Volunteer Responder Equipment: Difference between revisions
From Portland NET Wiki
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* N95s have a shelf life, and NETs should note when the masks in their kit expire. | * N95s have a shelf life, and NETs should note when the masks in their kit expire. | ||
<mark>'''Respiratory protection is a must have and among the most important items in a NET kit.'''</mark> | <mark>'''Respiratory protection is a "must have" and among the most important items in a NET kit.'''</mark> | ||
=== N95 Respirators === | |||
Disposable N95 masks are designed to filter out ≥95% of airborne particles ≥0.3 microns in size. This makes them effective against: | |||
* Fungal spores: most are much larger than 0.3 microns and often 1–30 microns across; | |||
* Pollen: most pollen grains are 10–100 microns in diameter; | |||
* Wildfire smoke: though wildfire smoke is a complex mix of gases and particles, the most significant threat comes from "fine particulate matter" which is particles ≤2.5 microns across; | |||
==== Why are N95s effective against viruses and bacteria? ==== | |||
In fact, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, N95s were ''not'' recommended as an effective barrier against viruses and bacteria. What changed? Wired has printed an interesting article about the reasons guidance changed and how new science during COVID prompted those changes.<ref>Molteni, M., & Rogers, A. (2020, July 2). How masks went from Don’t-Wear to Must-Have during the coronavirus pandemic. ''WIRED''. https://www.wired.com/story/how-masks-went-from-dont-wear-to-must-have</ref> But | |||
