Face Mask Support Frames

[Kitiger, RN]

Is anybody using face mask support frames? How do they fit over the nose? Do they mess up the seal?

My husband bought some N 95 face masks, and I don't like the way the mask sucks in and out, hitting my mouth & nose with each breath. The masks are CDC and NIOSH approved.

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

2 hours ago, Kitiger said:

Is anybody using face mask support frames? How do they fit over the nose? Do they mess up the seal?

My husband bought some N 95 face masks, and I don't like the way the mask sucks in and out, hitting my mouth & nose with each breath. The masks are CDC and NIOSH approved.

I use a turtle shell but it does not work with a N95 mask. Still we are only required to wear an N95 on our Covid Unit or 10 days post infection or exposure to known positive cases. Our facility does not allow mask frames with N95 as they have repeatedly resulted in mask failure during fit testing. Your mask moving in and out as you breath is a sign of a proper seal. I know it's annoying but it means you are protected. 

[Kitiger, RN]

46 minutes ago, hppygr8ful said:

I use a turtle shell but it does not work with a N95 mask. Still we are only required to wear an N95 on our Covid Unit or 10 days post infection or exposure to known positive cases. Our facility does not allow mask frames with N95 as they have repeatedly resulted in mask failure during fit testing. Your mask moving in and out as you breath is a sign of a proper seal. I know it's annoying but it means you are protected. 

Thanks. I can see where a frame over the nose would be problematic.

My husband is playing with it right now. He's trying to put in a single wire . . .

[Kitiger, RN]

He did it! My husband took 2 nose piece wires from old surgical masks and put them inside the N 95 mask, at the outer edge of the duck beak. They fit exactly, and they prevent the mask from sucking in as far. 

We save the old nose wires, because not all surgical masks have good wires. When needed, we cut a tiny slit on the inside of the mask and add an extra wire to enable us to get a good seal at the nose.

I have the Prestige Ameritech RP88020 N95 Particulate Respirator, NIOSH TC-84A-5216, Regular (mask).

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

You can order Aluminum Strips Nose Wire online.

I've used these adhesive ones when making  3 ply cloth masks--worked great.