Volunteer Responder Equipment: Difference between revisions
From Portland NET Wiki
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==== Why are N95s effective against viruses and bacteria? ==== | ==== 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 (and COVID, for example, is ~0.06–0.14 µm across). 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 to make a long story short: N95 respirators don’t target viruses floating completely alone — instead, they are designed to block the aerosols and droplets that carry viruses and bacteria. Because of how N95 filters work, they are effective at capturing both those larger particles and even particles smaller than a single virus, which is why they protect against airborne diseases like COVID-19. | In fact, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, N95s were ''not'' recommended as an effective barrier against viruses and bacteria (and COVID, for example, is ~0.06–0.14 µm across). 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 to make a long story short: N95 respirators don’t target viruses floating completely alone — instead, they are designed to block the aerosols and droplets that carry viruses and bacteria. Because of how N95 filters work, they are effective at capturing both those larger particles and even particles smaller than a single virus, which is why they protect against airborne diseases like COVID-19. | ||
==== What are KN95s? ==== | |||
N95s and KN95s have the same filtration target (≥95%). KN95s are manufactured in China, and are common now because of scarce N95 supplies during the pandemic. However, KN95s are often not of the same quality as N95s and should only be used if there is no alternative. Quality control in KN95 manufacturing is inconsistent, and many KN95s use ear loops instead of headbands (like N95s), possibly allowing less reliable sealing. | |||
=== Threat Matrix === | |||
(work in progress) | |||
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!N95 | |||
!KN95 | |||
!N100 | |||
!P100 | |||
!Surgical Mask | |||
!Cloth Mask | |||
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|Wildfire smoke | |||
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|Virus/bacteria aerosol exposure | |||
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== Notes and References == | == Notes and References == | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
