The optimal use of N95 face mask respirators is aided by proper training on how to fit test, wear, store and discard these protective masks. The desired protection against the H1N1 virus will be possible only if the N95 respirators are tested and worn according to the instructions.

What are the Precautions to be Taken Before Wearing N95 Respirators/Masks?

Before wearing a N95 respirator, one should

• Make sure that one does not have any medical or physical condition which limits or prohibits its use.
• Make sure that the N95 is from a NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) certified manufacturer.
• See that the N95 respirator is fit tested so that its intended purpose is not compromised.
• Get proper training on the use, storage and disposal of the N95 respirator.

What is the Proper Technique of Wearing the N95 Respirators?

• Check the respirator for any manufacturing defects, tears etc. If it is damaged in any way, do not use it.
• Check the headbands for proper elasticity
• Holding the upper and lower headbands with your index fingers and thumbs, cup the respirator firmly over the chin and backwards.
• Bend the nose clip firmly over the bridge of nose to get a tight fit in that area
• Put the lower headband over your head and secure it tight at the base of the neck behind, below the ears.
• Secure the upper headband tightly behind the head, over the ears.
• Once again press over the nose clip to make it tight over the nose.
• Adjust the headbands and nose clip and do a fit check for the N95 respirator.

How to Know Whether the N95 Respirators is Fitting Properly?

Before using a N95 respirator for the first time and each time thereafter, a fit check should be carried out to ascertain that the N95 respirator is airtight and effective.

How to Perform a Fit Check for the N95 Respirators?

Following is a simple way to fit check yourN95 respirator

• Wear the N95 mask as per directions
• Cup the N95 respirator softly with your palm
• Take a forceful, deep breath. You will feel the respirator collapse.
• Now breath out a forcefully, the respirator will expand
• Repeat this half a dozen times. If the above observation is sustained, the N95 respirator has passed the fit check.
• If it does not and you feel the air leaking out, adjust or tighten the mask strings and repeat the fit check.

How to Properly Remove the N95 Respirators?

While removing the respirator, take care not to touch the front of the respirator. This may be contaminated and contain the H1N1 virus and other pathogenic germs and dirt.

Remove the respirator by pulling the strings over the head and lifting up the respirator from the bottom end.

When to Discard the N95 Respirators?

• If you are a healthcare provider, discard the mask after a single use of 6-8 hours.
• If you are using the mask whenever you go to crowded places (though not recommended); and if economically nonviable to use a fresh mask each time, you may store the mask/respirator outer side upwards in a clean place away from direct sunlight and reuse it twice or thrice, not more.
• You should discard the N95 respirator if it becomes soiled, when the breathing through the respirator becomes difficult, or when the inhaled air is smelly or moist.

N95 respirators are only useful when worn correctly after fit testing. Without fit testing, there is no evidence that these respirators provide more protection than the common surgical face mask.

N95 face masks are one of most popular items across the globe for the moment.
Medical stores are falling short of these masks due to the unexpected demand.
N95 is the most hyped product and not to forget the most trusted savior for now.
If you look out of your window, you will certainly find people walking with their
mask. While other masks are ruled out as not offering enough protection,
experts have been urging masses to use N95 mask. Where few assure
protection with the help of N95 masks, others believe that this tiny thing is not
enough to fight the pandemic.

Along with swine flu another piece that is making news is none other than N95
masks. This light weight easy to breathe medical design is good to filter out
pollutants while cleaning or traveling. There have been enough debates on
whether these N95 masks do really offer complete protection against the widely
spread swine flu. Some argue that masks can only be worn by infected people
to stop virus from spreading, there are some who believe that this mask can
actually work like a shield to fight the disease.

Experts from US claim that N95 masks offer highest protection than the rest and
do meet the medical guidelines. However none of the doctors and experts has
come forward to claim that these masks can offer complete protection from the
virus. With the outbreak of this pandemic it is obvious that large numbers of
people are at risk of coming in contact with the virus. In such cases mere use of
face masks may not offer the desired protection.

Swine flu virus can easily spread from cough or a sneeze in the air. The virus
can also stay on a surface for long, and in case you come in touch with it, you
can certainly be a victim of swine flu. Although you wear a mask, there are still
chances of virus settling on your clothes that can latter enter your body. Thus in
such circumstance one can’t really rely only on a mask. A N95 mask is like
’something better than nothing at all’.

At this point of time when the entire world is battling the pandemic, a Swedish
product can be a solution. Smittstopp a liquid spray offers complete protection
against the pandemic. It is easy to use, affordable and certainly something you
can rely on. Smittstopp is medically tested and was found effective on swine flu.
Microorganism like virus and bacteria are negatively charged and they require a
solution that is positively charged to attract it.

Smittstopp is made with cationic polymer, and PHMB and its molecules are
positively charged as against the virus. This helps smittstopp to attract the virus
and kill them instantly. This product can be sprayed on any place or material
including clothes, furniture, rooms or places where you fear the virus may
flourish. This product binds well with all materials and does not get washed
away by water.

Smittstopp is nothing less than a savior in times when people are fighting a
losing battle with the scary swine flu. Using this product can assure you
protection. Make sure you spray the product on a clean surface to obtain best
results. Spray the same on N95 masks to create a strong shield against the
swine flu virus.

In early 2009, the world was shaken by the news of a new flu virus that was spreading around Mexico and killing some of those infected. First dubbed ’swine flu’ by the media, the AH1N1 influenza virus has been spreading rapidly across all five continents during the time of this writing.

The AH1N1 flu virus has received much media attention as it is highly contagious. It can also cause death in high risk groups such as children, pregnant women, the elderly and those suffering from medical ailments such as diabetes, hypertension, heart problems, obesity and other medical problems. The deaths are not from the virus itself but the H1N1 virus can intensify present medical conditions and frequently cause other problems such as pneumonia, leading to death.

Another reason that the H1N1 flu is much feared is because scientists have found that this new strain of H1N1 virus is quite unstable and may mutate to become even more stronger and deadly. Experts are monitoring the progress of the virus and report in late July that so far the virus is not mutating to something more dangerous. Even so, the experts are vigilant and are continuously tracking the flu spread around the world.

Many attempts were made to contain the so-called ’swine flu’ virus but with the advent of fast and efficient modern transportation systems such as airplanes, ships, trains and cars, the AH1N1 virus began to disperse to other countries rapidly.

So how do you travel during a H1N1 Pandemic?
If you can’t avoid traveling, especially to an area where the H1N1 virus is rampant, you must take proper precautions to ensure that you and your loved ones are safe.

Taking Care of Your General Health
The most important thing is to take care of your general health. Exercise regularly and eat a proper diet with plenty of fresh vegetables, fruits and plain water. Cut down on high cholesterol and sugary products such as soft drinks, sweet treats and fast food. Remember, obesity is one of the high risk groups for H1N1-related deaths.

Taking Care of Your Personal Hygiene
Personal hygiene care is most important as the virus can spread through contact with a contaminated surface such as a door handle, railings, table surfaces and so forth. Wash your hands with an antiseptic hand-wash frequently, especially after going to public places such as toilets, restaurants and sitting on public transport.

Carry Antiseptic Wipes and Tissues
Carry antiseptic hand-wipes or tissues to wipe your hands after touching doors, tables, escalator handholds, turnstiles, public phone booths and other surfaces in public areas. The H1N1 virus can linger on any surface for more than a few hours and you may get infected through contact.

Avoid Crowded Area and Wear a Face Mask If You Can’t
Try to avoid crowded areas such as cinemas, discos, shopping malls and markets if you can. If you have to go to a crowded area, wear a face mask. Disposable face masks are readily available in pharmacies. One of the best type of masks to wear would be the N95 face masks.

Don’t Touch Your Mouth and Nose
Try to avoid touching your face, especially your mouth and nose, when in public places. You may have touched a contaminated surface and may transfer the H1N1 virus unknowingly to yourself. Wearing a face mask might help to remind you to not touch your face.

Visit a Doctor and Then Stay at Home If You Are Ill
If you are sick and suspect that you have the H1N1 influenza, then go to a doctor to seek treatment. Once you have been to the doctors, stay at home while you recuperate if your condition is not serious. Usually, those who are in the high risk groups or who begin to show symptoms of other medical conditions such as pneumonia will be warded at the hospital for further treatments.

Know the Local Emergency Numbers and the Hospital
If you are traveling in a foreign country, it is prudent to know the local emergency numbers for an ambulance and the nearest hospital in case of emergencies. If you show signs of a flu, go to the nearest hospital immediately to seek treatment. Later, if you are not hospitalized, stay at your hotel room to recuperate.

Know Your Travel and Medical Insurance Plans
You may have travel or medical insurance plans that can cover the cost of medical treatment in a foreign country. Before you leave your country to go traveling, do check with your insurance agent that you are covered in case of a H1N1 emergency during your travels. Medical costs can be expensive in another country and you must be prepared in case of an emergency.

As a conclusion, though there is no 100% guarantee that you will not be infected by the H1N1 virus despite taking all the necessary precautions, it is still crucial that you do so to minimize the risks of infection to yourself and other people. No one knows for sure how long this pandemic will last, whether it will continue to haunt us into the future or whether it will be gone come next summer.

Whatever the case, don’t take a lackadaisical attitude to the H1N1 flu because though you may not be in the high risk group, you could be endangering children, expectant mothers, senior citizens and other people.

sfactory statistical approach, according to Michael Smith, of MedPage Today (an online healthcare newsletter).

That retraction was in line with other studies that showed no difference between the two approaches, surgical masks and respirators.

What Are N95 Respirators?

Respirators are devices that improve breathing. The term covers a broad range of devices. Gas masks are respirators. So are machines that force air into the lungs. In connection with H1N1, they are usually special fiber cup-shaped masks that fit over the nose and mouth. They clean the air breathed by filtering out ultra-small particles. Air-floating ultra-small particles may contain viruses such as the H1N1 virus. Filtering them out of inspired air helps blocks the transmission of H1N1 disease.

N95 means the type mask has been shown to catch or filter 95% of aerosol particles 0.3 microns in diameter. This is about the size of virus-containing particles expelled during a cough or sneeze. Such particles can hang in the air for a period of time.

Respirators can be used in surgery to keep operators from contaminating the open wound. But for this comparison, a “surgical mask” means the traditional soft fiber handkerchief-like device often seen in old movies and TV shows.

N-95 respirator masks are the newest hot selling item for swine flu prevention, but do they work?

Yes. And No.

N-95 respirator masks were designed to protect healthcare workers from `airborne` illnesses such as tuberculosis, chicken pox and the flu. They DO work under tightly controlled circumstances, but the general public is not likely to be in those tightly controlled circumstances, so they will likely not benefit from them.

Face masks were first used during the 1918-1919 flu epidemic as
‘protection’ against the flu. It likely did not do any good, but laws were enacted and people who didn`t wear them were considered “mask slackers” who could be fined, imprisoned or simply ostracized. With the swine flu claiming more and more victims in the US, people are beginning to react by wearing masks again. But this time, the higher technology N-95 Respirator Mask is all the rage.
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The N-95 is NOT your grandfather`s surgical mask or even the same as surgical masks worn by doctors and nurses today like you see in operating rooms. They are specialized pieces of equipment that were designed to protect hospital workers against ‘airborne’ illnesses like tuberculosis, chicken pox and influenza. All of these are very small infectious particles that remain airborne after being exhaled by an infected person. There has been a lot of misinformation about these masks. Some say that they work, some say that they don`t. So what is the truth?

The fact is that N 95 respirators DO protect wearers against the flu- at least in theory and when used properly. The N95 respirator masks ARE Airtight and Are Designed to protect the wearer from airborne particles as small as Mycobacterium Tubuculosis- approximately 45 nanometers in width or about 1/2 micron. The swine flu virus, by contrast, is almost twice as large at approximately 80-120 nanometers. In the hospital setting when used by trained practitioners, as set by Centers for Disease Control guidelines, the N95 respirator masks are VERY EFFECTIVE at preventing transmission of these tiny particles.

But there are several reasons why the N95 respirator masks are unlikely to work for the general public. The first reason is that it is difficult to get the right fit. Health care workers who wear surgical masks are told, “Here, put this on”. Surgical masks can be worn by anyone, anywhere for long periods of time. As shown by people in China wearing masks while riding bicycles to work or even jogging, they are pretty comfortable and easy to use. But a health care worker who uses an N-95 must actually go through a short training session that looks like this:

• First, the approximate correct size for your face is chosen and placed tightly onto the face with 2 tight straps fitting onto the head.
• Second, the metal band on the nose bridge is smoothed down to get a tight fit. Once a correct fit is approximated, the head is placed into a large plastic tube to approximate a confined space. A trainer, usually a nurse, sticks a spray bottle into a small hole and continuously sprays a saccharine solution into the plastic tube while the wearer turns the head from side to side and up and down to make sure that there are no air leaks. If the saccharine solution is tasted, then a good `fit` has not been obtained and the procedure is repeated with another sized mask until an airtight seal is obtained: sometimes difficult for those with particularly small or large faces or those who have facial hair.

The second reason that that N95 Respirator masks are not likely to work for the general public is that they are uncomfortable, hot and tight. While a surgical mask can be worn for hours without any problems, an N-95 respirator becomes uncomfortable and claustrophobic even in a cool hospital room within just minutes.

After caring for someone for even a short while, the breath feels hot and uncomfortable and most begin to sweat- some sweat PROFUSELY! Taking off the mask after wearing one for only a short while feels as if you stepped into a cool fresh breeze after just getting out of a sauna. Wearing one in an air conditioned theater while just sitting and watching a movie would be unbearable. Wearing one while riding a bicycle or while shopping would be just simply impossible.

Any mask- whether it is surgical or an N-95 is designed to be used for less than 20 minutes at a time. This is because the mask itself will become saturated with condensation from exhaled breath. And once it is saturated, then the pore filter size may be changed making the mask ineffective and potentially even trapping the offending viruses right against the wet mask- Right Next to the Face!

So, while N-95 masks DO effectively protect health care workers from even face to face transmission of airborne contaminants such as the flu, inappropriate usage by untrained lay people in real world circumstances would likely make them ineffective and nullify any of the potential protective effects of these effective filtration devices.