Posted on 02/02/2020 11:03:22 PM PST by nickcarraway
Face masks are in short supply in parts of the world as people try to stop the spread of a new virus from China.
Health officials recommend strap-on medical masks for people being evaluated for the new virus, their household members and caregivers.
Masks can block large droplets from sneezes and coughs, and that’s how viruses spread from person to person.
(Excerpt) Read more at wtvr.com ...
I assume this virus spreads like flu and cold viruses - lots of hand washing and hand sanitizers should do more to prevent catching it than any breathing mask.
There is a big debate on whether or not masks really do work. And if they do then which kind? Most reports suggest that masks only work the best in conjunction with some type of eye protection.
Washing hands is one of the best ways of protecting yourself. Wearing a mask does give some protection if worn properly. Also, wearing a mask gives the user a psychological feeling that they are “doing something to protect themselves.”
And avoiding touching the face before washing hands as much as possible. That’s how viruses get in—by hitchhiking bacteria that enter through an orifice usually in the head. It’s not about preventing a single virus from getting in, it’s about not letting too many of them them overload the immune system.
As a stem cell transplant patient, I was required to wear one for about a year due to my bone marrow/immune system being decimated. I had zero immunity and am still growing my immune system at the same rate of a toddler. While in the hospital, anyone who entered my room was required to wear them too. Now that I can garden again, I continue to wear While outside to avoid inhaling molds.
Yes, masks are very important. I wore the Cheep type for everyday. And N-95 Viral type (not for debris) in public. Those are the type that you May find in hospitals worn by hospital staff. If they made no difference, I would not have been advised /required to wear them and my caretakers would not be required either.
Make sure you sanitize your faucet handles and flush lever on your toilet. Wash all door knobs. ( ie sanitize them). One good sanitizer can be purchased from Home Depot. It’s odoban concentrate. Read instructions on label for proper dilution for your home. It’s roughly 12.00 per gallon and works as an industrial cleaner. It’s not just for odors.
Most people I’ve observed don’t have a good concept of how germs spread. Take the timè to learn proper sanitizing techniques.
I’ve seen shelf stockers at big box stores wipe their noses with their hands and sneeze all over the product they’re stocking. When the product is contained in a paper box..like cereal or stovetop stuffing type containers, how do you sanitize them???
Is it good to sneeze into your clothing like a shirt sleeve? Not if you bump into shelves or a good frield comes along and gives you a hug!
Keep tissues on hand
.easy and quick access. Place a roll of paper towel, trashcan with red bags at the door, and a fresh bowl of very warm sudsy water at the door so kids can wash their hands before they enter the house, from school.
It can’t all be prevented but a good effort can be made. Best bet is stay away from people till this thing runs its course.
Something else popped into my head. Watch the food servers. I watched a man cashing out a customer at a restaurant. Server was wearing gloves. But he didn’t remove the gloves and santize his hands and put clean gloves on after handling money.
I also happened to notice a box of snoe peas...they were “kosher” you know...imported from china. It was at a grocery store.
I truly don’t believe this virus is an accident, and I do not believe President Xi is anybody’s friend...least of all, Trump.
Eyes, you need eyewear protection, the microdroplets get in the eyes and infect otherwise.
I agree with all that. After what I went thru, I could offer a list of where germs hide that you’d never think. Ie, fountain /draft beer lines. They don’t get cleaned often and there’s bacteria in there. I won’t continue.
But, i think this thread was on masks probably because they are sold out everywhere. It’s crazy. So glad I had boxes here at home already.
masks remind you not to touch your face (which is harder than you think!), it keeps you from directly breathing on someone and vice versa, and it lends a psychological sense of security which is important for a patient. I’m in favor of them, even the loose-fitting earloop ones.
Wearing contacts is probably not a good idea around infectious patients - switch to glasses. Glasses wearers can fashion a face shield from a 2-ltr plastic bottle, or a plastic sheet from a hobby store or even the plastic ‘glass’ from a 99cent store picture frame, using a headband or punched holes for top ties to hold the shield in place and using project foam to get the distance you need from the forehead to clear your glasses. It can be burned after use, and it doesn’t look as scary to kids as swim goggles or sunglasses because they can see your eyes. Being able to see each other’s eyes is so important to trust. And it can be fun for kids to decorate their ‘astronaut mask’.
One thing I noticed from watching videos is the patients in China would literally spit on their doctors and nurses, even trying to tear their face masks off. So it’s hard to tell if the eye avenue is from lose viral particles just floating around or from directed spit that the Chinese doctor was too embarrassed to admit to, not wanting to spotlight the behavior of some Chinese ppl towards medical staff, who are not held in high esteem in China.
I just read today where this virus can be transmitted
thru eye ducts. Better add goggles or a face shield
to the mix.
Washing hands is ineffective as it only lasts 20 minutes.
This is a transmission electron micrograph of the SARS coronavirus on the surface of a cell and inside cellular endosomes (the bar in the lower left corner is 100 nm). I posted this to show how small viruses are, and what you're up against in trying to prevent exposure and infection.
We do the normal hand washing and hand sanitizer regimen but I also keep a supply of “anti-viral face masks”, thin gloves, and goggles just in case. And yes, the masks are advertised as “anti-viral”. They are the masks that look like the medical professionals wear. If you are in a close area around possibly sick people I think they give you a better chance if there are people sneezing and coughing around you. Since most doctor’s offices now keep them at the desk with instructions to wear them if you are sick I do think they give some protection. IMO, the best thing to do is stay away from crowds and wash your hands, especially after being in public, I get my flu shot but even with the shot at 65 it’s only around 70% effective so I avoid people this time of year or wear the mask and gloves in public. Since there is no vaccination for this new disease I will definitely go out in gloves, mask, and goggles if it reaches here.
I think there is something they aren’t telling us about this new disease. The flu kills thousands in this country yearly but there is not this level of caution and panic.
Cover your mouth and nose when or sneezing to protect others from the expulsions of your body fluids.(care about your fellow human beings)
Wash your hands regularly (care about yourself)
Is there a word shortage?
“They also can stop people from touching their own mouths and noses, another way to stop germs.”
That is a good point.
Great advice. Also, if you REALLY want to take a step further, a boot mat with a 1/8-1/4" of bleach solution for the bottom of your feet. LOTS of virus's enter the home on the bottom of your shoes
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.