328409407700
You may want to see another take on this from another writer. There's a link to the list of what she showed her husband (and eventually their daughter's school) in the post. She thinks a lot. https://jessicawildfire.substack.com/p/we-convinced-our-school-to-bring
Good resources. Thanks!
Mother Nature does indeed seem deeply angry at us. The mask rating systems are different on opposite sides of the Pond. USA = N95/KN95 and N99. Europe = FFP2 and FFP3. They are parallel ratings.
The masks are labeled as single-use. I got the mask rotation system from front line doctors in 2020, struggling with shortages of PPE. This worked for them to keep them safe. I wouldn't try it with low-grade masks. Only with high quality masks that offer at least 95% filtration (which is what N95 means).
I'm not familiar with USA suppliers. Jess is and might chime in to say where she is getting hers. Mine usually come from Gompels.co.uk. I'm not needing to worry about counterfeits from them. It's best to order these high quality masks by the box. You are less likely to get counterfeits that way than if you buy them individually.
In light of this information, I'd like to ask if you'd explain something to me. You've mentioned previously that you eat/drink while wearing a mask, and I've done the same, but I currently use KN95s with ear loops; I grab a breath, unloop one side, eat or drink, then immediately replace the loop & mask.
N95s have the head bands, so would you briefly describe the process you use to eat, please?
There are no precautions used in my workplace and I'm the only one who masks; I usually sit in my car to eat, but I frequently drink water during the day and don't have the option to go outside to do so.
And I just thought of this: do you put the Day 1 mask in a paper bag or hang it outside? And regarding clothes: I'm still not sure about the clothes I wear & if they potentially carry the virus, so I generally put them on the balcony as soon as I change, and then wash my hands before petting my cat.
Thank you, Bonnie.
I upgraded to FFP3 a year or so ago. That's like N99 and has head loops. Eating or drinking with my mask is cumbersome.
I inhale,
lift the mask away from my face,
move it down below my mouth or up above my eyes without removing the head loops (which I have learned to do one-handed),
take a bite (with the other hand, or I can let the mask rest on my head while I cut the bite & put it in my mouth) or a sip,
move the mask back into place while exhaling into it a little before it touches my face so that I sweep out most of whatever contaminated air got in the way,
adjust the fit if necessary before chewing/swallowing.
As I said, it's ponderous and probably looks absurd. I am willing to look absurd in order to protect myself.
In the USA it is possible to fit a sippy valve into some face masks in order to be able to drink through a straw without removing your mask. The valves are not reusable and not cheap. They aren't available in the UK, as far as I know. I haven't tried them and don't know whether they really work well.
If we had more people in our household, paper bags would be good to leave masks in during their rest days. We only have myself and my wife. I'm able to hang up my masks somewhere indoors and dry without worry about further contamination. I also am not around people other than my wife often enough to need to rotate masks very often. It's frequently a week between mask wearings, so I usually have one main mask and a backup mask in case I need it on occasions too close together.
We used to quarantine clothes for 3 days or put them in the laundry after going out. We have gotten looser about that. We don't hug each other when one of us has just been out in germ soup until the one who was out at least changes clothes first. That's for typical exposures like picking up groceries or being around friends for an evening (preferably with the filter running). If it's a major potential exposure (like my flight), shower, put on clean clothes & put the exposed clothes in the laundry first.
Some pets can catch the virus, so I think it's good that you wash your hands before petting yours when you get home from germ soup--I mean work.
Thanks for the detailed response; that's exactly what I needed. I wear glasses, but I'm already used to taking them off before moving the mask, anyway. The part I wasn't sure of is whether you just shifted the mask out of the way, or took the loops off and you addressed that for me.
I knew cats were able to catch it, so I've been cautious about changing clothes and washing up before touching her. She still head butts & rubs against my legs occasionally before I've changed, but from what you've said (and what I've read elsewhere) I think her chances are minimal. I hate to push her away, but for her safety, I usually do so.
Really appreciate your feedback and advice. Thanks!