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Check it out. This is important information.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/17/opin ... e=Homepage

Lots of excellent information here.

Stay safe out there everyone. We are all in for a bumpy ride.

Anne

My take on this as a medical professional is I am suspect that since we dont know enough about the Covid 19 I would only say a surgical mask is better than nothing. It does NOT filter out small viral particles. It probably can help. But for the CDC to say

"Now that we are facing a respirator mask shortage, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that surgical masks are “an acceptable alternative” for health care workers" I call BS Healthcare workers on the frontline do not need something that is better than nothing. For the average person I will agree.

I agree with Karen! Surgical masks are designed to keep cough or sneeze gunk in and not on those around you and have a short lifespan. Leave it to the NYTimes to publish an article like that!
Velda

MandysMom wrote:I agree with Karen! Surgical masks are designed to keep cough or sneeze gunk in and not on those around you and have a short lifespan. Leave it to the NYTimes to publish an article like that!
Velda

Velda, I am not a medical professional, nor do I claim to be one. I re-read this article very carefully again just now, and this article very clearly states your very same concerns, in paragraph six:

(Quote) "And of course, surgical masks (the disposable type that surgeons wear) don’t filter out small viral particles the way medical-grade respirator masks rated N95 and above do."

In view of the fact that N-95 masks appear to be becoming unavailable - for both medical professionals and for the the general public, I would ask this question, I as a non-medical person, humbly, respectfully and sincerely:

If N-95 masks are not available, what do you, as a medical professional, recommend in their place?

I want to stay safe. I value your input. Thank you.

OregonLuvr wrote:My take on this as a medical professional is I am suspect that since we dont know enough about the Covid 19 I would only say a surgical mask is better than nothing. It does NOT filter out small viral particles. It probably can help.

Thank you Karen. I agree with you, as it also appears that the article in question agrees with you (paragraph 6, again):

(Quote) . . . "the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that surgical masks are “an acceptable alternative” for health care workers — again, obviously because some protection, even if imperfect, is better than none."

and (again) (Quote): "And of course, surgical masks (the disposable type that surgeons wear) don’t filter out small viral particles the way medical-grade respirator masks rated N95 and above do. However, even surgical masks protect a bit more than not wearing masks at all."

I would encourage everyone to read this article in it's entirety. Lots of good information here, and much food for thought.

Here is the link again:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/17/opinion/coronavirus-face-masks.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage

Thank you, Velda and thank you, Karen, for your input. Very much appreciated.

I look forward to anyone's further thoughts and input.

This is very serious business, indeed. The more information we have to keep ourselves safe, the better off we will all be.

Thank you.

Anne

There is no alternative to the N95. The surgical masks are nothing...........in my opinion to fight this Covid 19. And to say they are better than nothing is absolutely ridiculous. So is a piece of gauze taped over my face. My friends on the frontline said if they run out of masks they are calling in sick or quitting. The risk is too great. As long as they have the correct PPE (personal protection equipment) they are still risking it but are willing to do that. When you are hired at a hospital you have to have a "fit" test.

A “fit test” tests the seal between the respirator's facepiece and your face. ... Qualitative fit testing is a pass/fail test method that uses your sense of taste or smell, or your reaction to an irritant in order to detect leakage into the respirator facepiece.

They give you a mask and put you in this plastic head bubble and squirt sweet stuff in and see how long it takes you to taste it. If too soon you get a different size and do it again until they get the correct fit. So when you are hired you know what size mask to wear. I have only had to wear it a couple of times and that was for a pregnant TB patient. Men fail if they have beards. Most hospitals make them shave their beards but not all.

In surgery we wear the surgical mask to keep anything from leaving our nose or mouth and contaminating the sterile field. You can be in the surgery suite without a mask (for me setting up equipment to receive the baby) but as soon as they start to open instruments you need your mask on.

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/pdfs/Un ... ic-508.pdf

I have a funny story about the OR. I worked with 2 mennonite nurses and they wore scrub dresses on the unit instead of the regular scrubs. They were told if they went into the OR on a case they had to wear pants underneath their dresses..........for perineal fallout LOL I never really figured that one out.

OH! Karen!!

Most excellent information about masks in general, and how masks are fitted. Adds greatly to my understanding.

I especially liked your statement as to how your friends on the "front lines" would quit if they did not have the proper equipment!! As WELL they should!

NO ONE should risk this without the proper equipment - even fully equiped, the risk is already well and truly great enough.

Thank you!

Anne