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Original poster

Any scientists? Why it’s ok for kids to wear masks all day in school?

83 replies

HaggisBurger · 09/11/2020 21:51

My DH is really anti-mask. And anti lockdown. Our kids school have brought in a rule that they need to wear masks in lessons now - as well as moving around the school. He’s gone nuts and wants to email the school. He’s claiming I don’t care about our kids health and welfare as I don’t feel strongly against this. I know it’s uncomfortable and not ideal - no one likes wearing a mask. But I am feel it’s worth it if the school feels it’s worth doing.

But I have no science with which to refute DH’s claims. Or indeed if I’m in the wrong it’s good to know. Can anyone help?

OP posts:
pergnet · 09/11/2020 23:16

My children and all children over 2 in my Asian city have been wearing masks all year when at school. Ballet class, sports lessons, only take them off for eating or when they get home.

The health question is just a non issue here, people are far more worried about the health effects of catching and passing on Covid.

A lot of people have been wearing plastic mask shell inserts that keep the mask out from your face, so that it's easier to breathe.

I agree that asking him to provide peer-reviewed evidence to the school is a good option. Or else he can homeschool the children himself.

WoodYewBee · 09/11/2020 23:34

@SteeperThanHell

well yes, of course! goes without saying......but material masks get wet, not like its on for half an hour, its all day! i've not seen one which is hygienic....all look grubby

WoodYewBee · 09/11/2020 23:34

those shell inserts aren't universal...wasted money on those

BensonStabler · 10/11/2020 02:55

www.bbc.co.uk/news/53108405

m90994 · 10/11/2020 04:32

Dentists, Dental Hygienists, Construction workers, Surgeons

All have been wearing face masks for the majority of their working day for decades.

Presumably they’ve all been dropping like flies for the last 50 years due to their poisonous masks and we just haven’t noticed?

You should be very concerned about what your husband is looking at on the Internet, and be super vigilant about what he tells your kids.

This “makes harm the immune system” tripe was all dreamt up by the king of conspiracy theorist who thinks that reptilian aliens run the planet, 911 was a government plot, and that the Earth is flat.

m90994 · 10/11/2020 04:35

Sorry Apples autocorrect is terrible. It should be:

This “MASKS harm the immune system” tripe

And:

all dreamt up by the KIND of conspiracy theorist

SteeperThanHell · 10/11/2020 06:12

[quote WoodYewBee]@SteeperThanHell

well yes, of course! goes without saying......but material masks get wet, not like its on for half an hour, its all day! i've not seen one which is hygienic....all look grubby[/quote]
That’s why the recommendation is to change is when damp. At work I’ll use 3 disposable masks for an 8 hour shift as a minimum. Disposable masks are single use only and I have to agree that many look like they have seen better days - although the main purpose is to to stop a person with COVID from spreading it around so they are probably better then nothing.

TheSeedsOfADream · 10/11/2020 06:59

Well of course handmade cloth masks are next to useless, (there's a reason we don't see doctors with a makeshift flannel strapped to their face)
But beyond that, there are a million and one clear and easy to understand for the layman articles on the internet about why masks prevent transmission and don't harm the wearer in any way.

How embarrassing for your children OP. Hope he doesn't go through with it.

Northernsoulgirl45 · 10/11/2020 07:28

I don't think it can be healthy breathing in no fresh air like that for long periods. But no not a scientist !

Fresh air in a school classroom?!

Flapjak · 10/11/2020 07:43

Well for one, comminication , peoples voices are muffled. You cannot read people when most of their face is covered. I would have thought fir children, this would have some affect on their understanding of body language if it was to become long term. Hydration, most adults i work with express they need to drink more . Also if kids are going to be taking them on / off to eat / drink, do exercise what is the point in them wearing them at all ?

Original poster
HaggisBurger · 10/11/2020 07:54

Thank you for all the measured responses on here. I agree it’s not ideal for kids - but I would much rather my kids were in school wearing masks than at home with the schools all closed. He’s still really angry with me. His whole views on C19 are just endlessly draining (I’ve posted about it before).

OP posts:
SteeperThanHell · 10/11/2020 07:57

@Flapjak Voices aren't muffled as long as you speak clearly.

Assuming you aren't wearing masks at home then there should be plenty of opportunity to understand body language (although body language isn't only the face).

Mask are quite drying, but there is nothing to stop you having a drink.

I accept that taking them off to eat / drink / do exercise is an issue if not socially distanced, but overall the risk of transmission is reduced which is the ultimate aim.

JamminDoughnuts · 10/11/2020 07:57

are children wearing masks in school lessons now? i wasnt aware. is this at secondary school.?

Angel2702 · 10/11/2020 08:17

I would rather they try wearing masks in high school and I say that as a parent who’s child would struggle to do so.

There’s a lot that isn’t ideal, freezing cold classrooms will affect concentration and make the kids feel sleepy but it’s necessary. They will still get more out of being at school with masks and dropped concentration than trying to learn remotely.

DumplingsAndStew · 10/11/2020 08:34

My teenager has been wearing masks since they went back to school nearly 3 months ago. They put one on in the morning before school, take it off at lunchtime, and put a fresh one on after eating until they come home.

Although getting them up in the morning is difficult, they're not dead.

PollyRoulson · 10/11/2020 08:50

@Spinakker

I don't think it can be healthy breathing in no fresh air like that for long periods. But no not a scientist !
Oh the irony of this post
LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 10/11/2020 09:00

Well they're not perfect or ideal, clearly everyone understands that. It's a bit hot, a pita if you wear glasses and there is an affect on communication if you can't see someone's full face - my DS has ASD so I am acutely aware of this last issue particularly.

But when I asked DS what he felt about them he said he was proud to do his bit to keep his pals safe. Maybe your DH should check in with his DCs before he goes emailing their teacher and making a tit of himself.

Fabellini · 10/11/2020 09:05

@m90994

Sorry Apples autocorrect is terrible. It should be:

This “MASKS harm the immune system” tripe

And:

all dreamt up by the KIND of conspiracy theorist

When I read that I didn’t think it was a typo....I just assumed you meant David Icke Grin
ISBN111 · 10/11/2020 09:12

Is your husband into conspiracy theories?
I heard one the other day that covid was developed by our glorious leaders to kill off the ageing population, as they think there’s not enough resources to go round, while we maintain the elite rich.
How do you think he would feel about that one?

SomelikeitHoth · 10/11/2020 09:34

My son climbs in a mask. It's intensive exercise and no effects whatsoever !

kittykat35 · 10/11/2020 09:39

I'm a scientist...a microbiologist to be precise and I have been wearing mask in my job FOREVER!! In the lab it's necessary unfortunately. Your dh is being extremely dramatic and needs to get a grip! It doesn't effect oxygen levels!, never have they given me a headache and as for mask particles....I'm not even going to respond to that 🤣

LastGoldenDaysOfSummer · 10/11/2020 09:42

Let him show himself up for the idiot he is. Make sure you let them know you don't agree with his stupidity.

toolatetooearly · 10/11/2020 10:07

Your husband sounds very annoying

Billie18 · 10/11/2020 10:14

@noblegiraffe

Ask him to gather his peer reviewed scientific evidence to present to the head of his claims, instead of trying to dispute them?
Before introducing rules that force healthy children to wear a mask and especially to wear a mask for long periods of there should be -

  1. Peer reviewed scientific evidence that children's general mask wearing reduces virus spread. There is zero evidence of this.

  2. Peer reviewed scientific evidence into the harmful effects of children's general mask wearing. There is zero evidence of this.

  3. Peer reviewed scientific evidence that when and if any peer reviewed scientific evidence of 1 and 2 are found that a full impact assessment is carried out considering the possible benefit and harm of forcing mask use.

  4. Possible compulsory mask wearing should then pass through an ethics committee.

5)Possible compulsory mask wearing should then pass through a research committee.

None of this has happened. No one knows the effect of forcing children to wear masks long term. It is shocking that some parents are happy with the lack of concern for their children...

LabiaMinoraPissusFlapus · 10/11/2020 10:22

I agree with your husband. I would want proof that breathing in higher carbon dioxide levels all day with a teenage developing brain isn't harmful in the short and long term. You could make a very thin (basically ineffective) face mask for them to wear so they can breathe more freely through it.