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Overview of N95:
The season of pollution is around the corner in the USA, the problem of diseases comes with it. Such disorders have varying health effects on individuals. Wrong air quality causes decreased lung capacity, headaches, sore throats, coughs, exhaustion, lung cancer, and early death.
The N95 respirator is considered for industrial or medical use. The purpose of using this type of respirator is to filter out particulate matter from the air you breathe and to protect your health in the process. These respirators are generally required by law if you work in a hazardous environment, such as manufacturing or construction.
In addition to this, N95 Mask is designed for special applications, such as that of the personal protection equipment (PPE) worn by health care workers who deal with contaminated materials in hospitals, clinics, and offices. Workers need respirator masks that can filter out chemical fumes and infectious organisms such as viruses, bacteria, and other harmful pathogens. There are two types of N95 respirators – face masks and respirators.
How to Know If an N95 Respirator is Real?
The best way to make sure that you are getting a quality product is to research the company manufacturing product. There are several companies out there that sell these types of respirators. You want to know that you are buying from a company that has a good reputation.
Things you need to Check-Out :
- Respirators that have written N95 Mask are not enough to prove its authentication. This type of mask is made up of cheap material and is low-quality masks.
- National Institute of occupational safety and health has listed on their website certified license holder manufacturers name.
- Visit CDC (center of disease control and prevention ) has also listed the TC number of respirators.
Laboratory Test for Spurious Masks :
1. Filtration efficiency: The initial test is for testing the filter efficiency to determine the percentage of particles that the mask keeps out while using.
2. Liquid penetration: This is the second test that is to look at liquid penetration. The researcher uses blood spatter and assessment to check whether the mask can soak or not.
These masks are not certified. The laboratory can not certify these masks with its testing. Only U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), or NIOSH-certified laboratories, can certify the mask. The laboratory conducts the test by following the protocol of NIOSH testing protocol and instrumentation. The goal is to help public officials and health care.
Test for Counterfeits at Home :
1. Test 1 – Wear your face mask. Blow the candle or flame while wearing the mask. If you can blow it then it is unfortified. If you can not, then it is approved.
2. Test 2 – Put your mask on. Then try to inhale the sugar. If you can smell, then it is unfortified. If you can smell lightly, then it is certified.
3. Test 3- Hold your mask, dip in the full bowl of water. If water leaks, it is not authorized. If water doesn’t leak, it is certified.
Here we list a Number of General N95 Respirator Precautions:
- If you suffer diseases like chronic, respiratory, cardiac, or other medical conditions that result in breathing. Then you must consult your doctor before using the N95 Respirator mask because it is harder to breathe with an N95 Mask respirator.
- Some of the N95 mask models come with exhalation valves that help you breathe easier by minimizing heat build-up. Do not use N95 exhalation valve respirators in case you want sterile conditions around you.
- Wash your hands well with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer before and after handling or changing the respirator mask.
- When using an n95 respirator, you should wear gloves. This is to protect your hands and to further keep you from coming into contact with airborne particles.
Conclusion :
When buying your N95 mask, look for one that has good quality steel tips. These are necessary because they will ensure that your respirator mask will stay on your face while you work. If you use a cheap-made product, you will notice that the tips detach from the respirator mask, which means you will need to get another one to keep your face covered. Now you can know if the respirator mask you are using is certified or not. Also, you can test at your homes by doing some home remedies. An only N95 respirator mask is approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). They advised buying respirators to protect healthcare workers from exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. To assess effectiveness in compliance with NIOSH requirements, NIOSH’s National Personal Protective Equipment Laboratory checks respirators. The respirator is listed with an Approval Number on NIOSH’s Approved Equipment List until certified. Respirators are considered to be accredited and suitable for their intended use on this list. The following graphic shows the data given on any NIOSH-certified N95 respirator.
