Buying a face mask online

[Curdsandwhey]

There are some for sale online, especially on Ebay but I don't know how to tell one from another. How do I know which ones are the proper ones, if there is such a thing, and who to buy them from?

My in laws got cotton ones, apparently because they're washable but we were all saying we've no idea if they work. Apparently one of the biggest things they did in China that helped was the wearing of masks though so you're definitely doing the right thing

I think the possibility of getting any online that would do more than a scarf around your face, are extremely unlikely, given that every government in the world is trying to bulk buy the genuine article...

You need FFP3 or N95

I got some off ebay that were FFP3 and I was pleased with the quality.

@WhyNotMe40 In some countries there are food shops who won't let you in without a mask, so I'd like be prepared in case it happens here. I don't want to be accused of breaking the rules if they become compulsory at some stage.

But it won’t become compulsory here... so what’s the point?

For those that have FFP3 and N95, who fit them for you? How do you know you have the correct shape for your face? Do you know how to don and doff the correctly?

Please save N95 and FFP3 for NHS workers.

This is a very informative site.

smartairfilters.com/en/blog/best-materials-make-diy-face-mask-virus/

Lots of tutorials on youtube for making your own.

Please remember that madks will not stop you contracting coivid unless they are correctly fitted FFP3 masks and the procedure takes around 20 mins by a trained fitter to ensure correct fit. They will do something to lessen spread but handwashing remains ths most important things.

Please save N95 and FFP3 for NHS workers.

^ That.

there's no evidence about whether cloth masks can help. Maybe yes, maybe not.

FFP3 masks have to be fit tested. You have to have stuff sprayed into the air and and a machine measures whether you are at risk or not depending on how to talk, breathe and what your face fits it. You also need no facial hair etc. Don't be ridiculous and buy this stuff when you can't use it properly in the community, it's not fair on the staff who are being told to treat positive patients in close range without these masks because there aren't enough in the NHS.

slatestarcodex.com/2020/03/23/face-masks-much-more-than-you-wanted-to-know/

smartairfilters.com/en/blog/n95-mask-surgical-prevent-transmission-coronavirus/?rel=1

Teal dear:

Facemarks are not magical but probably reduce risks for both wearer and the people around them to an extent.

Paper masks are more than adequate for members of the general public.
Homemade masks are less good, but are better than using nothing. Any sort of barrier is helpful. Even a scarf around the face will help in the meantime, while you are trying to source or make masks.
The general public does not need N95 masks or similar, and you are unlikely to be able to use them correctly. Let's leave these for the doctors and nurses.

We cannot get masks, hand sanitiser and all manner of other things in the nhs for our and patients benefit . Please stop buying them when you don't need them.

Masks can be good for helping you to avoid touching your face. I've bought a few basic ones from ebay. Yesterday I took my 9 year old out for a walk and the number of times she touched things and then rubbed her face was ridiculous.

I know they don't necessarily stop air particles but I am still going to wear mine when out and will get my children to wear them too.

They're not medical grade ones so I'm not depriving anyone more in need of protection. Something is better than nothing though in my opinion.