Preparing for Flu Season with the N95 Mask

Cold weather brings more than just snow and time for indoor activities. It is also accompanied by the arrival of flu season. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu outbreaks can happen as early as October, but most of the time, influenza activity peaks in January or later. So how do you prepare and protect yourself against the flu?

The use of surgical masks to combat viruses such as H1N1 (swine flu) or Avian Influenza (bird flu) has been debated. However, a study published in Emerging Infectious Diseases, the journal of the CDC, found that you can cut your risk of contracting the flu by as much as 80 perfect through the use of a flu mask that covers your mouth and nose. The type of flu mask used in this study is what is known as a P2 mask, the Australian equivalent to our N95 mask. The study concluded that non-mask wearers were four times more likely to catch viruses such as the flu or common cold than subjects who properly wore their N95 mask. The key here is that the N95 mask must be worn properly to be effective.

So what should you look for when buying a flu mask? As mentioned above, you need to buy an N95 mask to prevent infection. The name of this mask comes from the percentage of particulates it is able to filter out. The N95 mask is what is recommended by the CDC to prevent swine flu (H1N1) and bird flu, and it should mention on the box whether or not the mask is CDC approved. The flu mask should cover your mouth and nose with a tight seal. The N95 is so popular because it conforms to your face for better protection than a surgical mask or fabric mask through an adjustable metal frame.

The swine flu outbreak of 2009 caused us at Penn Care to thoroughly educate ourselves on the value of an N95 mask to combat the spread of viruses. It also prompted us to stock up on N95 masks to ensure that we could meet demand as flu season took hold. This year, we are fully prepared as well and are recommending the 3M N95 Particulate Mask to our customers. You can learn more about the mask here.

Have you purchased an N95 mask to protect against the flu? Post a comment on our blog and let us know what you think.