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The CEO of my local provincial health authority Dr. Michael Gardam had some comments on N95 masks. He said visitors to the hospital here were asked to remove th
by dghughes 5y ago
The CEO of my local provincial health authority Dr. Michael Gardam had some comments on N95 masks. He said visitors to the hospital here were asked to remove their N95 masks and were given medical/surgical masks instead. Partly due to not knowing how old or contaminated the masks were of visitors but also for mask performance issues.
Dr. Gardam said, paraphrasing, N95 are good at filtering when you breathe in but when exhaling they are not so great (poor fit?). The medial masks were good filtering both in an out maybe not as good as the N95 for filtering inward of very small particles. N95 are best at filtering small particles but larger droplets can be filtered by either the surgical or N95 masks.
- mindslight 5y agoI too encountered anti-maskers at the hospital. A security guard wanted me to remove my P100 (in+out) and wear their cosplay mask instead. I escalated and talked to the Hospital's Director of Infection Control, who confirmed the policy. When I told them that I was not comfortable with their ask, I was met with all of the standard anti-mask tropes - "wearing a better mask is unnecessary" "Covid is too small to be filtered" "hard to breathe" "you will pass out from lack of oxygen" etc. It was bizarre. Eventually we agreed that I could come back with an N95 and wear their cosplay mask over my N95, which was acceptable per their official policy (and that it would be on me if I were to pass out). Why they couldn't lead with that option, or even post signs with examples of acceptable PPE combos, I don't know. What I do know is we're two years into this pandemic and ignorance continues to dominate at every level.
- yosito 5y agoWait, anti maskers demanding cosplay masks are making the rules at the hospital? Or am I misunderstanding something?
- sergers 5y agoI am wondering if was a typo/spellcheck error for cosplay. Confused that they enforcing wearing a cosplay mask. All hospitals in my area make you take off your mask and wear a level 3 surgical mask. If you want to double up, wear your own mask on top is fine.
- mindslight 5y agoIt wasn't a typo. I'm referring to surgical masks as cosplay masks, as they provide poor filtration compared to appropriate respiratory PPE. It was understandable that we made do when they were the best thing available. But their continued primacy in a developed country is a disgrace. Cosplayers are too busy fighting anti-maskers to see that the basic reality that each one of us is the main party responsible for our own safety, and from focusing on that dynamic will protecting others follow. Imagine if the politicization of respiratory protection had been around the red tribe wanting to wear P100 valved respirators, and the blue tribe wanting a combo that filtered output. Practically I'm a little surprised by the cosplay under N95 requirement, as that makes it impossible to visibly inspect the cosplay and also makes the sealing of the N95 worse. Never mind having to step back outside after receiving the cosplay, to avoid demasking in a crowded area. Although I might be happier with it because I could wear my P100 half-face on top rather than not really being able to put a cosplay mask over the P100's side filters. shrug everywhere has their brokenness.
- sergers 5y agoThanks. I have never heard of someone use cosplay/cosplayers that way. Makes sense. Off topic - where you from?
- colechristensen 5y agoSurgical masks are orders of magnitude worse at filtering particles and designed to protect people who are open on an operating table from surgeon sourced droplets.