FFP3 masks

[Sickandtired1]

Can anyone help me source an FFP3 grade mask?

I am a key worker.

At the minute our employer is only issuing these to those directly involved with covid 19 patients which is frustrating but not surprising because there simply isn’t enough supplies to go around so they have had to prioritise.

I am now in the position where I am having to buy one of these masks myself because I simply can’t get them through work. Can anyone advise where I can get stock. I’m not fussed on the price. I can’t seem to find them anywhere and am at the end of my tether trying to source them online.....

Unless you are in direct contact with Covid patients during aerosol generating procedures, you would be unreasonable to deplete low stocks unnecessarily.

I am not going into specifics of the situation, I don’t want to post details on the forum.

Just because I am not on an ICU ward does not mean I have not, and am not coming into contact with persons with Covid 19.

Thanks

Are you a health care professional involved in aerosol generating procedures?

I have seen some on Aliexpress, but the delivery takes 2-3 weeks.

I have one from sanding my kitchen floor - think I must have got it from a diy store. Are they reusable?

We ordered some from a small builders merchant online, but that was at the end of January so you may struggle now.
Looking online, there's a German safety website called Uvex Safety that has masks, I'm not sure how long delivery would take though.

Are you a healthcare worker? If so your employer should be providing you with an FFP3 if you're carrying out aerosol generating procedures. If they can't or won't, then you need to refuse to work.

My Trust have made this position very clear. No PPE = no work. Safety comes first.

Not FFP3 but possibly better than nothing they may not be available however
www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-8193223/The-snood-mask-infection.html

If not involved with aerosol generating procedures, you don’t need these masks. For general patient contact you only need a surgical mask.

Also, having just one mask is useless anyway. As is not having a proper fit test.

I work in construction and we've been told beginning of June. This is from ARCO one of the biggest suppliers in the UK who taps in to hundreds of other suppliers so you will struggle I'm afraid.

They are single use so one won't be any use to you. That's why it is difficult to keep up with needed supply.

Hi I use them in my work ( HDU nurse ) there’s no point in buying one as they are single use you can’t just reuse it every time . They last up to 12 hours max then need thrown out or need thrown out when changed , so pointless unless you have loads of them and if everyone bought them that don’t need them there would be none for people who actually need them .

It's not just as simple as having a mask, you have to know how to use it and be fit tested. It needs to fit properly and you need an air tight seal.

I had to try 5 before I found something that fitted.

(I work in theatres and very much involved in aerosol generating procedures)

We are also extensively fit tested for them too so useless unless you are .

If I could source masks I would. I work for the NHS and am in contact with the public on a daily basis. Our employer has provided 40 masks split between 8 members of staff over the last 3 weeks. Its disgusting. So all you preaching about not OP not needing her own mask, whatever the circumstances or job they are doing, it is better to be safe than sorry. If this means taking your own health and safety into your own hands so be it. Good luck OP I hear ya 💐

There's no point in having a mask unless it is properly fitted.

I wouldn't trust any masks from aliexpress.

One mask isn't adequate, you would need a supply.

I think you have a choice between working in line with the arrangements of your workplace or refusing to work if it is unsafe.

any mask is better than no mask. Lots of countries are encouraging people to make fabric masks.

You need to be properly fitted for FFP3. Which are you fitted for as they are different types/shape ect

Also, please don’t purchase anything on Aliexpress, especially PPE.

any mask is better than no mask. Lots of countries are encouraging people to make fabric masks.

There's actually some debate about whether fabric masks are more dangerous than no mask due to them retaining fluid droplets.

There's only been one randomised trial in use of fabric masks in health and social care - it identified that fabric masks are ineffective nearly 97% of the time. The authors published a statement about use of fabric masks during the current crisis on 30/3 - they said there is no evidence to say whether fabric masks are better than nothing.

Here are the conclusions of the original study:
bmjopen.bmj.com/content/5/4/e006577

Here is the recent statement:
bmjopen.bmj.com/content/5/4/e006577.responses#covid-19-shortages-of-masks-and-the-use-of-cloth-masks-as-a-last-resort

Dontsay no one is preaching. The OP is obviously concerned. As are many people in all sorts of clinical settings.
People are anxious and scared because they are under the impression that they need FFP3 masks.
However the guidance is currently explicitly clear. They are only required for aerosol generating procedures ( e.g ventilation/suction/high flo O2 etc) But more importantly they MUST be individually FIT tested.