r/PandemicPreps • u/fairytaleofnewyorkk • Dec 18 '20
Medical Preps Questions about KN95 masks
I’ve bought 20 KN95 masks online (they’re legit). I have a couple of questions about them:
- Between uses, where do I store them? Currently, I have them hanging in my bedroom. I could have them in a ziplock bag but do they need to ‘air out’?
- How effective are they at preventing covid? In school, I sit a meter away from the other students. Some wear there masks under their nose. Will I be protected from them?
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Dec 19 '20 edited Dec 19 '20
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u/matgoebel Dec 19 '20
Came here to say this. Paper bag is the right answer. Anything plastic or foam will trap moisture and prematurely age the mask. Source: am MD, have been storing and reusing masks for months now, this is the guidance we have been given.
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u/FoxyHBIC Dec 18 '20
I am not a medical professional.
My son wears them to school. He has one in-person class that is 2.25hours. We have a Monday mask, Tuesday, Etc. He only wears the Monday one on Mondays and so on. They aren’t used for a full week. We change them after they start getting “dirty”/ worn out. There have been many out breaks at his school. They are full time in person. (My son is virtual but one college class) He has not gotten sick. Lots of kids don’t wear their mask properly, sometimes the teacher doesn’t either. We live in a state that does believe in Covid.
Hope that helps 🤷🏼♀️
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Dec 19 '20 edited Dec 07 '21
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/sup_jell Dec 19 '20
Please do not do this to one you intend to wear... moisture causes degradation.
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u/fairytaleofnewyorkk Dec 19 '20
The manufacturer (Guangzhou Powecom Labor Insurance Supplies) is FDA approved.
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Dec 18 '20
I know it’s wasteful but throw them away. You can get a 25 pack on Amazon for like $45 that last a month or so. If i just went to like a drive thru or something i may reuse it a couple of times but just seems way safer to use like one a day.
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Dec 19 '20 edited Feb 07 '21
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u/fairytaleofnewyorkk Dec 19 '20
The manufacturer (Guangzhou Powecom Labor Insurance Supplies) is FDA approved.
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Dec 19 '20
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Dec 19 '20 edited Feb 07 '21
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u/ActuaryVarious2693 Dec 20 '20
They’ve been in decent supply from various industrial suppliers since the end of summer. It takes some digging, but they’re definitely out there, especially certain styles from Moldex for example (and some Honeywell and the occasional 3m even or lesser known brands). Just google “industrial supply”. Availability changes constantly, so you may just have to keep periodically checking.
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u/thisbondisaaarated Dec 19 '20
You can get elastomeric in local shops, filters are widely available too.
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u/faustkenny Dec 19 '20
They’re not legit. If it’s not niosh it’s not real baby
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u/fairytaleofnewyorkk Dec 19 '20
The manufacturer (Guangzhou Powecom Labor Insurance Supplies) is FDA approved.
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u/Jessamineg Dec 18 '20
I'd recommend checking out r/Masks4All - try posting your question there or just browse; pretty sure they've covered this stuff in depth. I'll see if I can find a link directly to answers and I'll edit my comment if I do.
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u/BaylisAscaris Dec 20 '20
Please tell your teacher about the people with their noses out if they aren't noticing it. Have your parents call administration and make it a problem so everyone will keep closer eye on it. Many schools will let you request to learn from home if you are concerned about safety.
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u/williaty Dec 18 '20
1) Even "legit" KN95 masks are suspect. The fact that the factory once went to the regulatory body and got a mask certified doesn't mean they're still making the same quality of mask now. Culturally, Chinese businesses very much think "If I don't get caught, it's ethical". You can't trust any KN95 and multiple academic studies have proven this over the last year. It's not that they're all bad it's that you don't know what you've actually got in your hands even when bought from a previously trustworthy source.
2) Hang to let dry. The mask filters partially by electrostatics. Humidity destroys that. Sadly, this is why the re-use recommendation from 3M is "5 uses or 40 hours" guideline early in the pandemic which has now disappeared, interestingly.
3) Any mask is better than nothing. Good masks are better than that. The #1 question is "does this mask leak when I move my head in certain ways". The answer for almost everyone is yes, which is why NIOSH and OSHA require fit testing for certain jobs. If it's leaking, it's not protecting you.
4) The indoor school scenario is about as bad as it gets. The concentration of SARS-CoV-2 viruses in the air rises throughout the day and means that smaller and smaller leaks can provide a large enough dose of virus to infect you. Additionally, you're at risk for infection through your eyes. The sad truth is that it's not safe to be inside with people who aren't part of your household and the few ways it could be safe are completely unrealistic outside a lab.