Coronavirus - recommended facemasks

[vrdiver]

This might need to be moved to the Health & Wellbeing board, but I'll start off in DAK as it's a straight question rather than a discussion...

With face mask / coverings becoming mandatory on public transport and increasingly recommended even if still optional, what would you recommend to purchase?

I've used dust masks (e.g. for use in a workshop), respirators and full-face masks, as well as the cheap disposable face masks (formed paper with a metal nose-clip types). I can't say I fancy any of them for extended wear, especially in warm weather.

VRD

Moderator Message:
As one way or another it has indeed turned into a discussion I've moved it from DAK to Health & Wellbeing (leaving a link). - Chris

[mc2fool]

Handkerchief and two rubber bands. Washable and reusable.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52609777

[Mike4]

This is the 'no sewing machine' mask I hand sew when I lose the previous one I made.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUasSmReIVo

The video starts with a more complex design, ignore that. The simple one starts at 5 mins 20 seconds

[jackdaww]

i use my snood - simple and effective .

but not

[servodude]

i use my snood - simple and effective .

but not

I took my first trip on public transport for 3 months yesterday
- I did it in the style of Bela Lugosi

-sd

[AsleepInYorkshire]

This might need to be moved to the Health & Wellbeing board, but I'll start off in DAK as it's a straight question rather than a discussion...

With face mask / coverings becoming mandatory on public transport and increasingly recommended even if still optional, what would you recommend to purchase?

I've used dust masks (e.g. for use in a workshop), respirators and full-face masks, as well as the cheap disposable face masks (formed paper with a metal nose-clip types). I can't say I fancy any of them for extended wear, especially in warm weather.

VRD

I am lucky I don't have to use public transport. But I do have to go to Murder Hell quite regularly (two girls who love to shop). I think I will don this when I do.






















AiYn'U

[AndyPandy]

This might need to be moved to the Health & Wellbeing board, but I'll start off in DAK as it's a straight question rather than a discussion...

With face mask / coverings becoming mandatory on public transport and increasingly recommended even if still optional, what would you recommend to purchase?

I've used dust masks (e.g. for use in a workshop), respirators and full-face masks, as well as the cheap disposable face masks (formed paper with a metal nose-clip types). I can't say I fancy any of them for extended wear, especially in warm weather.

VRD

1. The government are recommending 'face coverings' in a non-medical environment
2. The face coverings are to protect others, not you. If everyone wears them we all help each other out.
3. If you want to be completely protected yourself, you need the full Monty.

I can't say I fancy any of them for extended wear, especially in warm weather.

There's your answer. As there is no minimum standard for the face cover, try different options and wear what you are comfortable with. I teach First Aid and we are only specifying Bring Your Own 'face protection of some sort' and only for when interaction is required - e.g. practising the Recovery Position. The rest of the time we have 2m distancing and handwashing galore. Students can choose whether or not to wear face coverings for the rest of the time. We do have a stock of masks for when people forget, but only basic non-medical 3-ply.

[88V8]

I have heard or read from some medical bod that after 4hrs use, cloth becomes saturated and useless.
There is also the issue of carefully removing the mask after use so as not to spread the contents, then washing it each time.
Can one rely on the average bod to do that? Hmmm.

A gazillion options on eBay.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from ... 5573.m1684
I think the answer for us - not that we use public transport - will be a selection of washables.

V8

[johnhemming]

cloth becomes saturated and useless.

As with many government policies they are introduced because they are popular rather than because they are effective.

[dealtn]

What do you want one for?

To ensure you are law abiding?

To ensure you can't spread any germs or viruses?

To ensure you are protected from making contact with any germs or viruses?

Without being clear on what your requirements are it is hard to help.

[vrdiver]

What do you want one for?

To ensure you are law abiding?

To ensure you can't spread any germs or viruses?

To ensure you are protected from making contact with any germs or viruses?

Without being clear on what your requirements are it is hard to help.

Fair question.

Partly to appease peer pressure / remain within the law, partly to "do my bit" by not inadvertantly spreading.

In a perfect world, we all limit the amount of spreading, which negates the need for protection. I appreciate we're not there (or anywhere near) but the extra effort required of personal protection seems a step too far for somebody like me who isn't planning on breaking the two metre rule etc. any time soon.

VRD

[dealtn]

What do you want one for?

To ensure you are law abiding?

To ensure you can't spread any germs or viruses?

To ensure you are protected from making contact with any germs or viruses?

Without being clear on what your requirements are it is hard to help.

Fair question.

Partly to appease peer pressure / remain within the law, partly to "do my bit" by not inadvertantly spreading.

In a perfect world, we all limit the amount of spreading, which negates the need for protection. I appreciate we're not there (or anywhere near) but the extra effort required of personal protection seems a step too far for somebody like me who isn't planning on breaking the two metre rule etc. any time soon.

VRD

So with little of it out there, and confidence you don't have it to spread, all you need is something very basic, even home made, to comply with the new rules.

Others with different requirements will choose otherwise.

[Mike4]

I have heard or read from some medical bod that after 4hrs use, cloth becomes saturated and useless.
There is also the issue of carefully removing the mask after use so as not to spread the contents, then washing it each time.
Can one rely on the average bod to do that? Hmmm.

A gazillion options on eBay.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from ... 5573.m1684
I think the answer for us - not that we use public transport - will be a selection of washables.

V8

Would you really be wearing a facemask for four hours that often for it to be a problem?

The answer is disposable masks. About 50p each and widely available now.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from ... at=0&rt=nc

[88V8]

Would you really be wearing a facemask for four hours that often for it to be a problem?
The answer is disposable masks. About 50p each and widely available now.

Mmm, fair point.

Disposable... single-use plastic. It's hard to 'do the right thing'.

V8

[Itsallaguess]

The answer is disposable masks.

Well it's one answer...

Surely another answer might be reusable face-coverings rather than disposable masks...

We're going to remember this thing for long enough as it is without adding to yet more 'disposable' litter and land-fill, and that's before we might get on to the contamination risk of thrown-away 'single-use' masks...

Cheers,

Itsallaguess

[Mike4]

Would you really be wearing a facemask for four hours that often for it to be a problem?
The answer is disposable masks. About 50p each and widely available now.

Mmm, fair point.

Disposable... single-use plastic. It's hard to 'do the right thing'.

V8

Isn't it just. I tried to give the Tesco delivery bod a huge stack of their carrier bags they delivered my last three months-worth of my shopping in, and marked "Please return for re-use", and he would not take them!

I think the absolute TONNE of disposable PPE being used at the moment worldwide is a disaster, but paling into insignificance compared to the nearly 400,000 deaths worldwide from C-19 so far, 10% of them in the UK.

On the mask front, I use both disposable masks and home made masks at work, usually wearing them for 1 to 2 hours at a time. I don't find the probs you mention, but I get two others. If I'm doing anything physical I get out of breath much more easily with a mask on, and secondly they steam up my spectacles!

I can live with both, given the benefit to anyone near me and I like to see others wearing them for my benefit.

[Bubblesofearth]

Washable masks can be easily made from old t-shirts or similar.

Search mask from t-shirt sleeve on Youtube.

BoE

[Pheidippides]

Our mask order from Elle.co.uk arrive today. Really soft and comfortable though a bit pricey at 5 quid each

Regards

Pheid

[Mike4]

Washable masks can be easily made from old t-shirts or similar.

Search mask from t-shirt sleeve on Youtube.

BoE

I found it surprisingly difficult to find a simple mask recipe on youtube, I spent HOURS watching videos then rejecting them as too complicated, or needing s sewing machine. This is the one I settled on as achievable sewing for plumbers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUasSmReIVo

The second one in the video is simple and easy, starts at about 5 mins IIRC

Using your search term turned up Jan Howell who has some great methods and techniques for masks with no sewing at all! Love her totally ACE method of measuring and cutting up the cloth too. Watch on 1.5 x speed though or (I found) the pace drags a bit...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r51YroAFPds

[Breelander]

Mine is a piece of T-shirt and two rubber bands.


Anyway, nothing but a medical grade mask can protect you from others, but anything covering the face protects others from you.