I was talking to my hairdresser yesterday, and she said she's always had difficulty with masks. She says she buys $400 of groceries at Costco per trip to minimize the number of trips because she finds breathing in them so difficult.
My advice to her, based on my anecdotal experiences, were:
1) Use a fresh mask. I have found that when I reuse disposable surgical masks, it becomes harder to breathe in over time.
2) In lower-risk situations, consider wearing a mask loosely.
So this may be controversial. I have a variety of masks -- some that fit tightly and make it harder to breathe, and some that fit loosely. If I am meeting another household 10 feet away in my backyard to socialize while wearing masks, I might use my lower-quality mask that is easier to breathe in. If I am going to exercise outdoors, far from people, I might wear a loose fitting mask and not even mold it tightly around my nose, making it easier for me to breathe.
And this is really my question for the group -- what do people think of intentionally not molding a mask tightly around a face when it's otherwise difficult for people. The mask will do a lot less to protect the wearer, and it will do less in terms of source control and protecting others, but on the balance, I would argue it's a reasonable Plan B that should be offered for people who have difficulty wearing masks.
I also raise this for discussion because I have seen the Santa Clara County Board of Education recommendations for re-opening schools in about a month, and they suggest that masks should be recommended, but not required. They outline how important it is not to separate or stigmatize children who have difficulty wearing masks, so there should be no mask requirement and no insistence for masks. As a parent, I find this unacceptable, and if my district doesn't require masks, and if there are kids in my kids' classrooms not wearing masks, I may have to unenroll and homeschool.
I have not seen anyone giving advice for what to do if you have difficulty wearing masks, so what do people think of the above advice for people having difficulty wearing masks indoors:
1) Wear a fresh mask,
2) Try a looser mask or (if necessary) don't mold it as tightly around the nose
3) As a final backup, in some circumstances, like at school with young children, permit face shields as the absolute minimum
The danger is that *everyone* will stop wearing masks tightly, but I'd be willing to permit the above accommodations at primary schools. Feedback?
My advice to her, based on my anecdotal experiences, were:
1) Use a fresh mask. I have found that when I reuse disposable surgical masks, it becomes harder to breathe in over time.
2) In lower-risk situations, consider wearing a mask loosely.
So this may be controversial. I have a variety of masks -- some that fit tightly and make it harder to breathe, and some that fit loosely. If I am meeting another household 10 feet away in my backyard to socialize while wearing masks, I might use my lower-quality mask that is easier to breathe in. If I am going to exercise outdoors, far from people, I might wear a loose fitting mask and not even mold it tightly around my nose, making it easier for me to breathe.
And this is really my question for the group -- what do people think of intentionally not molding a mask tightly around a face when it's otherwise difficult for people. The mask will do a lot less to protect the wearer, and it will do less in terms of source control and protecting others, but on the balance, I would argue it's a reasonable Plan B that should be offered for people who have difficulty wearing masks.
I also raise this for discussion because I have seen the Santa Clara County Board of Education recommendations for re-opening schools in about a month, and they suggest that masks should be recommended, but not required. They outline how important it is not to separate or stigmatize children who have difficulty wearing masks, so there should be no mask requirement and no insistence for masks. As a parent, I find this unacceptable, and if my district doesn't require masks, and if there are kids in my kids' classrooms not wearing masks, I may have to unenroll and homeschool.
I have not seen anyone giving advice for what to do if you have difficulty wearing masks, so what do people think of the above advice for people having difficulty wearing masks indoors:
1) Wear a fresh mask,
2) Try a looser mask or (if necessary) don't mold it as tightly around the nose
3) As a final backup, in some circumstances, like at school with young children, permit face shields as the absolute minimum
The danger is that *everyone* will stop wearing masks tightly, but I'd be willing to permit the above accommodations at primary schools. Feedback?