By now, you’ve probably heard that there is shortage of N95 masks for health care professionals trying to deal with the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The shortage has motivated a number of DIY (do-it-yourself) efforts by well-meaning folks to make masks that are not exactly official N95 masks. While the intents behind such efforts are admirable, it will be important to have the design and manufacturing of such masks follow the science of N95 respirators.

The stakes are high when designing an alternative mask. A shortage of N95 masks isn’t like a shortage of throw pillows. Lack of such protection for health care workers can make it much more likely for them to get infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2). This not only puts them at risk but also other patients seen by such health care workers. So an incorrect design will have a lot deeper consequences than just bad Amazon reviews.

It’s not clear whether this would be to replace simple masks and hospital gowns that don’t need to filter out small particles or to replace N95 respirators as well. If it’s the former then jersey material could work, again as long as it is for situations where filtering small particles like viruses is not needed. Plus, there’s the added advantage of you looking like either a New York Yankees player or a topographical map, whichever you happen to prefer. Additionally, such “jersey masks” could provide some benefits while placed on patients who are infected with the SARS-Cov2. This could catch their coughing and sneezing so that they are at least a little less likely to infect others. If you need Buy FFP3 Mask, you can visit our site z2u.com.

However, masks using such material would not adequately protect doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals working directly with patients who may be infected with SARS-CoV2. Jersey material does not have the characteristics necessary to filter out very small virus particles.

It’s heartwarming to see so many people trying to cover the shortage of N95 respirators. Protecting health care professionals should be paramount. Just make sure that the limitations of any DIY mask are clearly covered or rather uncovered for everyone to clearly see. And that the design of any masks trying to serve as replacements for N95 respirators clearly cover the scientific principles that need to be covered.