Anyone recently bought N95 mask

[niccig]

I will be able to do in-home speech therapy sessions soon. I’ve had the Covid vaccine. I’m worried about being Covid home to family, so I was looking to get a N95 mask I’ll wear with a face shield. I’m self-employed for in-home therapy so can’t get it through an employer. Has anyone gotten any recently they could recommend? Or maybe a K95 if I can’t get a N95

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[Globetrotter]

I ordered these from Costco and split them with a few friends. They were on sale last week- not anymore.
https://www.costco.com/niosh-n95-rou...100707773.html

[Globetrotter]

My friend likes these- they are fda approved- she says they are comfortable.
https://bonafidemasks.com/kn95-respi...yo1XH9mHaCS04Q

[mom2binsd]

I will say from a SLP perspective, with a N95 on they will have a very hard time hearing you much more than with a surgical mask. Will you be doing artic therapy? I only wear a n95 at work work covid positive patients, even the surgical masks muffle sound and any modeling (for oral motor movements are almost impossible, I have stepped back and raised my mask (while wearing a face shield) as the patient wasn't understanding the verbal cues.

A friend here is doing home health ped therapy and she has a shield and surgical mask and goes through so many sanitizing wipes and has limited what she uses (can't use decks of cards as they won't last through due to sanitizing). She also has special stuff to safely wipe down her iPad she uses for point of service documentation and for therapy.

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[elbert]

We’ve been using the KN95s purchased through Bona Fide Masks (https://bonafidemasks.com) since the Spring. I believe they also have N95s now. I totally vouch for the company. Super fast delivery, great customer service, systems in place to confirm masks are legit, and a long established distributor that pivoted for the pandemic.


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[StantonHyde]

FYI--in our hospital, on the Covid unit--not ICU, just "regular" Covid, staff wear regular surgical masks, gloves, gowns. And that's it. No face shields, etc. Obviously if there is any aerosolizing procedure, there is a different protocol.

[Globetrotter]

Btw, I forgot to mention I got the n95s for fires also as they triggered asthma 😬
We have 4 each so I was thinking we will save them for emergency situations (if we have to visit the ER) and fires.
For everyday shopping, we now use a surgical mask under a heavy cloth mask. People here are generally compliant and we go at slow times.
OP, I agree n95s would be tough for an slp. Have you tried the see through masks? (Use with a shield)

[basil]

FYI--in our hospital, on the Covid unit--not ICU, just "regular" Covid, staff wear regular surgical masks, gloves, gowns. And that's it. No face shields, etc. Obviously if there is any aerosolizing procedure, there is a different protocol.

That's crazy! We are required to wear N95 and eye protection with ALL patient contact, even outpatient non-COVID. Even my front desk ppl behind plexiglass wear N95 these days.

Nicci - if you want to invest, buy an Envo mask. It's not cheap but it is comfortable, reusable, and is pretty reliable for fit testing if you are caucasian. We've had trouble in my department with Asian people with flatter nose bridges failing fit testing. Be sure to use the plug to protect others from you instead of the valve. This is pretty much what DH and I wear these days, all day every day.

ETA the Envo is the best for voice projection of all the N95 models I've used (3M "green" N95, duckbill, 3M elastomeric). Do NOT buy the elastomeric, it makes you sound like you're at the other end of a very long tunnel Wear goggles instead of a face shield cause the shield blocks a fair bit of sound too.

[niccig]

I will say from a SLP perspective, with a N95 on they will have a very hard time hearing you much more than with a surgical mask. Will you be doing artic therapy? I only wear a n95 at work work covid positive patients, even the surgical masks muffle sound and any modeling (for oral motor movements are almost impossible, I have stepped back and raised my mask (while wearing a face shield) as the patient wasn't understanding the verbal cues.

A friend here is doing home health ped therapy and she has a shield and surgical mask and goes through so many sanitizing wipes and has limited what she uses (can't use decks of cards as they won't last through due to sanitizing). She also has special stuff to safely wipe down her iPad she uses for point of service documentation and for therapy.

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I was wondering about the N95 and being heard. I use a surgical mask and a face shield at the hospital. Face shield is required with patients that aren’t able to wear a mask, which are many of the patients. A colleague wore a N95 due to being pregnant. I’ll need to limit materials too and have sanitizing protocols.


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[niccig]

Btw, I forgot to mention I got the n95s for fires also as they triggered asthma
We have 4 each so I was thinking we will save them for emergency situations (if we have to visit the ER) and fires.
For everyday shopping, we now use a surgical mask under a heavy cloth mask. People here are generally compliant and we at slow times.
OP, I agree n95s would be tough for an slp. Have you tried the see through masks? (Use with a shield)

I need to look into the see through masks. Last I hear they weren’t rated highly due to stitching creating holes to hold the clear plastic in place to the cloth. It’s very difficult to not see patient’s mouth and for them to not see my mouth. I do a lot based on what I’m hearing.


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