LAXlocal

I wish people would stop saying "useless" , maybe they are not the 95% for N95 if not fitted correctly , but they are much better than nothing ,

We have been lied to for months because there are not enough masks for everyone and it is best to save them for the Hospital workers etc ,

But saying "worthless" "useless" etc is not true if the option is wearing nothing !

I will wear my mask when out in public , and I hope you will be safe in the choices you make ,

Rant over !

PS , yes I have more than 1 mask , I bought them months ago and gave some to the nurse across the street who had none at the Hospital

sydunipete

The UV is probably more beneficial than the heat, but your windscreen probably filters out the UV. So if you want to home steralise them you are better putting them in raw sunlight.

I'm not saying this is a good idea, just that heat + UV is probably better than heat alone.

Visconti

Should go without saying that each person should be highly skeptical of anything from Gov'ts and Corps until he/she has had a chance to independently verify them. There were two things thrown around that I really found questionable from the outset: 1) this is like the flu; and, 2) there is no evidence that masks are helpful. Just from common sense, the way China was acting wasn't consistent with the first, and the simple fact that it's common practice for virtually all of Asia to wear them should have one instantly questioning the second.

Now, these same people tell us it's absolutely necessary to shut things down? Perhaps, but now I should take their word for it?

Dublin_rfk

I work in an industry where masks are required to be worn in many hazardous areas. Places were one must be mask certified just to enter a working area. I my long ago misspent youth I received what was then called NBC training. Wearing everything from a surgical mask to supplied air containment suits. So I take wearing any PPE seriously.
At whatever level the mask is rated it is not providing the rated level of protection if it is not worn properly. To be completely effective masks need to be adjusted, put on properly, and most importantly comfortable. If they are not comfortable they will be constantly fiddled and that raises the chances of contamination.
As for availability of masks, I did need to search around but I found and purchased a box of N95 masks at only slightly above last year’s cost. (They are industrial rated not medical ) Being recently in SE Asia I picked up several reusable N95 environmental masks because of micro particles from forest burn offs.
It is also a good idea to have eye protection and gloves all kept together.

chipmaster

Hypothetical question for you naysayers, what if we had masks so widely available as in the Far East for a dollar/mask, would you wear them or not?

This debate is only because they are in such shortage, but those that have, their is really no downside in wearing for every small decrease in risk, and filtering of garbage air particles.

In the Far east it is like cultural, no different than covering your mouth when sneezing etc.

MaxVO

It may well be worse than nothing. Windshield glass does not transmit UV that would otherwise sanitize the masks. That's the same reason why Transition Lenses don't work inside the car. All that would happen to the masks on top of a hot dashboard is they'll absorb harmful plasicizers coming out of it.

bobbytables

they�re widely available here in Vietnam for less than that price. I buy a 2 pack every few days. I put it on when leaving my apartment, until I get outside. Then I take it off and keep my distance from people (which is easy, not many people on the footpaths in Saigon at the moment) until I get where I�m going. If it�s a shop where I won�t be consuming food or drink I put it back on to go inside.

For me it�s mostly to make others comfortable; the evidence for asymptomatic transmission is sketchy, but I prefer not to make others uncomfortable wherever possible.

The downside for me is discomfort, so I take the mask off in very-low-risk situations (outside, not getting close to anyone).

anacapamalibu

Proper fitting of N95 industrial mask. If your sitting or walking around not too uncomfortable...more strenuous activity a PAPR would be nice!

Dublin_rfk

The 3M N100 masks are much more comfortable and easier to put on.

MaxVO

I agree that N100 seems more confortable for its intended use (filtering out dust from inhaled air). But it has an "Exhalation Valve", i.e. a bypass for exhaled air. So it won't reduce spreading germs by the wearer.

narvik

I thought so too, at first. But if you look at the valves, they [usually] vent to sides, not to the front. Plus, not all droplets would be vented during a cough or sneeze.
I reckon even valved masks help prevent spread from an infected wearer.

cockpitvisit

Here in Frankfurt, Germany, more and more non-Asians wear masks when outside (myself included). Still a small minority (maybe one person out of 10-15), but it's a change from the former "never wear masks" attitude.

I now always wear a mask when outside of my apartment and not driving a car (alone). Partly to reduce my own risk (it's an FFP3, but not perfectly fitted each time), partly to avoid coughing/sneezing at others, partly to send out a message that wearing masks is OK and the thing to do and to remind people of the virus in general.

Some supermarkets have all their staff wear surgical masks, most don't.

Went to my doctor today to take blood samples before our health system collapses (wearing a mask of course). Saw 3 other patients enter/leave, and 2 of them wore masks (one surgical-style and one looked like FFP1). All staff wore surgical-style masks too, and they installed glass partitions at the reception to prevent being coughed/sneezed at.

MaxVO

Of course any barrier or fabric in front of the face can limit transfer of germs. I've seen one store cashier pulled her sweatshirt over the mouth when she felt a cough was coming. That was likely more effective than wearing a wet disposable mask all day long. It appears that no mass produced product available right now is idiot-proof.

I also noticed some people wear gloves all day long, but touch everything with them (including face). If they don't sanitize the gloves as often as they would sanitize bare hands, they will spread more germs with gloves.

narvik

+1000

I wore Nitrile disposable gloves (I have some from workshop use) on Saturday, and took them off quite rapidly, as I noticed I stopped washing my hands: I seem to be much more vigilant in washing hands and using hand sanitizer when NOT wearing gloves!

747FC

And, on the other hand, I notice that my face-touching is non-existent when I wear gloves...