Pandemic Masks

Doom and Bloom ^ | 7/7/14 | Joe Alton, M.D., aka Dr. Bones the Disaster Doctor

[Kartographer]

Your Strategy

doctor and patient with masks

You’ll need both standard and N95 masks as part of your medical supplies. I would recommend a significant number of each as the masks will be contaminated once worn and should be discarded. A simple truth regarding medical supplies in a pandemic: You can never have too many. Any “extras” you might have will be incredibly valuable barter items in times of trouble.

There are no absolute standards with regards to who wears what in the sick room. I would recommend using the standard surgical masks for those who are ill, to prevent droplets from coughing or sneezing (which can send air droplets several feet) and the N95 masks for the caregivers. In this fashion, you will give maximum protection to the medical personnel.

Remember, your highest priority is to protect yourself and the healthy members of your group. Plan out a sick room area and isolate those that might be contagious. Have plenty of masks, as well as gloves, aprons, eyewear, and antiseptics, and pay careful attention to every aspect of hygiene. Your survival may depend on it.

[driftdiver]

I watch lots of House and Grays Anatomy, I think I got it covered. /s

A mask is only part of the picture.

[ronnyquest]

I had read that some time ago on an MSM news site; not sure which. Perhaps they misunderstood (and I did not fact-check), but here is the CDC information sheet. Since the onset of symptoms is 2 to 21 days, it is probably reasonable to assume that the victim could be contagious up to 21 days from infection before symptoms begin to show.

[CodeToad]

I buy from Fist Aid Products

[mountainbunny]

I remind these same people that this strain of Ebola is contagious during that incubation period, just the same. I usually receive horrified stares as a reward.

This strain of Ebola is not contagious during the incubation period.

The incubation period for someone who has been exposed is between 2 to 21 days. People are not contagious during this time, only after symptoms appear.

I chose that link almost at random. There are hundreds saying the same thing in the news today.

http://www.kctv5.com/story/26153300/ebola-101-what-the-us-needs-to-know-about-the-virus

[ronnyquest]

Good to know. I sit corrected.

[PA Engineer]

Where do you get “concentrated bleach of 10% sodium hypochlorite”? That is obviously not the everyday grocery store variety. Thanks.

Good point. You can use Pool Shock and mix your own. Pool Shock is very corrosive to surrounding items on shelves. I store mine in canning jars with plastic lids. Pool Shock is Calcium Hypochlorite, however it will work when mixed to 10%.

I noticed household bleach has gone from 5.25% to 8.25% sodium hypochlorite. Give Obama another year and they will probably concentrate it further in even smaller jugs.

[blam]

I still have my N90 & N95 masks and materials to make an isolation room from the 2006 H5N1 pandemic.

[blam]

Congressional Report: Ebola Bio Kits Deployed to National Guard Units In All 50 States

[blam]

I have the ‘pool shock’ chemicals in my ‘disaster’ supplies. I saved bleach in bottles for a while but my son (PhD phyics) says that it loses about 50% strength every year.
The ‘pool shock’ is crystals and apparently maintains it’s strength. BTW, I bought it cheaply at yard sales.

[mountainbunny]

It is scary. No question.

My biggest concern is just how far a person can get in 21 days. It will absolutely, without-a-doubt end up here in the US. The question is how it will be handled after that occurs.

[freds6girlies]

bookmark

[mountainbunny]

As pool season ends around the country, this is a good time to pick up shock powder on clearance. Wal*Mart almost always has it on deep discount at the end of the season.

[nascarnation]

The question is how it will be handled after that occurs.

CDC will have Homeland Security transport them to red states.

[Justa]

21 day incubation period; over-excites the immune response; kills mostly people in their prime while sparing the very young, the elderly and sick (compromised immune systems). Sounds a lot like the Spanish Flu of 1918 - 1922.

[GeronL]

didn’t they just put a person in Canada in containment?

[ladyjane]

30 pack for $8.00 + shipping on Amazon

[Justa]

Re: outbreaks in high-population density areas.

Gee, what activity involving close contact and swapping of bodily fluids occurs much more frequently and with more participants in high-population areas than in remote, rural areas.

[Oorang]

Thanks to you both, very useful information.

[ronnyquest]

Yes.

[blam]

Microwave the used masks?