To ask people to show a little more understanding to those not wearing masks

[Fuckinellitsme]

Apologies for another mask thread.

First of all, I'm not an 'anti masker', I absolutely see the need and the importance of wearing them. I'm unable to wear one myself - I have trigeminal neuralgia and when I've tried to wear one, the resulting attack has left me bedbound for days. I want to wear one, but I can't. I also have rheumatoid arthritis so I'm incredibly grateful to all the people who do wear masks, therefore protecting others and especially those in higher risk groups (though not vulnerable enough to be shielding) like me.

However. I've seen some truly awful comments on here in the last few days directed at those who don't wear masks. We should be treated like lepers if we enter a shop without one, for example, or should be banned from them outright. And we ought to stay at home if we are exempt, not use public transport or go shopping or go to work. We have 'made up' health issues and disabilities and are 'woe is me' 'snowflakes'. I've also encountered bus passengers passing comment and tutting about my lack of mask.

Those of us who can't wear a mask (and are acting within the law/guidelines, being exempt) still need to go about our business. It would be lovely if we could do so without fear of comment or judgement. I understand that there will be those who don't wear a mask because they just don't want to - however, please, if you see someone without a mask (particularly if they're wearing a sunflower/exempt lanyard) try to be understanding and give them the benefit of the doubt.

The nastiness and ableist comments on here (and elsewhere) in the past few days have been genuinely upsetting for those of us unable to wear masks. Please don't assume we're all stupid/selfish/conspiracy theorists/don't care about your health, or that it's a choice. For many, choice doesn't come into it.

A bit of empathy goes a long way, especially in these weird times.

I wonder if the blowing out candles would be less risky wearing a mask?
If you have a good mask, you won't be able to blow candles. That's one way of testing them.

Better use some sort of implement to blow air (say, a hair drier). Or wrap the cake in clingfilm first.

We can’t live in constant fear. It’s not healthy. Of course we need to be aware but we need to be sensible aware

Completely agree.

Common illnesses like the flu could be very nasty for me. But if I sat at home worrying, my life wouldn't be up to much anyway. All any of us can do is take all the steps we can to protect ourselves (and others, where possible/necessary) and crack on. Ergo, I always have a flu jab, try to eat well, stay as healthy as I can, wash my hands) And in relation to others at the moment, practice social distancing/hand hygiene/etc.

Lots of people with chronic illnesses know that our lives may be shorter than average, or less comfortable particularly as we get older, because of our condition. Best thing to do given that knowledge is to live life to the fullest and aside from taking sensible precautions, don't let worry rule everything you do.

They have to arrange transport for any patient who is unable to travel safely to their appoint because of a health/medical condition. You need to call hospital transport and sort this out ASAP.

No they don't. My neighbour was having chemo throughout this. She had to go on the bus. No transport was arranged.

Hooves, at no point did I call you a liar. It’s outrageous for you to repeatedly lie and libel me.

You have made many, many posts detailing the severity of your many medical woes. It’s not unreasonable to point out that many people far less unwell/disabled than you are awarded PIP.

@Fuckinellitsme

We can’t live in constant fear. It’s not healthy. Of course we need to be aware but we need to be sensible aware

Completely agree.

Common illnesses like the flu could be very nasty for me. But if I sat at home worrying, my life wouldn't be up to much anyway. All any of us can do is take all the steps we can to protect ourselves (and others, where possible/necessary) and crack on. Ergo, I always have a flu jab, try to eat well, stay as healthy as I can, wash my hands) And in relation to others at the moment, practice social distancing/hand hygiene/etc.

Lots of people with chronic illnesses know that our lives may be shorter than average, or less comfortable particularly as we get older, because of our condition. Best thing to do given that knowledge is to live life to the fullest and aside from taking sensible precautions, don't let worry rule everything you do.

How do you manage at work? Can you socially distance at work?

@blurpityblurp

Hooves, at no point did I call you a liar. It’s outrageous for you to repeatedly lie and libel me.

You have made many, many posts detailing the severity of your many medical woes. It’s not unreasonable to point out that many people far less unwell/disabled than you are awarded PIP.

Sorry, what did you mean to imply by this then. heart failure? Chronic low oxygen levels anyone else would be put on hospital oxygen for?)

You seem to be saying that no one can have low sats without being on oxygen. What were you implying if not that you don't believe me?

You have made many, many posts detailing the severity of your many medical woes. It’s not unreasonable to point out that many people far less unwell/disabled than you are awarded PIP.

And I can't answer the questions truthfully and still qualify. Maybe there is a way to answer them but I cannot see how.

@ItsNotJustAboutYou

My family are getting through shitloads of masks without excessive coughing. I've made fabric ones so we aren't filling landfill and they're cheaper long term. Now I worry they should be three layers. I triple pleat them though. Does anyone make their own?

See I'm doing my bit even if I can't wear them myself.

I've ordered them, in Portugal.

We have a certification system here, so I know I'm getting effective masks.

I expect other countries may have similar systems, although that's one thing I've not seen in the UK. Is there?

There doesn’t seem to be a certification process here probably because the advise is only for a face covering so there is no requirement or expectation for standard of it.

Let's face it, until track and trace is implemented like it could have been done in the beginning, most of the guidance we have been given is worthless.

There is no clear guidance about the mask, and I'm not even talking about the various exemptions. Material type, how long to wear between changing, the different filters available for the re-usable etc (learned about this from other posters).

Although I do laugh still when other posters put there are no exceptions globally. Yet you go and read guidelines from those countries and the physical and mental health exceptions are there.

What I have seen over the past few days is those who are exempt having to justify their reasons. Suggestions of have you tried this. Oh I have that illness, I can do it.

When they say as op has, she cannot wear it repeatedly they are told they are selfish, trying to bend the rules etc.

It's embarrassing tbh. It's widely know how some with health conditions in society have limited access to a lot of things. The constant fight to be heard and taken seriously. It's always those with health conditions that have to compromise for the rest of society, even when it comes to areas that they fought for in the first place!!

Here some still are, trying to impose how they think others should do. Wear a mask, think of others. Doesn't it occur to others by not wearing a mask they are thinking about others? What about their loved ones who visit when they are in hospital or worse.

Wear a mask don't wear a mask. Just don't guilt trip those for their reasons are saying they cannot. If they aren't exempt they will have to pay a fine.

Could even be retail staff forgetting whilst they do their own shopping, that as a customer they have to wear one. Or didn't take one with them because they walked to work!

@Lweji This is the government advice on how to make your own face mask. If you think it's shit advice now , consider that they originally advised you could make them from an old T short or sock.

I'm not joking. (Perhaps people could remember when they are judging people for non mask wearing, they are judging someone for not wearing a cut up T shirt on their face). What the fuck has the world come to...

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-wear-and-make-a-cloth-face-covering/how-to-wear-and-make-a-cloth-face-covering

@Lweji This is the government advice on how to make your own face mask. If you think it's shit advice now , consider that they originally advised you could make them from an old T short or sock.

I'm not joking. (Perhaps people could remember when they are judging people for non mask wearing, they are judging someone for not wearing a cut up T shirt on their face). What the fuck has the world come to...

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-wear-and-make-a-cloth-face-covering/how-to-wear-and-make-a-cloth-face-covering

Also they say this

In the UK, face coverings are being sold by a large number of retailers online and in store. Details of a product’s conformance to any standards can be found under the product details section online, or on the packaging or label of the covering itself. The Office for Product and Safety Standards (OPSS) guidance for manufacturers and sellers of face coverings can be accessed heree_.
Due to the complexity of the different contexts in which Covid-19 can spread and the rapidly changing and growing evidence base on the effectiveness of face masks and coverings, there are currently no UK product standards for face coverings.
The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) approved a Workshop Agreement on 17 June with performance requirements, methods of testing and uses of community face coverings. This was created under the stewardship of AFNOR (the French national organization for standardization), who published a French specification for “barrier masks” intended for both mask manufacturers and the public in March 2020.
In June 2020, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) released a specificationn_ for Textile Barrier Face Coverings designed for both disposable and reusable coverings. The specification sets out the design, performance and chemical requirements of coverings, as well as labelling instructions. The performance requirements do not include tests for filtration efficiency which are incorporated under the CEN & AFNOR guidelines.
The British Standards Institute will not be creating a separate standard and intend to adopt the CEN Workshop Agreement. Copies of both the CENN and AFNORR documents are freely available for the public to download.

I'm afraid that the reckless media (to sell a story) and the government have first scared the living daylights out of people then to encourage the fearful back onto the high street have said face masks are now mandatory to make people FEEL.safe. They do not make you safer or really reduce the risk t transmission although sofa so distancing can. I'm fed up with people behaving like lemmings and believing every thing the government is telling us. Just do your shopping experience online or wear a by badge stating your health condition. The hysteria around face mask wearing is ridiculous. Teachers can't wear masks nor anyone going in pubs or restaraunts...!!!!

ItsNotJustAnoutYou - I have made face masks from the US website YouMakeItSimple.com. The lady’s YouTube video explains it very nicely (and simply!). I use j-cloths for filters.i commandeered some of dh’s work shirts for material.

I wore one of my masks to the hospital and the radiologist said it was the best she’d seen - especially with filter - and asked for website I got it from as she was intending to make her own. So a professional recommendation!!!

What were you implying if not that you don't believe me?

I wasn’t implying anything. I was listing some of the medical conditions that could make you eligible for benefits. You don’t have to be unable to walk to receive benefits! People receive benefits for all sorts of reasons, including mental illness, autism, all sorts of things. You’ve conflated disabled=wheelchair before, but you don’t need to be completely unable to walk to receive PIP.

I could easily claim that your many posts about “can’t receive benefits without lying” is implying that I am a liar and a benefits cheat.

Frankly for full protection you need a hazmat suit, but thinking about it rationally anything is better than nothing. So a mask is 50%, 10%, even 5% effective... well at least that’s something.

@Emma123L

I'm afraid that the reckless media (to sell a story) and the government have first scared the living daylights out of people then to encourage the fearful back onto the high street have said face masks are now mandatory to make people FEEL.safe. They do not make you safer or really reduce the risk t transmission although sofa so distancing can. I'm fed up with people behaving like lemmings and believing every thing the government is telling us. Just do your shopping experience online or wear a by badge stating your health condition. The hysteria around face mask wearing is ridiculous. Teachers can't wear masks nor anyone going in pubs or restaraunts...!!!!

I 🤣 at - or wear a by badge stating your health condition - thinking damn, some peoples badges will be bigger than them 🤣

Retail staff aren't required to wear them either.

Did someone say j-cloth as a filter?

Why not just another bit of fabric folded up, coffee filters, fish tank filters, water filters, toilet roll or kitchen roll - just a few suggestions on some of these make your own tutorials.

Perhaps people could remember when they are judging people for non mask wearing, they are judging someone for not wearing a cut up T shirt on their face

Yes. Even in countries with standards, nobody knows if the mask someone else is using offers any protection.
Even if it looks like a surgical mask, there are counterfeit ones being sold.

I think a badge that said “tracheobronchiomalcia” would at least keep people two metres from Ds as it would be that big!

We can only rely on the protection that we use ourselves.

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras

They have to arrange transport for any patient who is unable to travel safely to their appoint because of a health/medical condition. You need to call hospital transport and sort this out ASAP.

No they don't. My neighbour was having chemo throughout this. She had to go on the bus. No transport was arranged.

They do. If they are not doing this they are failing in their duty. You and your neighbour need to find out how to challenge the decision to not arrange safe travel. You need to be proactive, if you and your neighbour need the transport you to keep you safe why would you not be proactive and sort it out?

I was initially refused hospital transport by someone who didn't know the rules and requirements. They thought that because I live alone (with multiple conditions and disabilities) I was able to travel alone. I have a personal assistant and cannot manage alone outside my home. The rules are very clear.

If you cannot face battling for your rights you can sign up for community transport (ours is free for first 3 miles then £3 for the rest of the journey). With community transport, if you are shielding the council has to provide you with safe transport.

If you are disabled you need to learn how to get what you are entitled to in order to keep yourself safe!

The endless battles with transport 🤪
Not mine, I try and help someone and nearly every week there's a problem. Been going on since last year.

I don't know if this is true or another fob off. Patient transport has two types of vehicles, only one has the tail lift. Found this out when one week when the driver turned up! Of course this could just be that area, or miscommunication that a certain bus type wasn't available. Who knows. Still makes us giggle.

@blurpityblurp

What were you implying if not that you don't believe me?

I wasn’t implying anything. I was listing some of the medical conditions that could make you eligible for benefits. You don’t have to be unable to walk to receive benefits! People receive benefits for all sorts of reasons, including mental illness, autism, all sorts of things. You’ve conflated disabled=wheelchair before, but you don’t need to be completely unable to walk to receive PIP.

I could easily claim that your many posts about “can’t receive benefits without lying” is implying that I am a liar and a benefits cheat.

You said this to me

heart failure? Chronic low oxygen levels anyone else would be put on hospital oxygen for?)

What were the question marks for? What were you implying by saying others are in hospital for sats of 90%? That's not simply listing conditions eligible for benefits.

I know you don't have to be unable to walk to claim benefits. I know you can claim them for mental illnesses. I haven't conflated wheelchair user with disabled.

I have looked at the descriptors and the number of points that you need to make a claim and I cannot see how I fit into.those categories.

Being able to warm up pasta and sauce gives you zero points.

Walking 200metres with a stick - zero points

Going to the toilet unaided - zero points.Even being incontinent, if you can clean yourself is zero points.

Please explain how you get enough points to claim if you are able to walk, with a stick, wash and dress yourself, toilet yourself and heat up some pasta, and plan a journey?

Where do you claim for needing physio, needing opiates for pain relief, needing an implanted device for pain control, being immunosuppressed, having frequent diarrhoea? There aren't categories to cover that so I can't see how I qualify.