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Why N95 masks are hard to make

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Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#101

Post by SirLuxuryYacht »

doodlebugging wrote: post #88
chuckledog wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is quite is quite a bit of information readily available about sterilizing disposable N95 masks with UV-C light. While not nearly as good as a fresh mask, this might be a preferable alternative to reusing the same mask unsterilized. https://www.ajicjournal.org/article/S0196-6553(18)30140-8/pd... https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4699414/ https://www.peakprosperity.com/forum-topic/can-uv-light-disi...…

I believe that microwaving a used mask could also be an effective way to sterilize the mask. (0) I found this information by following links from the CDC website a few weeks ago when I was exploring the possibility of buying masks for my family and found that they were already being hawked online at ridiculous prices. Perhaps steam and/or use of a pressure cooker could also be effective. Many people who do home canni…

This[0] article goes over recommendations for extended use, reuse, and risks. It also has a healthy list of references, some of which are by Fisher et al., the author of the paper you linked.

Most masks have a metal tab bending over the bridge of the nose, as well as metal staples for the elastic bands, which would prevent you from microwaving. Cartridge type filters would work though.

[0]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3373043/#!po=12...

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#102

Post by adrianN »

bootlooped wrote: post #63
stubish wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Only 600,000 of those are N95 standard, suitable for health care and using the special fabric in short supply. Mask wear in Asia is common, for smog, smoke and controlling flu. The cheap ones don't last long, and often replaced instead of put through the wash. Common mask usage requires use of cheaper, more comfortable masks rather than the health care certified ones.

I would wear an N95 mask sometimes in Asia, to mitigate the pollution. I didn't throw it away after each use. I imagine their use by medical professionals to be a much different case though. I think a lot of Asian people wore the cheap cloth ones. I have learned recently that these sometimes have replaceable inserts inside them.

The masks filter pollution about as effectively after prolonged use as when they're new. The problem for medical use is contamination with germs.

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#103

Post by Godel_unicode »

droithomme wrote: post #10
bitL wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Surgical/homemade masks are working only if everybody is wearing them and they just impede transmission from the wearer to other people around. If you are the only person wearing such mask, you might not impede infection by much.

That's false and you are wrong and are posting dangerous misinformation that is harming society. If I am infected it protects others. If I am not infected it protects me.

Surgical masks are not shown to have any ability to prevent healthy people from getting sick with covid-19.

https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/coronavirus...

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#104

Post by canada_dry »

dehrmann wrote: post #93

Generally good quote about Chinese manufacturing: > China can be all over the place. Sometimes you think you're in a Western factory. Others are kind of like a dirt floor sort of shanty trying to pass their stuff off as good as the other guys. And maybe it is.

Not representative of medical equipment manufacture in China (I trust), but an interesting look nonetheless into typical manufacturing process and it's utter lack of OSHA and environmental controls:

https://youtu.be/83GDV0xsTTs?t=545

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#105

Post by scottlocklin »

treparist wrote: post #12
droithomme wrote: post #2

Surgical and homemade masks are much better than nothing. And by better than nothing we mean reasonably effective. Going into close contact with a person who has a known transmissible respiratory illness? N95 is minimum if you are a professional. And get your union to scream bloody murder if you are not allowed this essential safety equipment, and put complaints in writing so your heirs can later sue to oblivion. Try…

Surgical and homemade masks are much better than nothing. /Thats basically a misinformation. They are completely useless, and if you dont change them each 40-50 minutes - bring you more damage then good

People were required by law to wear (mostly homemade; the main kind available) masks during the Spanish Flu. The link below gives an account of someone being shot by a public health officer for refusing to wear one. People took it very seriously back then as a way of preventing the spread, and it's not a bad idea for now.

https://blog.genealogybank.com/the-history-of-the-great-1918...

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#106

Post by 9nGQluzmnq3M »

Retric wrote: post #32
Leary wrote: post #26

"Currently, of the 200 million masks China makes a day, only 600,000 are N95 standard masks, used by medical personnel, according to the National Development and Reform Commission, a state planning body. " Wow, that is not enough.

That’s 3 N95 masks for 200,000 people every day. China meanwhile has over 3 million doctors. So, production clearly needs to ramp up, but it’s not so far off the mark they can’t get there in a few months.

China is down to ~8000 COVID patients, so that number is actually fine. It's supplying the rest of the world that's the problem.

http://ncov.dxy.cn/ncovh5/view/pneumonia

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#107

Post by bamboozled »

ardit33 wrote: post #62
bamboozled wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A “superpower” who can’t seem make enough masks to protect its own medical professionals from a pandemic. It’s an interesting situation.

Rome was a "superpower" militarily but it couldn't feed itself, and had to rely on grain from Egypt and the fertile crescent to feed its population..... Here we can't produce some basic silly things... as it is not that economical during normal times... Perhaps farming subsides are not a crazy type of idea after all.

Well two things come to mind here:

- People can learn from Rome's mistakes.

- Rome did at least some farming.

- Rome is no more.

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#108

Post by doodlebugging »

SirLuxuryYacht wrote: post #101
doodlebugging wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I believe that microwaving a used mask could also be an effective way to sterilize the mask. (0) I found this information by following links from the CDC website a few weeks ago when I was exploring the possibility of buying masks for my family and found that they were already being hawked online at ridiculous prices. Perhaps steam and/or use of a pressure cooker could also be effective. Many people who do home canni…

This[0] article goes over recommendations for extended use, reuse, and risks. It also has a healthy list of references, some of which are by Fisher et al., the author of the paper you linked. Most masks have a metal tab bending over the bridge of the nose, as well as metal staples for the elastic bands, which would prevent you from microwaving. Cartridge type filters would work though. [0] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.go…

I had considered the metal parts of the mask to be a potential problem. In the worst case scenario it should be relatively simple for mask owners to remove the metal tab from the nose and the staples holding the elastic bands before microwaving.

Once they are done in the microwave the bands could be stapled in place with your ordinary stapler and the band reattached with hot glue. Those who have a needle and thread could also stitch a sleeve onto the nose piece that is open at one end and just reinsert the metal nose piece once it is out of the microwave. The thin metal should withstand several bend cycles before needing to be replaced and it can be replaced with any thin aluminum strip which one could obtain from lots of places around the house or at the hardware store.

The bands and straps could be washed in ordinary soap to sterilize them before reuse.

Just thinking outside the box here. What do you think?

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#109

Post by mantap »

prostheticvamp wrote: post #100
azurezyq wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Care workers are in tiers. Not everyone needs a N95. Not to mention there a are only 8k active covid cases in China now.

The N95s are for everyone expected to have direct exposure to patients with covid19. There’s no “tier” of healthcare professional that is unworthy of protection.

No human being is unworthy of protection regardless of their job; for instance, supermarket workers also require protection. However this is a limited resource so of course those with the highest risk should get them first.

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#110

Post by wuunderbar »

fortran77 wrote: post #91
droithomme wrote: post #2

Surgical and homemade masks are much better than nothing. And by better than nothing we mean reasonably effective. Going into close contact with a person who has a known transmissible respiratory illness? N95 is minimum if you are a professional. And get your union to scream bloody murder if you are not allowed this essential safety equipment, and put complaints in writing so your heirs can later sue to oblivion. Try…

Here's a paper that shows that "homemade masks" made from tea cloths were reasonably effective https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2440799/ I'm using a homemade mask made from hepa filter material between two layers of dish towel material when I go out. I tie it around so it completely covers my nose and mouth and extents It will probably help if a person a few feet away coughs at me, as happened in the stor…

You got a picture of your homemade mask?
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