Avian Flu Personal Protection

Monday, February 13, 2006

Goggles

Goggles: they are a must if you have to be protected against viral contamination, since these infected particulates are able to enter every human mucous membranes, nose indeed but ... your eyes! They prevent too your contaminated hands, mask, to get in contact with your eyes.
Higly recommanded in crowded places, required for close contact with infectious or suspect people if you dont wear a hood or a full face mask.

They should be skin tight fit; normal safety glasses are not the best protection.
You have the choice between vent and ventless, the more protective are indeed the ventless models.


Among ventless you will find :
- models in silicone or plastic material, "airtight" (against splashes and irritating dusts) :









- and "gastight", rubber goggles, against chemical, irritating aerosols, smoke and gasses; these are the easiest to be decontaminated.






Two concerns with goggles :
They are difficult to fit to the skin AND to the half mask.
Fogging due to the perspiration of your skin under the goggles; reduced by antifogging screens or sprays.



Face screens can be found, which wraps the face entirely. Efficient against projections, but not airtight.












Sunday, February 12, 2006

Healthcare masks 2

3M delivers particulate masks in series for healthcare staffs. First we have the excellent 1860 model, a classic against tuberculosis, SARS ... With an external covering against fluids, not fit with an exhalation valve, its an universal model, even surgical rated, and should be your mask against flu. The size small is useful for women and teens. The cup form allows a long time of continuous wearing, as in MDR tuberculosis isolation wards. Easy to don, with latex free straps. Yet the breathing resistance of this mask requires training.


New models after new particulate masks are sold too, the 1861 serie. Not fluid protective, but more comfortable to wear, and packed in individual wraps.





Healthcare masks 1

Masks specially designed for healthcare staffs are used against transmissible diseases as tuberculosis. They look more like a surgical mask, and are less bulky than other respirators, yet the filtering rate is N95 and the breathing resistance higher than a surgical. They must be worn by an infectious or suspect patient, since they have not an exhalation valve, and can be worn by any nurse or paramedic, or visitor.
The first model is the orange duck bill Tecnol by Kimberly, easy to don, disposable. Must be discarded after 2 or 3 hours use.
The second model is the Alpha ProTech mask "Positive Facial Lock", which is cumbersome to fit perfectly and must be discarded after use. Yet it is designed to fit a several face size, which is useful, and can be worn for several hours.