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Simple homemade mask - Printable Version

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Simple homemade mask - OutsiderFan - 03-29-2020

As most people here have concluded, everyone should be wearing masks. Of course, we also recognize we should allow medical workers to have the highest quality masks available. 

I don't want people looking at me because I'm wearing a surgical mask when healthcare workers can't get them. So we have to make our own masks at home. They won't be as effective as N95 and surgical masks, but it's still possible to make something at home that provides much more protection than nothing at all.

I saw the mask designs online and didn't like any of them.  I wanted something more like a turtleneck, without anything but the neck.  So I thought about cutting the neck off of one, but then realized it wouldn't taper very well. After thinking about what might work, I thought about a t-shirt sleeve.  So I found a really high quality cotton t-shirt with longish short sleeves (I had other t-shirts with much shorter sleeves), that were'e too narrow, and put my head through the sleeve and OMG did it work perfectly.

So I cut a sleeve off right inside the underarm seem and put it over my head, pulling down until the outside hem was covering my nose. To my delight, the rest of the sleeve went down to my collarbone. Then I found a big rubber band, and pulled over my head, down around the bottom of the sleeve to create a seal, though that probably isn't necessary.  If I was wearing a light jacket or pullover, the bottom would be sealed enough.

So there you go.  

1. Go find a t-shirt with a nice thick cotton fabric and a longish short sleeve that isn't too narrow (so outer sleeve fits comfortably over nose).
2. Put your head through a sleeve and pull it down to cover your nose, with the vertical seam on back of neck.
3. Determine if it has a long enough sleeve to hang to collarbone, with a snug but not too snug fit.
4. When you find an ideal one, cut sleeve off, cutting right to the inside of the underarm seam, until sleeve is cut off.
5. Put head through sleeve and pull down to over your nose to see how far it falls.
6. If you need to create a seal around bottom, put large rubber band over head and pull to hold snug.*

* If you don't have a large enough rubber band, you can sew an elastic band around the inside to keep a snug fit on neck.

The good news is when you find a suitable t-shirt, you've got two masks!  Because there are two sleeves!  They can be quickly washed in Woolite after each time used in public.

I'm as much wearing my new mask to communicate to people in public that they should be wearing one, as I am for my own safety. We all need to be wearing masks!

RE: Simple homemade mask - magnus - 03-29-2020

Note, if you're not afraid of Chinese products, surgical masks are back in stock in Amazon.  They are a little higher priced than normal, and will take at least 2 weeks to arrive...but we'll likely still be in the throes of this pandemic in 2 weeks and I guess, cross your fingers that you're not buying from a scammer.

RE: Simple homemade mask - BostonCard - 03-29-2020

Just FYI:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/respirator-use-faq.html


[*]Should I wear a respirator in public? [*]
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/when-and-how-to-use-masks

[Image: masks-2.png]

I don't want to tell anyone not to use the mask, but I don't think the purpose of wearing one is to "communicate to people in public that they should be wearing one"


In the absence of specific information about the transmission modes of SARS-CoV-2, I think it is fine to wear a mask out of an abundance of caution.  It might protect other people if you are sick and not staying home (but it would be better if you just stayed home).  It might also be useful as a "signaling device", reminding others that there is an epidemic and that it's important to maintain social distance.  It might also remind you not to touch your face (but, on the other hand, it might start getting uncomfortable and you'll find yourself adjusting your mask more than you would have touched your face had you not worn a mask).  But it is not a panacea, and until we know what the dominant mode of transmission is, we won't know whether masks do any more than the "security theater" did following 9/11.

BC

RE: Simple homemade mask - magnus - 03-29-2020

Didn't want to start a new thread and couldn't thread with a better fit, so I'll just use this loosely related thread.

I went to the grocery store today (reusing my surgical mask) and noticed a lady wearing a N95.  Except she had both straps around her neck.  That doesn't seem right to me.

I also saw a guy (maybe employee, but I wasn't looking too closely as he was across the produce section) who appeared to have an N95 (or some white cushion looking mask) but there was a visible gap between chin and mask bottom.

Hopefully the first lady was still able to get a seal and and the guy was using something makeshift. Otherwise, a bit of a waste for those N95s.  Should have just used a homemade mask. =)

RE: Simple homemade mask - M T - 03-30-2020

The CDC, that also "does not recommend" wearing a mask, states
Quote:Person-to-person spread
The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.
  • Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
  • Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.

Spread from contact with contaminated surfaces or objects
It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

Compare that to the above poster from WHO.  Why are we told over and over to wash our hands if that only "may be possible" to spread it, but it isn't the main way, and then told to maintain 6 feet as the only protection from the main way it spreads.   But, WHO's guidance is that a mask is only necessary if you are taking care of a sick person (or are sick yourself).   Why does WHO assert that the mask is only effective if used in conjunction with hand washing? A more reasonable guidance would be to wear a mask if you can't reliably maintain 6 feet separation, such as when you are in a store.

Of course, it is a good idea to wash your hands.  But why is that the mantra?  Why not start every guidance with "Stay 6' away", and then add later "and wash your hands"?

P.S.  Extra credit for anyone who can show research indicating what is the main way for SARS-COV-2 to spread.  (Hint: It may not need to be drawn into the lungs to infect you.  At least add eyes to the entry points.)

RE: Simple homemade mask - Mick - 03-30-2020

(03-29-2020, 02:17 PM)magnus Wrote:  Note, if you're not afraid of Chinese products, surgical masks are back in stock in Amazon.  They are a little higher priced than normal, and will take at least 2 weeks to arrive...but we'll likely still be in the throes of this pandemic in 2 weeks and I guess, cross your fingers that you're not buying from a scammer.

Should I trust Alibaba?

https://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?fsb=y&IndexArea=product_en&CatId=&SearchText=n95+mask
(03-29-2020, 09:46 PM)magnus Wrote:  Didn't want to start a new thread and couldn't thread with a better fit, so I'll just use this loosely related thread.

I went to the grocery store today (reusing my surgical mask) and noticed a lady wearing a N95.  Except she had both straps around her neck.  That doesn't seem right to me.

I also saw a guy (maybe employee, but I wasn't looking too closely as he was across the produce section) who appeared to have an N95 (or some white cushion looking mask) but there was a visible gap between chin and mask bottom.

Hopefully the first lady was still able to get a seal and and the guy was using something makeshift. Otherwise, a bit of a waste for those N95s.  Should have just used a homemade mask. =)

My wife gave me an N95 to use on the flight from DC back to the SFBA.  One of the two straps broke when I picked it up.  Sigh.  It's 17 days later and I'm still here.

BTW, as I boarded, one of the first-class passengers jumped in front of me to ask whether I was sick or whether the mask was a precaution, clearly intent on blocking my way had I answered in the affirmative.  That was fun.

RE: Simple homemade mask - magnus - 03-30-2020

WHO still says masks are not needed if you're not sick or caring for the sick. 

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/30/world/coronavirus-who-masks-recommendation-trnd/index.html

When they say "masks" are they referring only to N95s or also to surgical masks rich seem to be more prevalent now (unless they're all knockoffs)

RE: Simple homemade mask - Snorlax94 - 03-30-2020

I think the tide is finally turning on wearing masks.

NYtimes article:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/27/health/us-coronavirus-face-masks.html

WaPo article:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/03/28/masks-all-coronavirus/

Medium articles:
https://medium.com/@Cancerwarrior/covid-19-why-we-should-all-wear-masks-there-is-new-scientific-rationale-280e08ceee71

https://medium.com/@esbaker/homemade-face-masks-could-be-the-silver-bullet-for-defeating-covid-19-5ed96d61544b

And, consistent with OutsiderFan’s original suggestion in this thread, the second Medium article believes “DIY masks could be a silver bullet” and links to resources for how to make DIY masks out of T-shirts, and lists emergent movements in Europe in the Czech Republic and Austria to publicly distribute masks or even require masks(!) in the public.

In the Czech Republic, by using social media, they achieved ubiquitous diy masks in public in 3 days!

RE: Simple homemade mask - Snorlax94 - 03-31-2020

And the CDC may even change their guidelines:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/cdc-considering-recommending-general-public-wear-face-coverings-in-public/2020/03/30/6a3e495c-7280-11ea-87da-77a8136c1a6d_story.html

RE: Simple homemade mask - BostonCard - 03-31-2020

UCSF is now mandating universal surgical mask use in all clinical areas.

https://infectioncontrol.ucsfmedicalcenter.org/sites/g/files/tkssra4681/f/Surgical_Mask_Flyer.pdf

I love that they have to say "Remove & store MASK before eating or drinking" 

BC

RE: Simple homemade mask - martyup - 03-31-2020

As a bonus, after removing the sleeves from the t-shirt you still have one sexy shirt to wear.

[Image: ?u=http%3A%2F%2Fworldwideinterweb.com%2F...f=1&nofb=1]

RE: Simple homemade mask - OutsiderFan - 03-31-2020

(03-31-2020, 03:03 PM)martyup Wrote:  As a bonus, after removing the sleeves from the t-shirt you still have one sexy shirt to wear.

[Image: ?u=http%3A%2F%2Fworldwideinterweb.com%2F...f=1&nofb=1]

This is true! I needed another muscle shirt, and now I have it :) Now I just need to figure out a way to keep the muscles I do have from wasting away now that the gym is closed.

Seriously though, it’s all about body weight exercises now.