Masks? Who's wearing them? Guess I should start

You can also use a plastic straw to direct your oxygen intake.

At least you have both of them still out there.

 

Nevermind public opinion, are the medical and science communities yet reaching a consensus on masks for the general public? It seemed that there had been considerable divisions of thought on this. And it didn't help my view that when the CDC's about-face and new recommendation came out, they where accompanied by high officials grousing about White House pressure.

Local news: WHO: There is no evidence wearing a mask in public setting prevents COVID-19 infection

WHO: Advice on the use of masks in the community, during home care and in healthcare settings in the context of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

NIH: Rational use of face masks in the COVID-19 pandemic

FWIW, that local news link is from a Sinclair outlet. It is sometimes difficult to tell which items are voluntarily picked up by the local news chiefs, and which are force-fed by corporate with a particular political axe grinding wheel.

 

In the car, I carry a paper, painter's mask with a smile drawn on it. When going in to a regular store or shop, I put it on the forehead until I walk inside. When I leave the store, the mask goes on the forehead. More eye-candy but if it makes others less fearful, it is a good thing.

Bob Wilson

 

My wife, who is a sewing extraordinaire, made up some cloth masks using dish towels. They're comfy, easy to use, and have a nice appearance.

 

We have always had a few disposable masks in our first aid kits. We were taught in our first aid classes 40 years ago to keep fresh masks on hand. I also have a couple of N95 masks I picked up from Home Depot that have been sitting in the toolbox for quite a few years.

We've been using and reusing them, disinfecting them in the same cleaner I use to clean my CPAP machine, mask and hoses. It's definitely better than not wearing masks at all. We also disinfect our gloves the same way since we can't get masks and gloves anywhere local anymore.

 

You mean the so'clean ozone cpap mask sanitizer? That's the same one I use to recycle my disposable mask..

 

Yes. There are a few other disinfecting machines out there too. I either cycle masks and gloves in the SoClean at the same time as my CPAP equipment or I use the plug that came with it to seal it where the hose normally goes through the sidewall. It depends on how much I have to put in it and the time of day.

EDIT: It is advertised as killing 99.9% of bacteria and viruses. We may as well take advantage of it.

 

Help is on the way. My wife works at providence in Oregon and she's one of those that are sourcing the medical equipments including mask. They got a hold of Medline in Redmond, Oregon that can sanitized those mask the back to the hospitals atleast over 100,000 or more..

 

Apparently the manufacturers' concerns about different mask decon methods have to do with the effects on the mask materials, either on structure or ability to seal against the face or durability of the straps.

Something I really don't have an idea how to test: it seems the reason a good 3M mask is easier breathing than quilters' cotton or a vac bag is that the commercial masks are electrostatic. The fibers carry a charge and particles stick to them despite the relatively open weave. Dissipate the charge and what's left is just a relatively open weave.

I didn't see ozone among the methods reviewed in the links upthread.

Of course the people most concerned about the nitty-gritty of the decon methods are the healthcare workers who will be getting up close and personal with known COVID patients for procedures that spray stuff. For the rest of us, whatever is better than bad is good.

 

.... I wanna make something clear in this statement or my previous. I didn't read anything about ozone cleaning and in fact I'm not encouraging anyone to do it. I just did this on my own process since I work on a laboratory. Its just so happen another person is doing the same thing. Try not to get too rocket science out of it. Peace brother..

 

I agree. I figure, though, the So Clean decon is better than not doing anything at all. As for the materials, It's going to be pretty safe for the masks I have. Some CPAP masks that can be used safely in the machine include parts that are cloth, plastic, elastic, silicone and metal.

 

Aw, then where's the fun?

Short rocket science

Long rocket science

 

Well, I drive quite a bit for the local kitty shelter (Kitty Angels) and one of the lovely cat-ladies gave me a mask she made
Mask - Google Docs

Masks always remind me of this favourite Larson cartoon:

 

Ozone will degrade some materials. Among those that it does is latex and nitrile, which is what most elastic is made with.
Materials ozone resistance chart – Oxidation Technologies News

Not mentioned yet, but UV light won't be good for the long life of material. Some of the HEPA biohoods at work have the lamps to keep things sanitized while the blower is off. There is a clear line of fading on the cabinets around them. The paint on a new stool was faded in a month. Plastic caps of bottles left in the hood eventually start crumbling on the outside. The bulbs also need to be replaced every 6 months to a year.

 

I agree with your assessment; I'm just trying to get a few multiple uses out of single use products. I'm not trying to get any real long-term usage out of them. Just as we need to replace our CPAP masks, hoses, humidifier tanks, etc. on a regular basis, so will these masks we're using for viral protection still need to be changed regularly.

As far as the ozone method itself, I run the CPAP machine without putting the mask on for a minute or two to flush regular air through the system after each ozone treatment. I was always suspicious that residual ozone in the tubing and machine could be detrimental to my health. It appears the FDA now agrees with me. Here's a February 27, 2020 press release from them.

FDA Reminds Patients that Devices Claiming to Clean, Disinfect or Sanitize CPAP Machines Using Ozone Gas or UV Light Have Not Been FDA Authorized | FDA

As I said in a previous post, I figure the ozone to reuse masks when I can't get new ones is better than no mask at all. It's just really important to use it cautiously.