N95 Mask

An N95 face mask is a respirator face mask and is more efficient than an ordinary face mask or surgical mask...

Respirator Face Masks for Protection

High filtration respiratory masks have a special microstructure filter disc that flushes out tiny particles, like H1N1 flu virus particles, that are greater than 0.3 micron.

Photo or N95 mask
Courtesy of Julien Min GONG

Each respirator face mask has a number that indicates how efficiently the mask filters out particles.

For example, “N95” means that a mask filter out 95% of particles that are greater in size than 0.3 micron—under normal conditions. While a respirator mask is very efficient, a nano mask can filter out even smaller particles.

Uses for N95 Face Masks

While a respirator may filter out more micro-organisms than a surgical mask or medical mask, it is harder to breathe through a respirator than an ordinary face mask. Because of this, respirators cannot be worn for extended periods of time.

In addition, respirators are not recommended by the CDC, for children or for people with facial hair.

CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommendations for respirators are:

• people working in healthcare

• people in high risk groups

• people who must be in contact with infected persons, such as pharmacists or medical receptionists

In addition to wearing face masks, the CDC also recommends that, during a pandemic, we do these things to protect ourselves:

• wash hands frequently

• cover mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing (or sneeze into your upper arm or inner elbow)

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth

• Stay home if you have swine flu symptoms and stay home for 24 hours after the symptoms have disappeared.

• If someone has H1N1 flu symptoms, keep your distance, and stay at least 6 feet away from them.

Face masks do have their place during a pandemic. But masks are not all equal. Make sure you understand what each one does—surgical mask, N95 mask, or nano mask—and which is appropriate for you and your situation. And do make sure that you understand how to properly put a mask on and take it off. Viewing the respirator face masks video will help you with this.

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