TIL of “Chicago disease” #blastomycosis a fungal infection people and pets inhale from dirt, dead leaves or decaying wood. Of course I read this after digging in my garden moving around old cedar mulch. Lol

Looks like #respirators for gardening are a good idea for me, for pollen and #fungus.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blastomycosis

In light of teriffs and the rumor that #NOISH is shutting down, may I recommend Envo Masks from NH should we be unable to get masks we know are real?

They impressed me when they started offering the plug for the exhale valve and I didn’t want to buy a whole pack of them, so I wrote to them and asked them if I could purchase just one or two since the early versions didn’t have them, and they sent me a couple for free.

Oh and we don’t have sales tax here (NH USA). I don’t remember if they have to charge you if you do.

Envo Mask – envo mask https://envomask.com

Wrote a blog post for all the people who don't know about reusable #respirators and ask me about the one I wear. Especially written with a focus on #India.

https://contrapunctus.codeberg.page/blog/3m-6200.html

It's time to start digging in to my mask project!

I need good, solid resources to back up a presentation I'll be giving to the local public. What are the most reliable and ethical doctors, journalists, advocates, research, statistics, or sites that you've seen?

I'll be talking about air quality, advocating environmental justice through citizen science and mutual aid, and my focus is going to be ventilation and masking.

The program is organized by a local group of folks that started putting up air sensors all over town because of toxic chemical leaks from nearby refineries. They got a grant through a university, and they may be able to help me out in getting an air quality sensor so I can test the CO2 in local buildings. I'd also like to be able to pass out some mask samples. I've been trying to find info on other things like sip valves, elastomeric respirator exhaust valve filter adapters, good sites to buy masks and so on.

Since these issues got politicized and the CDC and WHO are increasingly corrupt/hamstrung, finding good info is a fuckin MESS. I could really use some help!

What's been very interesting to me is, the folks who promote masking are usually ALSO right on other issues. Masks are required at the local anarchist book fairs, for example, which to me says a LOT. The people I follow here on Mastodon who are solidly against genocide, fascism, capitalism, and lesser evilism are the SAME people who are solidly for issues like universal healthcare, right to repair, accessibility, direct action, labor organizing, etc etc-- you have a moral consistency that inspires my respect and hope, and I want to learn more from you!

Next post below will be where I list the sources I've collected, updating as I go.

#masks
#respirators
#ventilation
#COVID19
#covidCautious
#birdFlu
#H5N1
#measles
#publicHealth
#airQuality
#environmentalJustice
#mutualAid
#purpleAir
#citizenScience

Can users of 3M 6502QL #respirators comment on its latch?

In some videos, it only seems to drop down just below the lower lip/near the chin.

In other videos, it seems to drop down below the chin/around the neck - which seems preferable, as you may be able to get a bite to eat without the risk of dirtying the mask...

And then there's the 3M 7500 series which has no latch, but seems to drop down all the way to the chest...

(cc @thatkatharine , who mentioned having one )

All of #NIOSH respiratory & PPE organization is reported to have been fired. There is apparently no one left to manage the program to certify N95, N99 & N100 #respirators

> Among the teams where "all employees" are expected to be impacted, ... the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory, which is tasked with vetting and approving N95 respirators among other personal protective equipment

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rfk-jr-layoffs-hhs-niosh-worker-safety-agency/

I'm looking for recommendations for a respirator that's easy to put on and take off a face with long hair and glasses. Specs I need:

* N95 or better
* Protected filter housing; not adjacent to skin
* Adjustable fit
* Minimally restrictive air intake, or enough sealed space to feel air moving on my skin
* Not valved
* Available in US

Preferred:
* Not disposable

My concerns, in case you're aware of something that addresses them, without necessarily fitting the specs.

Duck-billed disposable N95s (3Ms V-flex) seem to address the anxiety restricted airflow triggers in me after about 30 minutes in an oval shaped N95. They also sit right on my skin, so when a hot flash makes my face sweaty, that triggers concerns & anxiety that the sweat may be compromising the integrity of the mask.

I have a valved P100 that's comfortable enough, but is a) a production to put on and take off, and b) doesn't protect other people from me.

I have a pointy European nose, which doesn't fit properly inside most masks made for the Asian market.

Got any recommendations?

#masks #masking #recommendations
#CovidIsNotOver #pandemics #SelfProtection
#medical #health #respirators #shopping

With all the uncertainty around public health in the U.S., now is a great time to wear a good mask like an N95.

They’re not just for Covid! A respirator can help you avoid flu, colds, measles, TB and more.

It’s a powerful act of solidarity and resistance. It’s a sign of community care.

Protecting your long term health has never been more important. Mask up, make activism accessible and don’t leave anyone behind.

“If you’re seeing all the #AirFilters and #respirators being handed out for free in #LAfires, remember these resources are only available because #covid activists have remained steadfast in advocating for #CleanAir and mask use since 2020”

@inkylabrynth
#N95 #airborne #smoke #virus #gratitude

My latest: CDC's #HICPAC fails again-- Weighs Lowering Infection Protections Even More via @forbes https://forbes.com/sites/judystone/2024/11/21/cdc-weighs-lowering-infection-protections-even-more/

With thanks for perspective from @nynurses Lisa Baum, NYSNANurses undefined, Peg Seminario, Amanda Finley Diggs and the many others who testified at the #HICPAC meeting to tell them how their decisions were killing people.

what a shame that 3M 6700 doesn't seem to be available in Europe

There’s a teenager in the ICU in BC with bird flu.

As news spreads- I’m seeing increasing number of people ask:

“what health conditions did he have? Was he overweight?”

Can we PLEASE not do this again? A 16 year old is fighting for his life. Stop looking for fault and blame.

Just like with Covid - people are trying to tell themselves there must be “something wrong” with that individual to make them more vulnerable.

They must be in the “other” category. They’re “expendable.”

It needs to stop.

First off - no one is expendable. We’ve been dealing with this horrible “othering” for five years. Disabled and chronically ill people are exhausted.

Second - bird flu is no joke. It can be quite serious.

Instead of looking for fault with the victim so YOU can feel better about your own personal risk - we should be taking steps right now to minimize spread.

We should be demanding transparency from the government on the severity of the threat.

We should have mandatory masking in healthcare. We should be cleaning the air and educating the public on the benefits of respirators and how to use them properly.

We should agree to stop asking ableist questions. Stop blaming the victim. Health is a temporary state. Death and disability can and do befall everyone.

When the first question someone asks when they hear of a person dying or being disabled is “what comorbids did they have?” all they’re doing is trying to cling on to the comfortable lie.

They’re trying to make sure they can keep telling themselves everything is fine, they’re the exception, the threat doesn’t apply to them.

As long as we continue to take that selfish and faulty approach - viruses keep winning.

Everyone can’t be the exception. Once people realize that and start protecting their health and the health of others - we will ALL be much better off.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/first-presumptive-avian-flu-case-in-humans-1.7381342

This teen’s case of bird flu is clearly far from “mild” given it’s landed them in the ICU.

Staff removed airborne precautions and switched to droplet. No scientific reason to back that decision.

Now staff and ALL other patients are at risk.

Mandatory masking now!

“If you’ve been fighting for Covid mitigations for the last five years - you more than likely saw this coming. It was painfully obvious when the great unmasking occurred that many people on BOTH sides of the aisle didn’t care about the “vulnerable”. Didn’t care about community or protecting their neighbours. Didn’t care about anything other than their own ability to go to brunch, travel, socialize and get ‘back to normal.’

I’m not saying people should have shuttered inside their homes forever. None of us are. But they should have kept masking. There was no reason to stop. Respirators are highly effective at stopping the spread of Covid. The vast majority of people CAN wear them. We have mask blocs all over the world to provide masks to people who can’t afford them. It’s a simple thing you can do to protect yourself and - perhaps more importantly - protect others.”

If you missed my latest - it’s about the U.S. election, disability rights, eugenics, fascism and how we got to where we are. Perhaps more importantly - it’s about what comes next.

https://www.disabledginger.com/p/how-did-we-get-here-and-what-comes

Even if you don’t care about the health of others - you should be masking RIGHT NOW to protect yourself.

Disabled people have been telling you for years there is NO help when you become chronically ill.

This won’t improve in the next 4 years. Protecting your health is paramount.

Understand that those of us who’ve been advocating for Covid mitigations for years are exhausted. We’re frustrated. We’re fed up.

Many of us don’t have our health. We’re terribly sick and choosing to spend our limited energy trying to protect people who hate us.

We aren’t doing this for fun. We’re doing it because it’s necessary and no one else is bothering.

We know that there’s no exceptions - that once you lose your health your life changes forever.

We want to protect YOU despite the horrible way you’ve treated us for years.

Consider that the next time you’re tempted to yell at someone for masking or make fun of someone for trying to protect others.

We WANT to be wrong - but we know we’re not.

You NEED to be right because the alternative is too hard for you to face.