Alright folks, I think we need to take a deep breath regarding PPE. In the interest of not pointing fingers, I'm not quoting anyone. If you are looking for a definitive answer for "which mask/covering should I buy right now" - this STILL isn't it. Because the goal here is to get you to understand the difference in levels of protection, and decide for yourself what is going to work for you and yours. Likewise none of us can tell you whether you need 100# of rice or 1000#. You need to read.
I'm going to lay things out as best I can without this occupying an entire page. I'm gonna give a range of options - again it's not going to be 100% of the options. You need to read.
The main goal here is to eliminate or minimize the amount of bare skin that is available to be contacted by virulent material. That is a specifically vague statement. We don't know what we don't know. It's an evolving situation, and I can almost guarantee our perception is going to be different next week, next month etc. You need to read about it.
(Get the hint?) Let's get started!
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Masks - in order of protection level, lowest to highest
- Elastic ear loop flu masks
- Elastic ear loop N95 <--where CDC says is fine
- Elastic ear loop P95
- Elastic ear loop N100
- Elastic ear loop P100
- Half mask with filter of choice
- Full face respirator/filter
- Respirator with detached filter
- Gas mask of choice
- Any of the above with a filtered positive pressure source (aka Moon suit)
I have ear loop N95s in every single bag I or my wife will have with us if the wheels come off the train. Why? They are cheap. $.50 each if you buy 20 or more. This is my backup plan, because they are damn near impossible to seal to your face. We can debate 1 micron vs .5 micron all day long. Actually, I'm not doing it again. If you rely on $.50 mask without taping that sucker to your noggin, you're going to have a bad time. Our primary is a half mask with P100 filters, and if things really go sideways some acid/vapor cartridges. I expect to have to shave my goatee, and plan on duct taping it to my face. Can things happen that would require full face and/or positive pressure? Yup, but I ain't going there, mainly because I can't shoot from behind it. If I can't shoot from behind it there's no point. But that's just me, and that's why we have a dedicated NBC section with some damn fine folks that can address your concerns.
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PPE eye protection - i'm winging it here a bit
- Safety glasses
- Safety goggles
- Splash shield <--CDC seems to be about here
- Swim goggles
- Ski goggles
- Full face respirator
- Moon suit
I'm planning on wearing my Oakley Half Jacket XLJ glasses in most cases. I have safety glasses, safety goggles and ski goggles elsewhere that aren't part of a preparedness kit. CDC shows pictures of healthcare workers with any of the first 3, but sends their own folks in with ski goggles and above in most cases. Meh - I've had rocks kicked up at me at 80mph and my Oakley's stopped them. I have multiple lenses. They hug the contour of my face. Will I have bare skin? Yup, tailor made for duct tape. But guess what - I can shoot from behind my Oakley's. See any trends developing?
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PPE gloves
- Plastic foodservice type
- Rubber/latex <-- CDC is here
- Nitrile
- Nitrile coated cloth
I like the nitrile gloves, because they will survive exposure to a lot of chemicals. I am planning on double gloving using 2 contrasting colors. This will help with tear identification should the outer glove get breached. If I know I'm going to have contact with a sickie, I likely will triple glove. All my gloves I currently have are wrist length.
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PPE clothing
- Bandana, ski mask, t-shirt pulled up like a Missouri looter
- Paper coverall, with hood or paper head covering <--CDC seems here
- Tyvek coverall
- Coated Tyvek coverall
- Coated Tyvek moon suit
- Rubber moon suit
- Nitrile moon suit
Relying on the first item, especially soaked in anything, is just ridiculous IMO. As far as the second item, funny again that alot of the pictures show healthcare workers in country and hospitals in paper coveralls or gowns. As someone mentioned earlier, if it gets wet, you're hosed. It's temporary protection, better than nothing, but still insufficient. Don't believe me? What does CDC deploy their folks in? You got it - coated Tyvek, rubber or nitrile. I have plain old Tyvek in those aforementioned bags, but my main goto is going to be the coated Tyvek QC. It has a hood that fits reasonably close to my masks and eye protection. Care to guess why I don't have a moon suit? It's too expensive. Hahahahaha gotcha! I can't shoot from behind it.
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Please allow me to digress for a moment. Am I a violent person? Nope. I do get labeled a gun nut automatically because I'm from Texas. I do happen to like guns. They are amazingly efficient marvels of harnessing physics to accomplish a simple goal. My SHTF currency is lead. Do I plan on going marauding and come get your preps? Nope. But I am also not going to play rock-paper-scissors for something left in the open. I'm all about sharing if we get there at the same time. Don't want to share? Well, I'd venture to say I'm more prepared than the average Joe for what comes next.
You don't have to share my views. Likewise I don't have a need to convince you of mine. I read
a lot, and am always willing to share anything I've learned. I love intelligent debate, even banter. We can even get all emotional about it. I'm still going to hand you a beer, whiskey or whatever when we're done, and we're gonna hug it out.
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Back on topic!
Like any of the preparation activities, you are limited only by your budget - relative to what your level of comfortable protection is. You have to strike a balance, otherwise you will go nuts with neurosis or broke. Or maybe both. Logistically, your location may limit what you have access to. I would bet money at this point, that a high percentage of the HCWs that have become infected, had mediocre eye protection, and paper gowns. Likely because that's all they could get.
Never underestimate the importance of clear plastic sheeting and duct tape. It's PPE, shelter building materials, funeral arrangements, water gathering....
If you haven't figured that out yet, welcome to Survivalist Boards!
And you need to read.
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