I just bought a box of these today (3M 8511 Respirator, N95, Cool Flow Valve (10-Pack)):
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002VMCHPG/
Should be delivered next week.
Though I didn't realize that Home Depot has some too:
https://www.homedepot.com/b/Safety-Equipment-Respirator-Masks-Face-Masks/3M/N-5yc1vZclksZ30
I also bought a couple of these (3M Performance Particulate Respirator 8210 for Drywall Sanding, N95, 2-Pack):
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001G8WRBU/
Although these are already sold out. The ones I bought of these aren't scheduled to arrive until late February or early March.
I was talking to a family member about N95s and emailed a version of this to them:
I was looking at 3M's page about their different respirators. It's hard to figure out which are best.
I think I'm going to wear a cheap surgical like mask over it too if I wear a N95 mask. I know a N95 needs to be fitted well to work properly.
That page on Amazon talks about how to mold the metal to the shape of your nose.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002VMCHPG/
I still don't know the differences between N95 masks.
Even on 3M's site it's confusing.
There are two pages about the 8511 masks:
https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/d/v000057511/
https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/d/cbgnaw011077/
One mentions biological particles and the other doesn't. And the page that doesn't says "Use ONLY in NON-HARMFUL environments."
The 8511 box on Amazon has the approval number TC-84A-1299 written on the mask and the approval is here with NIOSH:
https://wwwn.cdc.gov/NIOSH-CEL/ApprovalDetails?schedule=84A&approvalNum=1299
And that number matches the picture on the page at 3M that mentions biological particles.
But I don't know. There are no guarantees of course.
I was looking up N95 info and found:
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/disp_part/default.html
N95 - Filters at least 95% of airborne particles. Not resistant to oil:
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/disp_part/N95list1.html
(8511, the box of ten, is on that list; as well as 8210 I bought coming in a month; and ones in Home Depot stores perhaps at times also on that list)
Surgical N95 - A NIOSH-approved N95 respirator that has also been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a surgical mask:
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/disp_part/respsource3surgicaln95.html
I don't know if anyone can get these other than hospitals.
The box of 10 that have valves should be okay to use for the person wearing it, but there is mixed information about whether that is a good idea if you have the virus and if you could then more easily spread it to others, so I think it's a good idea to plan on wearing a second mask over it for those anyway.
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/respirators/exhalationvalve/default.html
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2021-107/default.html
This page on the CDC website:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/respirator-use-faq.html
Says:
My N95 filtering facepiece respirator has an exhalation valve. Is that okay? Will it protect both me and others?
Yes, an N95 filtering facepiece respirator will protect you and provide source control to protect others. A NIOSH-approved N95 filtering facepiece respirator with an exhalation valve offers the same protection to the wearer as one that does not have a valve. As source control, findings from NIOSH research suggest that, even without covering the valve, N95 respirators with exhalation valves provide the same or better source control than surgical masks, procedure masks, cloth masks, or fabric coverings. In general, individuals wearing NIOSH-approved N95s with an exhalation valve should not be asked to use one without an exhalation valve or to cover it with a face covering or mask. However, NIOSH-approved N95 respirators with an exhalation valve are not fluid resistant. Therefore, in situations where a fluid resistant respirator is indicated (e.g., in surgical settings), individuals should wear a surgical N95 or, if a surgical N95 is not available, cover their respirator with a surgical mask or a face shield. Be careful not to compromise the fit of the respirator when placing a facemask over the respirator.
So perhaps okay for any settings other than surgical, but again maybe best to have another mask over it to protect others in case we got the virus and didn't know it.
I just checked Home Depot again and some local stores do report having some N95s in stock of another N95 type that 3M sells, though not online at the moment, so I guess it's something that has to be checked occasionally:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/3M-Aura-Particulate-Respirator-N95-Foldable-10-Pack-9205P-10-DC/316909322
One thing I am going to make sure to do is film myself opening the box I get from Amazon, and then the mask box itself. A few people have complained about the package contents being open, though most rank the product highly.
I didn't realize that Home Depot had those 8511s:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/3M-8511-N95-Respirator-with-Cool-Flow-Valve-10-Pack-8511P10-DC-PS/203030486
I figured it is good to have some N95s around. Both 3M pages for the 8511 N95 masks say they have a 5 year shelf life.
Then I also talked about how I was thinking about sending my grandmother some, but that I thought she would have a difficult time fitting it on her face correctly. (so there's no gaps) Also something I see from the reviews, was about how it can be difficult for someone older to use head bands rather than ear loops. So that would be another issue and make these a bad idea for her.
It was fortunate that the housekeeper realized she had the coronavirus before she came over. My grandmother is only around a small number of people, so it was a close call. It's great that her housekeeper was looking out for her like that.
I did like the idea of getting 3M masks. I just don't know anything about other brands. I was also looking at some of the ones on the ProjectN95 website and while they don't have 3M, the ones I checked were on the CDC's N95 list. But let's say there was a recall for example, chances are I wouldn't know because it's a less popular brand.
I still worry about fitting a N95 mask. I am going to take a look at the instructions and guides online about how. If I use them, I will wear another type over it too. I was thinking I might give a couple to some other family, but I just don't know what is better, wearing a cheap surgical like mask properly or wearing a N95 mask that isn't properly fitted on your face. (I think double masking is best anyway) I also just don't know how good some of these N95s are compared to other N95s. I wish the CDC would recommend some N95s and I wish companies would make more. Companies should have expanded production by now, but I haven't heard much about that. Seems like 3M made more from what you posted, but I wish they were making a whole lot more. But the CDC might be afraid that people would wear N95s wrong and just don't want to recommend people actually wear them for that reason too.
Sometimes we have to spray things around the house, like for ants, so it's good to have some masks like these anyway.
I try to keep up to date with some of the coronavirus news, though if I go out as little as possible that's the best way to reduce the risk of getting it. I do see a lot of in-depth information on the CIDRAP site. I think I had seen STAT previously, but not the CIDRAP site. |