Home
Face Masks
Survival Tips
Hand Cleaning
Letters
Emergency Supplies
FAQS
Affiliates
Quarantine
Business Continuity
Cats & Bird Flu
Links
About Us
Tamiflu
Forum
Our Mission
Face Masks for
Your Family's Protection
"
During a pandemic ...we will see a collapse of the global economy as we know it which means that we're going to run out of those things ...things like medical supplies, drugs, masks, whatever."
-- Michael T. Osterholm, Director, Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, speaking on the Oprah Show, January 24/06
Will Face Masks Help Prevent Bird Flu From Spreading?
Top U.S. Scientists Are Studying the Issue
By TONI L. WILSON
March 12, 2006 — - As the U.S. government stockpiles several million doses of bird flu vaccine, should it also be putting aside face masks in the event of a worldwide outbreak?
The Institute of Medicine, a prestigious group of independent scientists, is gathering information about this issue. It will release its conclusions later this spring. The group met with public health officials on March 6-7 in Washington, D.C.
The jury is still out on many important face mask questions, but health care experts seem to agree face masks with special air filters should be an important part of the first line of defense against human-to-human transmission -- especially among first-line responders like paramedics.
What's not known is if there will be enough masks to go around, and whether or not disposable masks can be reused.
Along with good personal hygiene, personal protective measures, such as wearing an air-filtering face mask, have the potential to reduce pandemic flu deaths, according to Richard Garwin, a health care technology expert and IBM Fellow Emeritus.
Health care workers, he said, will especially need protection beyond simple surgical masks, such as "N95" face masks certified by the National Institute for Occupational Health. These types of masks provide far greater protection, filtering out about 95 percent of small particles, although health care workers need to be fit-tested to ensure maximum coverage, Garwin said.
Although there is little data on the subject, wearing a disposable mask probably doesn't hurt, said Dr. Jeff Duchin of the Seattle-King County Health Department. However, there is some concern that face masks provide a false sense of security, and more importantly, there might not be enough face masks to go around.
Another topic of concern: In the event of a shortage, should masks be reused?
"We shouldn't talk about reusing masks until we know do they actually work," Jeffrey Levi, a senior policy adviser for Trust for America's Health, told the IOM committee. "We must be honest about what level of protection these masks provide."
And Dr Rashid Cotani, of Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, raised another important issue: What type of mask should be used for children?
It's another unanswered question for the committee to consider.
Copyright © 2006 ABC News Internet Ventures
|
Alpha Pro Tech N-95
Particulate Respirator
Here's a mask that's not only very comfortable, but it's also one of the most economical N95 Niosh approved masks that we've been able to find.
The Alpha Pro Tech N-95
Particulate Respirator, designed specifically for
use in a healthcare setting, is NIOSH-approved
as a Type N95 respirator and meets CDC
guidelines for TB exposure control.
It has been tested in accordance to Title 42 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 84 (42 CFR 84), which is tested at 0.3 micron size particles at 85 liters a minute. All N-95 respirators must pass this
test with no more than 5% penetration.
It has also been tested by Latex Particle Challenge at 0.1
micron size particle and has shown a
filtration efficiency of greater than 99.98% at 0.1 micron.
One-Size-Fits-All
To help you reduce costs and inventory, the
N-95 Respirator uses an exclusive Magic
Arch/Positive Facial Lock “one-size-fits-all”
design. This unique design feature permits
the respirator to be “custom fit” to virtually
any face, no matter what shape or size.
 This is the same respirator that the Australian
government purchased for all of their employees
and their families serving in S.E. Asia
The traditional pleated style N-95 offers all
this without the drawbacks of cone and
duckbill-style respirators which restrict downward
vision and collapse easily when stored.
Integral Magic Arch® — Provides a larger
breathing chamber with no restriction of
downward vision as duckbill or cone
masks do.
Positive Facial Lock® (PFL) — Allows total
facial closure for "custom fit" on any size
face when donned correctly.
Totally Latex Free —
Comfortable, knit
tricot mesh covered
bands contain no natural rubber latex,
eliminating latex allergy concerns.
Traditional Pleated Design —
Saves inventory space, cannot
be crushed when stored, as
duckbill and cone respirators
can, and is easy to carry
with you.
The most economical Niosh certified mask that we've been able to find.
Great for personal use or for trading.
Keep a supply handy for handing out to others.
US$34.95 for box of 35 masks
Special - 6 boxes of 35 masks
Just $169.00
2CheckOut.com Inc. (Ohio, USA) is an authorized retailer for goods and services provided by New Attitude Designs.
2CheckOut.com Inc. (Ohio, USA) is an authorized retailer for
goods and services provided by New Attitude Designs.
How many masks will you need?
This, of course, depends on where you live and how often you'll be coming into contact with others.
If you live in a high rise and share a common elevator, you'll certainly want to wear a mask every time you leave your apartment. If you live in suburbia you might only need to put on a mask when you go shopping. Do you work in a setting that brings you into regular contact with others? If so you might want to stock up on enough to provide you with 2 or 3 changes per day.
"The only thing harder than preparing for an emergency
is explaining why you didn't."
Masks as Currency!
Since commerce will be severely interrupted during a pandemic, bartering will become the accepted means of exchange. Having a good supply of face masks will give you a commodity that will enable you to trade with others.
Stocking up on face masks is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure the safety of your family. We urge you not to delay in making this decision. Demand for this product is too strong for us to be able to maintain this low price for very much longer.
"Don't let your first impressions of this mask fool you.
Inside of a box that's only 8"x3"x3.5" they have somehow managed to pack 35 NIOSH approved masks, all folded up as tightly as Kleenex.
Pull one out and you'd be hard pressed to guess that this is a face mask. It's a rectangle 8" long by 3" wide and maybe 1/8" thick. You could stuff a dozen of these in your purse or coat pocket and not even know they were there.
The magic occurs when you open it up. (The box comes with photo instructions) Suddenly you have a 3 dimensional shape that's light as a feather that you can place on your face, secured by two straps that go around the back of your head.
We were amazed at how well this mask fit. Many masks have a strip of malleable aluminum on the nosepiece, but this mask goes one further. Its strip extends around the whole perimeter of the mask, which makes it super easy to create a good, tight fit.
Breathing was probably the easiest of any masks that we have tried, and that includes ones equipped with a valve. There is a built in arc which provides ample space between your nose/mouth and the mask. This is a mask that one could wear comfortably for hours.
There is very little obstruction around the top of the nose, which allows for freedom of vision and would allow you to wear goggles.
There are lots of other N95 rated respirators out there. Expect to pay a lot more for them though. If you plan on going to work as usual and want a mask that you can wear all day, they might be a better choice. But any mask should be disposed of once you take it off, as its surface will now be contaminated with deadly pathogens. That might be hard to do when you're paying several dollars per mask.
At just over a dollar per mask, the Alpha Pro Tech N-95 is the best bargain around."
|
Vira-Block is an Extra Strength Hand Antiseptic that effectively kills 99.99% of hand transmitted germs that may cause illness, in 30 seconds or less!
|
