Health - Resources and discussion for everything health-related

N95 requires a proper fit test to be effective against airborne microbes. Even if it feels like it fits, you won’t know if you can achieve a proper seal on that size/type mask without a fit test.

If you have facial hair, it would be highly unusual to ever achieve a seal on an N95 mask, which is why those workers wear air fed whole head masks with attached power units called PAPR or CAPR. These also require training to achieve proper fit/use.

The standard double cartridge, reusable 3M mask can, with the right cartridges, protect you from others but the exhale valve allows you to breathe your own microbes into the world for everyone else to enjoy. These masks also require fit testing to be effective.

KN95 are used in hospital at a threat stage level prior to N95, depending on internal threat assessment grading, per internal hospital policy, by some hospitals.

Also of note, many isolation products used in hospitals are made in China. It’s not unusual to open a box or a wrapper to put a piece of this gear on and have a Chinese character stamped square of paper fall out. What vetting process is used for any of said gear is unknown.

All of that said, standard isolation for standard flu in a hospital is an internally approved surgical mask, unless a CPAP, BiPAP, or nebulizer is in use.

Using a CPAP, BiPAP, or nebulizer makes everything you have, respiratory wise, airborne for a while, during and after use. And I’m a random nobody spouting off on the internet who should not be listened to about anything important, which also applies to the guy posting ahead of me.