Facemasks & respirators are terms that are often used by people interchangeably, but they are actually two different things entirely, and it’s important to understand what each does effectively and when they should be used.
This article is ONLY focusing on one aspect of using facemasks and respirators, their medical/health usages. There are many other uses for both products, but we are concentrating here on how they are used in preventing the spread of germs because pandemics happen, and we need to be ready to take care of ourselves.
But First, I’m Going To Let Spice Tell You About How Both Control Germs
Fomites.
Fomite is a cool science term for an inanimate object that transfers germs. Tiny little drops of spit make great fomites for any respiratory germ. These fomites might be inhaled by a target and land the germs right on their new home in the new host’s respiratory tract.
More often, the fomite lands the germ on a surface, someone touches the surface and picks up the germ, and by touch transfer — itchy nose or whatever — it gets to the soft bits of the new host.
These tiny drops of spit (or nasal mucus or other body fluids) can be stopped my facemasks and respirators, with varying success.
Facemasks are not as efficient as respirators, but they’re way cheaper, way more comfortable, and work ‘well enough’ for a lot of uses. Fun fact: Face masks are much better at stopping disease transmission when they’re worn by the sick person.
Coughs and sneezes throw most of the droplets right into the mask where they’re caught. When the healthy person is wearing them, some air comes in around the edges of the mask, and it can bring germs with it.
Respirators are highly effective if they fit well. They work on the healthy as well as the sick. Full face versions protect from entry by the eyes too. Getting one that fits over glasses is trickier, but they are some.
One main (often overlooked) benefit of both facemasks and respirators is they prevent transfer from hands to nose or mouth … and hands are most likely to have the germs. To make use of this benefit, be sure to wash the hands with soap and water Before your hands or anything in them goes to your face. We all make these moves more often than we realize.
Facemasks
Of the two, facemasks are far more commonly found and used than respirators for a couple of reasons. They are MUCH cheaper, more comfortable and (generally) much easier to put on and remove.
When you are at the doctors office and you see a box of “If you are sick and coughing please put one of these on” masks, those are going to be facemasks.
They are designed to be loose-fitting and disposable. They generally don’t come with face shields, although they might.
Facemasks: What does the CDC have to say?
When it comes to the prevention of the spread of flu and other diseases, the Center For Disease Control (CDC) is our go-to guide.
Here’s what the CDC has to say about facemasks (I couldn’t say it better myself so I will just quote them:
“A facemask is a loose-fitting, disposable device that creates a physical barrier between the mouth and nose of the wearer and potential contaminants in the immediate environment. Facemasks are not to be shared and may be labeled as surgical, isolation, dental or medical procedure masks. They may come with or without a face shield.
Facemasks are made in different thicknesses and with different ability to protect you from contact with liquids. These properties may also affect how easily you can breathe through the facemask and how well the facemask protects you.
Wear Properly
If worn properly, a facemask is meant to help block large-particle droplets, splashes, sprays or splatter that may contain germs (viruses and bacteria), keeping it from reaching your mouth and nose. Facemasks may also help reduce exposure of your saliva and respiratory secretions to others.
While a facemask may be effective in blocking splashes and large-particle droplets, a facemask, by design, does not filter or block very small particles in the air that may be transmitted by coughs, sneezes or certain medical procedures. Facemasks also do not provide complete protection from germs and other contaminants because of the loose fit between the surface of the facemask and your face.
Facemasks are not intended to be used more than once. If your mask is damaged or soiled, or if breathing through the mask becomes difficult, you should remove the facemask, discard it safely, and replace it with a new one. To safely discard your mask, place it in a plastic bag and put it in the trash. Wash your hands after handling the used mask.”
Resparators: A different kettle of fish entirely
Resparators may look a lot like facemasks, but they are actually much more “secure” when it comes to blocking the transmission of bacteria and viruses.
According to the CDC, “An N95 respirator is a respiratory protective device designed to achieve a very close facial fit and very efficient filtration of airborne particles.
The ‘N95’ designation means that when subjected to careful testing, the respirator blocks at least 95 percent of very small (0.3 micron) test particles. If properly fitted, the filtration capabilities of N95 respirators exceed those of face masks. However, even a properly fitted N95 respirator does not completely eliminate the risk of illness or death.
N95 respirators are not designed for children or people with facial hair. Because a proper fit cannot be achieved on children and people with facial hair, the N95 respirator may not provide full protection.”
Some of these respirators, like the Pasture F550S Respirator N95 Mask pictured above, are FDA approved.
FDA
Here’s what the FDA says about them:
“FDA has cleared certain filtering facepiece respirators (N95) for use by the general public. To work as expected, an N95 respirator requires a proper fit to your face. Generally, to check for proper fit, you should put on your respirator and adjust the straps so that the respirator fits tightly but comfortably to your face.”
The FDA continues “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not generally recommend facemasks and respirators for use in home or community settings. However, they may be appropriate for persons at increased risk of severe illness from influenza or other respiratory diseases.”
FDA has cleared the following N95 respirators for use by the general public in public health medical emergencies:
- 3M™ Particulate Respirator 8670F
- 3M™ Particulate Respirator 8612F
- Pasture Tm F550G Respirator
- Pasture Tm A520G Respirator
These devices are labeled “NOT for occupational use.”
General N95 Respirator Precautions
The FDA also issues the following precautions when using respirators:
- People with chronic respiratory, cardiac, or other medical conditions that make breathing difficult should check with their healthcare provider before using an N95 respirator because the N95 respirator can make it more difficult for the wearer to breathe.
- Some models have exhalation valves that can make breathing out easier and help reduce heat build-up. Note that N95 respirators with exhalation valves should not be used when sterile conditions must be maintained.
- All FDA-cleared N95 respirators are labeled as “single use”, disposable devices.
- If your respirator is damaged or soiled, or if breathing becomes difficult, you should remove the respirator, discard it properly, and replace it with a new one.
- To safely discard your N95 respirator, place it in a plastic bag and put it in the trash. Wash your hands after handling the used respirator.
The bottom line
Spice and I have both respirators and facemasks in our stores, as well as gloves, face shields and full environmental suits as well. We recommend one of the first major preps that anybody does is to have a complete infectious disease preventive kit, and the training on how to use it.
Watch here for at 3BY for further information on how to use protective medical supplies.
Good stuff. I use both at work