Peer-review journal DIY surgical masks

[Lumina88]

My mind was rather blown when I read on the CDC site about the last resort of DIY masks. Scroll down to very last paragraph before the footnotes:

Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators: Crisis/Alternate Strategies

If that’s the case, please read:

Testing the Efficacy of Homemade Masks: Would They Protect in an Influenza Pandemic? Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness 7(4):413-418 · August 2013 

Testing the Efficacy of Homemade Masks: Would They Protect in an Influenza Pandemic?

Then scroll down to the carpenter dude video for instructions:

Ashfall protection: 4 substitutes to N95 mask

[CommunityRNBSN, BSN, RN]

Could you say more about why “your mind was blown”? To me, it reads exactly like I’d expect. Basically: Definitely use every possible route to find and use approved, disposable masks. Homemade masks are not going to be very good. However, if you are working in a war zone; in a country with no infrastructure; at the scene of a mass catastrophe like a bombing— you may need to throw a towel over your face and do the best you can.

The study seems to back that up. Surgical masks are 3x as effective as t-shirt masks, but a t-shirt mask is better than nothing!

I didn’t watch the DIY video but I will later because I’m sure it’s interesting too!

[Lumina88]

I wasn’t expecting the CDC to be so behind the curve. A few days later, my mind isn’t blown. Merely disappointed.

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

I have made a sports bra mask so I am breathing through two layers of foam (one cup placed inside the other) and for further filtration adding one of those biodegradable sponge cloths in the liner of the cup touching my face. The liner can be placed in bleach between usings. The wires of the bra tighten the thing around the nose and the bra straps became adjustable straps for top and bottom. I call it the Panssiere. I wanted to sew a smiley face smile on the front but got tired of sewing all those little stitches by hand.

[jobellestarr]

On 3/20/2020 at 11:04 AM, subee said:

I have made a sports bra mask so I am breathing through two layers of foam (one cup placed inside the other) and for further filtration adding one of those biodegradable sponge cloths in the liner of the cup touching my face. The liner can be placed in bleach between usings. The wires of the bra tighten the thing around the nose and the bra straps became adjustable straps for top and bottom. I call it the Panssiere. I wanted to sew a smiley face smile on the front but got tired of sewing all those little stitches by hand.

WOW!, that’s pretty impressive

[guest1143647]

I thought about using a birthday hat.

I have started using a bandana.

[Serhilda, ADN, RN]

I'd sooner go in with a middle finger to my hospital than a bandana. This is a job and my one and only life. Value that or I'm out ✌️

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

This one is exceptional. You can add fiPrlters and citric acid powder making it N95. It's difficult to find the prong fasteners for the nose but I found a box on Amazon. The wires of an underwire can be used but they are not as tight and require inserting another material around the nose to make it airtight.

It's not very practical for work but better than a bandana! It's not very practical to sew by hand but you can zip through it with a sewing machine. And I want some of whatever this woman is on:)

[Sgmooij]

On 3/20/2020 at 2:04 PM, subee said:

I have made a sports bra mask so I am breathing through two layers of foam (one cup placed inside the other) and for further filtration adding one of those biodegradable sponge cloths in the liner of the cup touching my face. The liner can be placed in bleach between usings. The wires of the bra tighten the thing around the nose and the bra straps became adjustable straps for top and bottom. I call it the Panssiere. I wanted to sew a smiley face smile on the front but got tired of sewing all those little stitches by hand.

I wonder how that impedes the O2 intake in your body and CO2 recycling? I'm trying to find a peer reviewed/evidence-based practice/science journal article on the efficacy of the mask and O2 restrictions relationship.

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

On 6/21/2020 at 1:27 AM, Sgmooij said:

I wonder how that impedes the O2 intake in your body and CO2 recycling? I'm trying to find a peer reviewed/evidence-based practice/science journal article on the efficacy of the mask and O2 restrictions relationship.

Fortunately, I never had to actually use the ugly thing:) An A cup would certainly worked as well as a C which looked like an igloo stuck to my face. But, it was a good exercise and I'm sure the thing was as good as an N95 because it was uncomfortable to breathe in and my lungs are healthy. CO2 retention, IMHO, would definitely be a problem for a health care worker. But it wouldn't affect the movement of O2 since the concentration of 02 in the ambient air never changes. But I think you study is a good one which will be useful for the next pandemic.