Everything you need to know about making your own face mask
Read moreDoomstead Diner Daily 4/4/20
Agelbert NOTE: I was reading the instructions on a 3M N95 mask I have left over from a 3 mask set I bought over 5 years ago. I used two of them when I got under my manufactured home and wrapped new heat tape around a water pipe. I donned the mask, 3M paper suit and eye protecting goggles I have from my Ultralight flight instructor days to avoid breathing fiberglass insulation fibers. I have one N95 mask left over. That mask will work for my wife, but not for me. WHY? Because, according to the instructions,
N95 masks do not adequately filter lung damaging particles when worn over a beard.
3M Particulate Respirator N95Use Limitations4. Do not use with beards or other facial hair or other conditions that prevent a good seal between the face and the sealing surface of the respiratorThe water droplets that the COVID-19 critters hitch a ride on are even smaller than fiberglass insulation lung damaging fibers. So, if you've got COVID-19 and a beard, the N95 mask will not prevent you from infecting those near you 🥺. AND, said N95 mask won't be able to protect you from breathing
in COVID-19 water droplets someone infected spewed near you either. For those with beards, I thought you might want to know.
No, I don't plan on shaving any time soon. I'll just keep doing the social distance thing everywhere. BUT, if I do catch COVID-19, then I'll shave to make sure I can keep from infecting other people.
Yes, I recognize that I could be infected and be asymptomatic. The social distance protocol will keep me from infecting anyone else while I am asymptomatic.
The Governor of Vermont urges everyone to wear a mask when they go out now. He hasn't said anything about beards yet, but considering how popular beards are here, perhaps he thinks discretion is the better part of valor. 😉
At any rate, I expect a lot of men will be shaving their beards off, and staying fastidously clean shaven, this year (Bull market in razors!
).
A Vermonter visits the BANK:
Mr. Bank Security Guard, what are you lookin' at? I'm obeying Governor Scott's COVID-19 infection spread prevention recommendations, like all good Vermonters.