#KN95 face masks

[jqcareconnect]

How does a KN95 mask achieve its high filtration efficiency?

In the ongoing battle against airborne contaminants, KN95 masks stand tall as guardians of respiratory health. But what makes them so effective in filtering out harmful particles? Let's delve into the ingenious design elements that make KN95 masks a frontline defense.

Multiple Layers, Maximum Protection: At the heart of a KN95 mask lies a multilayered structure, meticulously crafted to trap even the tiniest of particles. Typically, these masks consist of four layers, each serving a specific purpose in the filtration process.

Spunbond Non-Woven Fabric: The outermost layer, often made of spunbond non-woven fabric, acts as a barrier against large droplets and splashes. This hydrophobic layer repels moisture, ensuring that external contaminants do not penetrate the mask.

Melt-Blown Fabric: Moving inward, the next layer comprises melt-blown fabric—a key component responsible for the mask's exceptional filtration efficiency. Through a process of extrusion and stretching, this layer forms a dense web of microscopic fibers, creating a labyrinthine network that captures particles as they attempt to pass through.

Electrostatic Charge: What sets KN95 masks apart is the electrostatic charge infused within the melt-blown fabric. This charge acts as a powerful magnet, attracting and trapping even the smallest airborne particles, including viruses and bacteria. The electrostatic effect enhances filtration efficiency, making KN95 masks highly effective in filtering out contaminants.

Hot Air Cotton Layer: Beneath the melt-blown fabric lies a hot air cotton layer, designed to provide structure and durability to the mask while also offering additional filtration. This layer further enhances breathability, ensuring comfort even during extended wear.

Skin-Friendly Inner Layer: The innermost layer, in direct contact with the wearer's skin, is crafted from soft, skin-friendly fabric. This ensures comfort and reduces irritation, allowing users to wear the mask for extended periods without discomfort.

Tight-Fitting Seal: Beyond its layered construction, the effectiveness of a KN95 mask hinges on its ability to form a tight-fitting seal around the wearer's face. A snug fit minimizes leakage, ensuring that air passes through the filtration layers rather than bypassing them. This seal is often achieved through the use of adjustable nose clips and elastic ear loops, providing a customized fit for optimal protection.

Certification and Standards: Crucially, KN95 masks undergo rigorous testing and certification to meet stringent standards set by regulatory bodies. These standards ensure that the masks deliver the level of filtration efficiency and breathability required for effective respiratory protection. When purchasing KN95 masks, it's essential to look for certifications from reputable organizations, such as the FDA or CE.

Particle Size Efficiency: KN95 masks are specifically designed to filter out particles with a diameter of 0.3 microns or larger. This includes a wide range of contaminants, including dust, pollen, mold spores, and most importantly, respiratory droplets carrying viruses such as SARS-CoV-2. The combination of mechanical filtration and electrostatic attraction ensures high particle capture efficiency, offering robust protection against airborne pathogens.

Versatility and Reusability: Unlike disposable masks, KN95 masks are often reusable, provided they are properly cared for and maintained. This makes them not only cost-effective but also environmentally friendly. Regular cleaning and disinfection help preserve the integrity of the filtration layers, ensuring consistent performance over multiple uses.

In conclusion, the exceptional filtration efficiency of KN95 masks is a result of meticulous design, incorporating multiple layers of specialized materials and innovative technologies. From spunbond non-woven fabric to electrostatically charged melt-blown layers, each component plays a vital role in trapping airborne contaminants and safeguarding respiratory health. As we navigate through challenging times, KN95 face masks stand as a testament to human ingenuity in the pursuit of safety and well-being.

Stay safe, stay protected with KN95 masks—a shield against unseen threats in the air we breathe.

[dragonpyre]

Had fun at Rose City. Even got to meet some other Jason’s!

Also; Chip Zdarksy

[inter-volve]

Source

January 3rd 2024

[undercoverangell]

having to double mask in my own house bc my mom has covid and will not take any precautions to prevent the rest of us from getting it

[ohello0]

I had two packs of masks on me yesterday and come home with none but the ones on my face. Very happy I was able to provide some layer of protection and that people gladly took it!

If you want a protest to be covid safe, make it covid safe! Not everyone has the ability to dish out extra masks, I definitely can’t do it every time, but sharing what you can is key to community care

[lightblueminecraftorchid]

I relate to kawaii fashion on a spiritual level I really do

[softgrungeprophet]

sunglasses indoors... you can see they sit crooked 😅 they fit perfect when I'm wearing a mask 😂😷 someday i'll get new frames... (soon hopefully, need to find an eye doctor here once we have a place to live...)

[fefairys]

another dreary thing is being the only ones (me and my partner) still wearing a mask in a very enclosed space with a bunch of other leftists. makes me feel like keeping everyone at arms length. like yeah you’re cool and we vibe but you’re not wearing a mask despite being in very close indoor proximity to like 15 other people right now. so. you don’t really care about people like me do you. so we can be “friends” i guess but there’s still going to be a distance there because you think masking is too inconvenient i guess.

[sitzfleischh]

GUESS WHO JUST GOT CHEAP GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS TO SEE HOZIER ON WEDNESDAY????????????

[shatterthefragments]

God. Fucking. Dad not wearing a mask (any mask) in the store. How much clearer can I be?

I don’t want to live here. Maybe I would even be willing to abandon my art supplies. If it were even a bit feasible.

I’m buckling my own fucking seatbelt.

And you can’t always be going on about “health comes first”

[chena-h]

Here's a link to some good KN95s for kids.

[tiktaaliker]

man. it sometimes feels weird to acknowledge but wearing kn95 masks legitimately gives me gender euphoria

[damnyousubdermalirritants]

UPDATE: NOVAVAX NOW AVAILABLE!!!

Hi everyone, it's been about a year since I posted about updated COVID vaccines and it's time for another update if you are in the US:

THE BRIDGE ACCESS PROGRAM IS ENDING!!!!

If you are uninsured or your insurance does not cover covid boosters, please schedule a new booster appointment before the end of August because the Bridge Access Program (the way the government will still pay for your booster) ends in September. The updated mRNA boosters from Moderna and Pfizer are available now. Go Go GO!!!

Shitty, I know! If you can call your congressional reps, the FDA, the CDC, whomever to tell them you want this program to continue/be reinstated, that would be great. Also, while you're at it, call the FDA to tell them to expedite the approval for the updated Novavax booster (3017962640).

The new Novavax vaccine is designed for the JN.1 strain which is one of the most recent mutations of the virus going around. If you have insurance and can afford to wait, I highly recommend getting the Novavax booster when it becomes available.

We are currently in the largest Covid summer surge since 2021

If you haven't had a booster in the past six months you are essentially unvaccinated. New strains with different spike proteins keep evolving faster than vaccine development and distribution can keep up. All that said, getting Covid is not a moral failing. If you do feel sick, take a rapid test! If it's negative, test again a day or two later. It is better to know than not to know. Here's a refresh on how to take a rapid test correctly:

If you do get Covid, it is worth getting on antiretrovirals within the first week of symptoms to reduce the overall viral load your body has to fight. If your insurance doesn't cover Paxlovid or Remdesivir, here are other low/no-cost ways to access it:

If you get sick, rest radically even after you stop testing positive on rapid tests. Avoid exercising for at least eight weeks after the fact to reduce the risk of developing long covid.

Regardless of your vaccination status, masking with a KN95 or N95 respirator (or equivalent standards in your country i.e. FFP2/3 in the EU) is the most reliable way to protect yourself and others. If Covid protections are a financial burden, there is likely an active Mask Bloc near you doing free distribution of respirators and tests that would be happy to help you. Here's a global map of them from covidactionmap.org

Some quick tips: if you're wearing a bi-fold mask, flatten the nose-bridge wire completely, then mold it to your nose on your face for a better fit. The best mask is the one that you will actually wear regularly to protect yourself. I really like the selection of styles, sizes and colors from WellBefore:

As school is starting, getting you and your family boosted is one of the best things you can do to protect yourselves. Masking is perhaps even more important. If you can advocate for updating and regularly changing the HVAC filters at your local schools to MERV-13 or higher to keep the indoor air cleaner, that can also make a big difference. Better indoor air quality in schools helps protect kids from illness, allergies, wildfire smoke, and more per the EPA's website.

These are steps you can take to improve air quality at home as well. Corsi-Rosenthal boxes are low-cost and highly effective for cleaning the air indoors.

Here's a map of clean air lending libraries for getting access to air purifiers for events from cleanairclub.org

[liminalweirdo]

"We all deserve the right to protect and keep ourselves safe. Implementing a mask ban is not only an infringement on our human rights but also extremely ableist and inconsiderate of those disabled or immunocompromised.

. . .

About 1 in 5 adult New Yorkers have a disability. If a mask ban were to be implemented, spaces such as stores and restaurants might ban masking or set up mask-removal policy. That’s 1 in 5 adults no longer able to shop in public along with others, or participate in gatherings.

Forcing immunocompromised people to remove their face masks would likely violate the federal Americans with Disabilities Act and the New York State Human Rights Law. As a member of ACT UP NY, it’s always my goal to fight for human rights such as healthcare.

Those that are HIV+ are 8% more likely to be hospitalized due to COVlD than those that aren’t and are also at an increased risk of developing Long COVlD.

Masking SAVES LIVES. Masking is community care.”

Behind the Powecom KN95 is Serita @_seritasargent_ and her friend Bri’anna @lanoirede.jpg holding the #StopMaskBans sign.

MaskTogetherAmerica encourages everyone to speak up and write to elected officials to demand they oppose the anti-mask bills S9867/A10057 and S9194! We need to defend our right to masks.

[king-sappho]

The pandemic is not over. I’m immunocompromised and so is my girlfriend. We are in our 20s. We wear masks every time we go out, which is usually to a doctor. I’ve noticed that so many people in the US want to act like the pandemic never happened and the visual of a person wearing a mask makes them recoil. There are people who go so far to discriminate against us because we try to keep safe and that makes them uncomfortable (in a blue state even).

Yesterday at the dentist an old man coughed at us. When I was retrieving my stolen car at a compound the person who had my car told me to not wear my mask. The first day I moved here someone drove up to me in my apartment parking and coughed on me as well.

Before my girlfriend and I moved we were living at her parents in a red state. It was a bad situation and her parents lied to us when they had Covid. We both got it right before we had to leave. We’re still feeling the long term affects in our chronic illnesses.

What we face as disabled people is an onslaught of aggression for our existence because able bodied people are scared to be like us. They tell us we are crazy so they can go about their lives like we don’t exist or the dangers that threaten our well-being don’t exist.

What I’m saying is that I won’t compromise my safety for other’s comfort. I don’t wear masks to shame other people or to make a political statement, I just don’t want to get sick. That’s my business and my right. The world would be safer for disabled people if everyone wore KN95 masks too, and if you decide to wear it I’m grateful. But at the very least I just want people to stop stifling us and the truth. We are still in a pandemic and thousands of people are still dying from Covid. I’m still wearing a mask even if it isolates me socially from others. I have to.

[lotus-tower]

Mask recommendations for ordering online (NA)

Note: for consistency, practicality, and simplicity all prices are listed in USD.

masknerd has a comprehensive data set on hundreds of masks he's tested according to his own criteria and methodology (pinned tweet). find his recommendations on his youtube channel. many of the following are on his list as well!

DISPOSABLE MASKS

3M Aura and Vflex: one of the most commonly recommended brands of N95. Where to buy?

- US: see here - Canada: see here - Multiple sizes per model. These suppliers are good for bulk ordering. If you aren't sure if something will fit you, check out the sample kits in the next recommendation - Price point: varies from $1-1.3 USD per mask depending on supplier

Breatheteq (US):

- KN95s that come in small, medium, large, or XS (kids) - Offers sample kits so you can test out what your size is - Comes in a few different colours. shoutout to the lavender - Earloop only - Price point: $69.75 USD for a 50-pack (~1.4 USD per mask)

Canadastrong (Canada):

- The Canadian equivalent to Breatheteq, but also carries N95s of other brands such as 3M Aura and Vflex, Vitacore, and Drager X-plore

Vitacore (Canada and US):

- N95 certified, but actually has 99% filtration - Both earloop and head strap versions (warning that the head strap seems to fit considerably smaller) - Regular and small adult sizes offered, also a kid's size - Price point: $33.99 for a 30-pack (~1.1 USD per mask)

Wellbefore (US, ships to Canada):

- N95s, KN95s, and KF94s - Head straps, normal earloops, or adjustable earloops depending on model - Kids/petite size available for certain KN95 models - Wide range of colours (excluding N95s) - Price point: varies per model, from $0.79 USD to $2.09 USD per mask - Also sells Covid tests, over the counter medication, and medical supplies

Masklab (US):

- This is an indulgent option for if you want to go out and look good, while still staying safe. These are masks that are part of your outfit - FFP2 certified, equivalent to KF94s - Standard size and slim fit series - Many beautiful patterns - Price point: $24.44 USD for a 5-pack ($4.88 per mask) for the patterned KF ones, ~$3.4 USD for the plain KF ones, ~$3.3 USD for the slim fit series, including patterns.

ELASTOMERIC MASKS

Flomask (US, ships to Canada):

- Reusable elastomeric mask (with replaceable filters) that meets KN95 standards - Two adult sizes (low/medium nose ridge and medium/high nose ridge) and a kid's size - Adjustable straps - Price point: $122 USD. 50-pack replacement filters: $81.46 (filters to be changed after 20-40 hours of use, depending on filter type)

A humble P100 elastomeric respirator from your local Home Depot or similar store! Magnitudes cheaper than the Flo mask (both the respirator itself and the filters)--however, I can't offer estimates for how often filters should be replaced. May not look pretty, but the most economical option for the highest degree of filtration if you aren't self-conscious.

General advice:

N95 or higher are the most reliable. They normally come with head straps, which offer better protection by making a tighter seal around your face.

But fit and comfort are the most important! Find a mask that fits your face and leaves the least amount of gap possible. KN95s are often more comfortable and breathable--find what's right for you.

You can wear different masks for different situations depending on risk level!

If you're hesitant to buy online, here's advice on how to tell if your respirator is legitimate.

A SIP drinking valve can be installed on any disposable mask to allow you to drink in public with less risk.

If anyone has other recommendations, please feel free to add!