Should You Wear a Mask to Fight Coronavirus? A Top Doctor Weighs In, Angry It Has Come to This - Rolling Stone Magazine - April 1, 2020

[cujoe]

This Rolling Stone interview article should help explain the benefits of wearing a mask, esp. if you reside in the US. It should also anger those who live here about the inadequate and late response provided by our government in DC.

Should You Wear a Mask to Fight Coronavirus? A Top Doctor Weighs In, Angry It Has Come to This

rollingstone.com/culture/cu...

As a 72 year old with 2 cancers, one of which is a blood cancer that affects my immune system, I am currently sewing masks for use in the future when I go out to shop or interact with people in confined public spaces. Below is a link to the UnityPoint Health webpage about the Olson Mask design I am using. It has a How-To demo and a link to download a PDF with sewing instructions and mask patterns. The good thing about this mask design is that it is washable (reusable) and you can use vacuum bag HEPA filters to make an insert that, if properly constructed and worn, can POTENTIALLY provide the same 0.3 micron filtering of an N-95 respirator mask. Also provided is a link to the Wiki page on the N-95 respirator with information on it's development, construction, proper fit, and comparison to the standard surgical mask. Finally, there is an article in Forbes that discusses alternative mask designs and their effectiveness for COVID-19.

UnityPoint Health description & instructional video and patterns for making the Olson Mask.

unitypoint.org/cedarrapids/...

N95 mask - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N95_mask

There are many simpler mask designs, some that also provide a pouch for a filter insert. Here is a Forbes article with links to some of those other mask designs and additional commentary on their effectiveness.

Calling All People Who Sew And Make: You Can Help Make Masks For 2020 Healthcare Worker PPE Shortage

forbes.com/sites/tjmccue/20...

So, get those sewing machines out of the closets, basements, garages, and storage buildings and get to work helping where you can. Stay Safe to Be/Stay Well - Captain Threadbear

[teamkv]

I’ve made almost 200 masks so far.

[cujoe in reply to teamkv]

Damn, Girl,

I've got a lot of catchin' up to do. Where are you sending yours?

'

[teamkv in reply to cujoe]

Salvation Army and local food banks. Also a women’s shelter. A year after I retired when Kevin was diagnosed, I started working at a local fabric store, Pacific Fabrics. My boss, Sherry, had to temporarily close the store, and later asked us if we wanted to volunteer our sewing ability if the store provided us the fabric. So that’s how it started a couple of weeks ago. We are looking at selling at on online store - full kits to make or even a mask itself. They will be washable as they are all 2 layers of cotton with non woven fusible interfacing inside. I’ll post a link here if we do that. When you make a mask or use a mask, spray it with hydrogen peroxide to kill virus. Also, put it on and take it off but wash hands first.

[jdm3 in reply to teamkv]

Fantastic.

What is the non woven fusible interfacing stuff? Fabric?

[cujoe in reply to jdm3]

Those skilled seamstress ladies 🧵 ✂️ 📏 🧷 are always throwing around those sexy fabric types to impress you evronmental engineering types. 🌿 🧪 🛠

[teamkv in reply to jdm3]

It is fabric, but it’s not woven, more of a composite but in fabric form. Used to stiffen collars, cuffs and waistbands.... I am leaving this wide open for JOHN to make a comment.... 🤣

[cujoe in reply to teamkv]

Modern Day Clara Barton at work for the good of her community. Three Cheers for Kathie!!⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💃🏻

[jdm3]

We are making masks. Hard to find HEPA vacuum bags, but another good material is melt blown fabric. The blue sterilizing cloth used for surgical wraps and autoclaves is also a good filter. Sometimes referred to as CSR and H600 fabric. Your dentist will have some. 😷

[cujoe in reply to jdm3]

You environmental engineer types are always throwing around those sexy terms to impress the ladies. 🙊 I couldn't find any "true" HEPA filters at Wallyworld during this week's shopping run, but have found some online and will maybe order tonight. I assume that the ones that refer to the bag being a cloth material are the ones to get. Depending on the model of vacuum, I'm guessing maybe six inserts per bag? I'll also check out the sexy fabrics mentioned above. 🛩

[jdm3 in reply to cujoe]

Yes. Vacuum bags even if not HEPA are good. Tea towels are surprisingly tight weave and effective. And you must have a lot of tea towels lying around for all the fancy socializing you do. Tea and scones and all that.

The masks will help the most if we can convince the coughers and the sneezers to wear them so they are not projecting goobers, droplets, and aerosols everywhere.

In Asia, wearing a mask if you are sick is a sign of respect. I doubt that will ever happen in the U.S.

My sister-in-law is an oral surgeon in VA and sent me some of that surgical fabric. As soon as I get it I am going to add to the cotton masks and test. Just have to keep the skilled labor happy and sewing. She's handy to have around. 😷 🙏

[cujoe in reply to jdm3]

Got a feelin she says the same thing about you, jdm3. Tea for Two + scones (with or without the tea towels)! Tea Me Up, Flyboy. BW - Captain FeelGood