Everyone Needs Masks
When this all started and the news reported that only medical professionals needed a mask, I knew that line of reasoning was illogical. If we all could be carriers, then it stood to reason that anytime I went to the store I was sharing space and air with potentially infected Americans. This meant that I needed to keep my germs with me and others' germs as far away from me as possible.
There are varying levels of time and skill needed when creating a face-covering depending on the mask style you choose. Ultimately, no matter what, WEAR A MASK! Just wear something to keep the air-born droplets transferring the virus from person-to-person OUT OF YOUR NOSE AND THROAT.
Making Single-Covering Masks Safer: Use an Internal Filter
Once you have given-over to the idea that you WILL NEED A MASK of some sort, start to realize that an internal filter for that mask will be best for your health in the long run.
This realization will need to work inconjunction with your chosen face-mask. If you are making a cloth face mask, you will need something as an internal filter. If you are blessed enough to have an actual duck-billed, N95 respirator mask, then you need to work on creating a washable face covering to put over that filter so that the filter can be used long-term and the face-covering washed dailey.
No matter your situation, begin looking online to purchase insertable filters to place in whatever DIY masks you end up making or making washable coverings for your filters.
The table below goes over the different functions of the common masks being used during this pandemic. Each serves a different protection level; however, not all levels are available right now with the pandemic in "GO" status.
The Three Levels of Masks
While there are typically 3 levels of masks considered for protection, each one has verying lvels of protection and therefore, usefulness. See the image below for the three often referred to in the media and during the pandemic. In general, I will only be addressing the surgical masks and the filtering (respirator) masks. I would not personally waste my time with a throw-away, single-use face mask during a pandemic. Now is the time to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle the face coverings and internal filters as best as possible.
Mask Standards and Effectiveness Bottom Line (according to SAF.com)
- Single use masks (normally one layer, very thin) are typically only effective at capturing larger dust particles, but can do so fairly well.
- Surgical mask standards have higher requirements for capturing virus-sized (0.1 micron) particles, however they vary by region.
- Pollution masks (respirators) typically capture >90% of virus-sized particles. You can use the rating system in the table above to see the exact proportion each certification requires. This includes ratings such as N95, KN95, FFP1, FFP2 and FFP3.
Differences Between Filtering Masks and Medical Masks
When the President of the United States interrupted American lives for his press confrence to begin shutting down aspects of the economy and ceasing travel from outside the US, the urgency for a face covering became apparent in our home. Due to our family containing former smokers and those with pulminary issues, I needed to find a filtering respirator (facemask) as soon as possible to not have to settle for a medical mask or a single-use mask.
Is there really a difference besides particle size? YES!
The tight-fitting mask that pulls air in and out through a filter is a filtering respirator; however, a medical mask is one that simply keeps your germs on the inside of your mask as it allows external air to seep through the sides and top (nose area) of the masks.
The Overall Safety Difference
1. A medical mask keeps others safe from YOU.
2. The tight-fitting, filtering mask protects you from others AND protects others from you.
Reusability of Facemasks During an Influenza Pandemic
Therefore, I looked for options of a tight-fitting mask that I could make or purchase online and then add filters to and/or remove for needed cover washing. Below is another chart I used to help understand the intended usability of various masks during an actual pandemic.
Differences Between Filters Numbering Systems
I grabbed my phone to research alternatives to N95 masks. Afterall, the news kept saying "N95"-this and that...but I needed to understand what the letters and numbers really meant. What is "N"? What does the "95" mean?
Choosing an Alternative to N95 Masks
Once I understood those concepts, I needed to figure out what filter alternatives would work instead of looking for N95 masks, and I learned that P99 (PM2.5) masks are just as good--if not better--due to their ability to trap particles in oil or non-oil based environments, and the filteration levels at 99.97% filtration. See the chart below for different filter products and their comprable counter-parts.
When N95 PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is Not Available
OK. So now I understood the numbering system.
I was also realizing the N95 self-containing respirator masks were in low supply already and this enouraged price gouging across the globe. Remember, my search was BEFORE the government had stopped allowing N95 PPE to be sold to the public..
I identified alternative filter numbers that might work as well (inside my DIY homemade masks) to begin researching to see if they were still cost-effective despite current price-gouging online.
Available Economical Filters for Masks
From there, I began my Amazon search to purchase insertable filters for DIY cotton masks. Of all of the filters I reviewed, the size below seemed to be the one that would work the best in my home-made and store-made masks.
Fabric Face Coverings with Insertable Filters
While I had an idea in mind for how I wanted to construct my own face masks for my family, I wanted to be able to insert an actual filter inside the face mask to be safest at keeping out the virus. (Like in the image below)
5-Layered Carbon Filters (PM 2.5)
I knew that I could make fabric masks that would be able to be washed each time I used them outside my home, but I wanted that little bit of extra protection with a 5-layered carbon filter to put inside my fabric mask.
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Note: to find insertable filters on Amazon, simply search for PM2.5MASK Activated Carbon Filter |
The 5-layered filter can be removed (with clean hands) and the cotton face-cloth can be thrown into the washer. Then, the filter is simply inserted into the next clean face mask before venturing outside again. In this way, the filter can be used for numerous outings, while the cotton face-covering is frequently cleaned for safety.
Understanding the Function of Alternative Filters
The P99 (PM2.5) filters that I ordered months ago have long-since sold out online. However, you can still find filters similar to mine using THIS link or searching for something similar through Amazon.
The filters I ordered we classified as P99 filters with PM2.5. My P99 mask filters filter out 99.97% of particles whether they are floating in an oil or non-oil based substance. If you want to learn more about filters that filter out particulate matter safely, see this article about PM2.5 masks
At the time I was ordering my filters (the end of January 2020), many sellers online were providing 2-4 free cloth masks with every filter combo-pack at reasonable prices. Since then, ordering has changed a bit, and the prices have gone up and down, but if you want to make a combo-pack purchase so that you have everything all at once, some sellers online still have the combo-pack of PM 2.5 filters and FREE masks as an option.
At the time of this posting, you can still purchase the filters with 2 free masks at varying prices. HERE is one seller doing such an order at $16.99.
BEST OPTION: Masks with Mouth Valves
If you are going to make the purchase of filters and the FREE masks, you will want to purchase the packs that come with the masks with the mouth valve (see the FREE face masks in the image above). The little valve on the side of the mouth area helps you to pull air in through the filter and then blow your air back out through the filter instead of it seeping in through the sides or top of the mask. You want as tight of a seal as possible for the best protection, and you want all air to travel through the filter. Having a loose-fitting mask that lets air travel around the sides of the mask is not working efficiently to protect you from germs. Mak sure you keep that in mind when making your purchases.
Universal Filter Use
Do you already have a face mask, did you make one, or is your mask different than the image above? Not a problem! The PM2.5 replacmeent filters can be used in ANY face mask that you may have, even the less-effective medical masks.
My homemade masks resemble the medical mask above and the "duck-billed" pattern styles above, and the insertable PM2.5 filters work in both of these masks.
Additional Alternative Mask Filters
If you choose to purchase a KN95 mask LIKE THESE, please make a cloth face covering of some sort to put OVER the filter so that you can use the filter for a month.
Life-span of Filters
Since we have been limiting our trips outside the home, our filters will last for months. We are only using them for an hour or two once a week. If you are using your filters for many hours a day on a daily basis, you will need to change the filters when 1) intake of air seems lessened or 2) haze and dust particles begin to show on the inside of the filter.
In the end...please be safe--for YOU and the rest of AMERICA. Cover your face, and when you can, insert a filter into your mask for added protection.
Are you in need of masks? See the SEW or NO-SEW video links below.
Mask Making Videos
Watch the SEW and NO-SEW Youtube Tutorials below to choose the best mask for your family and abilities. Read the filtering insert content above to learn how to make your masks even safer.
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