A large number of people have been using N95 respirators with valves from unsolicited manufacturers. CDC has stated to all commoners and medical facilities not to use non-NIOSH-approved N95 respirator with valve manufacturer.
The hospitals and other medical staff are facing a shortage of N95 respirators with valves. But to make a deal with a mask manufacturer who produces uncertified masks is a big no-no.
This article will be somewhat useful in tackling the sudden shortage of N95 respirators with the surge in the number of COVID cases shortly.
Let us start quickly:
These techniques can be followed in three easy steps:
Step1: Practice Everyday
If you have a bundle of them and have haphazardly started using all the masks one at a time due to misplacement, then it’s a bad practice in the long run. It is always wise to use a new N95 respirator when the old one cannot be used or has gotten soiled or dirty.
Step2: You are expecting a shortage lately
The best thing to do when you expect a shortage is first to evaluate, reuse and then extended use. For evaluation, you need to ask and answer as good as possible to the below-stated questions:
i. Are your present supply chain and N95 FFR inventory sufficient to meet your PPE requirements?
ii. Do local healthcare coalitions and federal, state, and local public health partners have N95 FFRs that meet your needs?
The other part of this step is to reuse:
i. Use your respirators on alternative days
ii. Sterilize in the oven at 70C without coming in contact with the metal. And to avoid contact, use a wooden clip.
iii. Keep it away from sunlight at all times, as there is no proof that what amount of sunlight is harmful.
iv. While removing the mask, always make use of ear straps to remove the N95 respirators, because if you grab the mask, there is a strong chance that germs will come in contact with the surface of the N95 respirator.
Next, we come to the final part i.e. extended use
Here an N95 respirator with a valve manufacturer is worn for a long time being taken off and thrown away. This will lessen supply difficulties by reducing the N95 FFR burn rate (the rate of combustion when in contact with combustion elements and with NaCl). N95 FFRs are also utilised for fit testing and training after the manufacturer's recommended shelf life.
But even after following the above-mentioned steps, you still face a steep shortage of N95 respirators, you move on to the third step.
Step3: Crisis Strategy
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Not only N95 respirators but other respirators like surgical respirators should be used beyond the stated shelf life.
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Not all respirators are NIOSH approved but they are approved to be used in other countries. A medical facility can make use of this kind of respirator when in a shortage crisis.
Use respirators that have received high marks under the manufacturer-specified shelf life but have not been NIOSH-evaluated.