An important point about wearing masks

[DaveNV]

We are advised that any sort of mask right now is better than no mask, and many have taken to making and/or wearing homemade masks. The information below was posted by a friend on Facebook, and I think it bears sharing here.

Dave

 

[turkel]

Good advice I am sure.

Since supplies are low nurses are allowed 1 mask per shift. If your wearing anything other than a homemade mask your a jerk in this nurses opinion. We are wearing homemade masks when available. N95 ‘s prepandemic were single use as in one task, one patient. Now they are collecting them and sterilizing them ( with no studies on efficacy) and a single nurse will use the same N95 mask for 3 days.

 

[klpca]

I saw a post that said you need 3 masks - one that you are actively using, one in the wash, and one spare. I'm sewing them as fast as I can (and I'm a proficient seamstress) but they still take me about 25 min per mask. I could do this full time for awhile at that rate. I'm definitely going to run out of elastic too.

 

[DaveNV]

Good for you, Katherine. This is a labor of love certainly. Kudos to all who are making masks. I'd be doing it, if I knew which end of a sewing machine was which.

My Sister-in-law is making masks for family members, using a very tight-weave cotton fabric she'd normally use when quilting. She said she's using different fabrics on each mask layer, so it's easy to tell "inside" from "outside." That way, she says, if someone does need to take the mask off and then put it on again, it'll be easy to tell which side is which. Putting it on "backwards" could prove completely wrong, because then the contaminated side would be against your face.

Dave

 

[Luanne]

I'm going to have to go with the "make it yourself" mask using a piece of cotton fabric and rubber bands. The one that requires no sewing.

 

[chellej]

Good advice I am sure.

... If your wearing anything other than a homemade mask your a jerk in this nurses opinion. .

You are assuming people went out and bought masks. I have a couple N95 masks from home improvement projects ...so I am a jerk if use them?

 

[CalGalTraveler]

You are assuming people went out and bought masks. I have a couple N95 masks from home improvement projects ...so I am a jerk if use them?

Since you only have a couple, I would save them in case you or a family member becomes ill and must be cared for at home, or if you need to take a family member to the hospital.

 

[chellej]

Since you only have a couple, I would save them in case you or a family member becomes ill and must be cared for at home, or if you need to take a family member to the hospital.

I am saving them...if they were unopened, I would donate them. I am going to try and sew some today for when we go get groceries

 

[geoand]

I saw a post that said you need 3 masks - one that you are actively using, one in the wash, and one spare. I'm sewing them as fast as I can (and I'm a proficient seamstress) but they still take me about 25 min per mask. I could do this full time for awhile at that rate. I'm definitely going to run out of elastic too.

Ace bandaged can be used for elastic.

 

[DaveNV]

Ace bandaged can be used for elastic.

I've also heard bungee cords have elastic in them. Open the fabric outer cover, and see what's inside.

Dave

 

[geist1223]

Just remember if you are wearing a homemade or a surgical mask you are doing it to protect others not yourself. You need an N95 if you want any protection for your self. Yes we do have a stock we bought in January for our trip to Australia. Hospital does not want them because they are not sealed in original packaging. According to CDC after use you can hang them in a dry environment for 3 days and they should be good to go for another usage. Also can expose to ultraviolet light to clean.

 

[turkel]

You are assuming people went out and bought masks. I have a couple N95 masks from home improvement projects ...so I am a jerk if use them?

I am not assuming anything. My neighbor had N95 ‘s in her earthquake kit. She donated them to me and I brought them to the hospital.

We have all been made acutely aware of the hoarding going on. Weather you went out and purchased masks recently or had them before hand the optics are not good. You can’t wear an N95 day after day they were meant for single use.

Anyone watch the news lately? How about the segment on wearing non medical grade masks. The majority of the people they showed had N95’s or Medical grade masks.
You can stay home I have to go work in a hospital inundated with Covid 19 patients.

Yep I stand by my statement. Make a mask you can wash. Make several. Share with those you love.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I believe that having a shield made out of a clear paper protector and clipped to a hat and wearing glasses is as important if not more important as a mask because it will keep you from touching your face and will keep liquid particles away from your cotton mask which is not waterproof.


@klpca Try elastic pony tail holders.

 

[klpca]

I believe that having a shield made out of a clear paper protector and clipped to a hat and wearing glasses is as important if not more important as a mask because it will keep you from touching your face and will keep liquid particles away from your cotton mask which is not waterproof.


@klpca Try elastic pony tail holders.

I've seen this suggested. How does it work? I'm using two 11" pieces of elastic. (I found about 16 yards - can't remember why I bought that much. Some long forgotten project - but valuable now. Small victories). It just seems like a pony tail holder would be too small. I can always go to a fabric tie but that's a lot more work.

 

[Sea Six]

This guy gets it.

 

[DrQ]

How to turn a bandana and two rubber bands into a face mask:

You can still get rubber bands from Amazon