hey, does wearing one of those mask even help prevent the flu?
 

i guess it keeps you from sticking your fingers in your mouth, and maybe someone from launching a snot ball into your open mouth from a sneeze...it doenst "filter" anything does it?

no..
co-pay is waived..

Rika

If you wear it properly,and have the N95 ones that the CDC recommends, then yes, they do actually filter quite a bit.

agree,
but I think he means the Home Depot version...

Rika

AHHHHCHEWWWW...I feel sick....I wonder if you can catch the flu virus over the internet?

Those are useless. They're trying to make it very clear to the people in Mexico that the cheap ones from your brother's garage are NOT enough. You need the N95 (NIOSH) version, and you need to wear them properly fitted to your face. Beards should be shaved off...

I think so.

In fact I ate nachos last night and I can feel a swine flu attack nearly killing me.

Forget that!

So what is the point of hospital masks then? Don't they do anything?

They stop the wearer from infecting others - it catches what is breathed out.

That's why anyone in an operating theatre wears one - to help protect the patient.

Tim

Look, if you want to live, you have to do it right.
http://www.approvedgasmasks.com/images/m95mask4.jpg

I lived in Mainland China for 2 years. Everyone there wore those, supposedly to 'protect from inhaled germs...'

People would lift them to hock a luugey, and then spit on someone else's shoes.

The same way the 'Great Wall' protected them from the Mongols.
The same way the 'Internet filters' protect them from the 'eveil West'...

michael hasn't had the flu in years.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1240877562.jpg

If I was the cop I'd be wearing one....

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090126082530.htm

Donning a face mask is an easy way to boost protection from severe respiratory illnesses such as influenza and SARS, new research from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) has found, but convincing a reluctant public and health workers is proving a struggle.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081027155907.htm

Wearing masks and using alcohol-based hand sanitizers may prevent the spread of flu symptoms by as much as 50 percent, a landmark new study suggests

So, I've been reading argument that the so-called N95 mask is not effective at stopping the flu because viruses are smaller than the mask's filter size. But perhaps the things that viruses travel on - dust particles, etc - are large enough to be blocked, thus making the masks at least helpful?

Dunno, but if there is a swine flu pandemic I wouldn't rule out wearing a mask.

Edit: ok, did some reading. Hospital masks are those cloth masks with tie straps that are worn in, well, hospitals. NIOSH certified N95 respirators are those molded masks, usually with elastic straps and metal tabs to fit the nose. The N95 respirators are supposed to filter 95 pct of particles. Airborne flu viruses are transmitted on droplets that are large enough for the N95 mask to be effective. Two clinical studies have suggested these masks do reduce the chance of contracting flu, though they don't eliminate it. I havent found any study on how effective they are when worn by someone who has the flu. N95 masks are sold at Home Depot in contractor packs of 20 for $20, usually in painting section. But check the label, there are non N95 masks too. Some N95 masks have an exhalation valve which would obviously make them less useful if the wearer already has flu.


Well, I have two packs of them in the garage, just in case.

I already broke out the hand sanitizer and swiped a bunch of those towelettes from the buffet...People look at me like I am Obsessive Compulsive..buy hey I am going to be alive and they are going to be dead.

do you see the irony?

I always thought that the masks only prevented you from spreading a disease. So if you don't have flu like symptoms, the mask isn't doing anything.

I believe that the best thing you can do is wash your hands. I keep alcohol based hand sanitizer in all my cars and try to use it every time I get in.

Lets face facts, its time to take out the zombie rifle and shine her up boys.

Got a spare? SmileWavy

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09118/965987-114.stm

The paper today must of read your question!

Now my neighbor (ex medical type) is recommending something called a HEPA filter mask. I feel the arms race beginning.

Your eyes and ears are still exposed.

Oh well, the masks to me just point out the people that are easy to mess with...

The masks after an hour or two get wet from moisture and are less effective. Mostly I think they work by preventing you from touching your nose..

The whole washing hands thing is if you have picked up the virus from a surface to wash it off before you touch your eyes or nose. Apparently your mucous membranes are an easy entry point for the virus.

Agreed. I go to a lot of conventions - hordes of people and lots of handshaking
. I wash my hands often and I rarely come home sick. Hands to eyes/nose/mouth is a disease highway.

I did get something in Vegas last week at NAB though . . .

Ian

Those masks do help protect you from some body fluid contact........like sex with women.:D

HEPA, High Efficiency Particulate Airfilter. 99.99% effective IIRC. They are pink.

thanks , Hugh. Where do you find those? OSH?

Hugh, you mean something like

http://www.achooallergy.com/mask-3M8233mask.asp?ref=base

or

http://www.achooallergy.com/mask-3mHEPA.asp

?

Yeah, they're both HEPA, the first one is disposable and has an exhalation valve which keeps the moisture from your breath from saturating the mask as quickly. The second you replace the pink cartfidges. It has an exhalation valve in the center. For both you need proper sealing. For the second one they come in S, M, L and XL. You need to get the one that fits. Fro the second one, you want to do a "Positive/Negative" fit test. You put it on, cover the two pink filters with the plams of your hands and igently nhale. The mask should suck up on your face. The you cover the exhalation valve with your palm and blow gently and the mask should puff up slightly. You want to check with both test for leakage around the mask, especially around the nose.

You can get both at OSH, Home Depot, etc. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a run on them.

Mr President there is going to be a HEPA Filter Gap, but if we jump on it now we can assure you that there will only be 20 M dead tops....give or take a few!

I have a headache and feel woozy. But maybe its from reading filter specs.