Filtera has been offering respirators to the commercial and industrial user for a long time and for a variety of uses. Recent news in the mass media has caused a surge in demand for respirators from the general public (not a normal market for these products). Besides seeing people wearing protective masks on the evening news every night, various authorities have recommended at least a NIOSH N-95 rated mask for persons in the health care industry when in contact with bird flu infected poultry and humans. From our conversations with customers calling our offices, it appears that people are now beginning to stock up on masks for their family in case there is a flu pandemic. George W. Bush even said in a recent televised address that there will likely be shortages in these items if a pandemic does develop. With all the hype, I have even bought a few cases to keep at my home just in case. I really don't know if this is a nonsense, band-wagon reaction by me and the public from the news hype or if it is something really worth doing. We have received word from our manufacturing suppliers that a shortage of masks is forecast with backorders lasting up to several months on some of the most popular models. Manufacturing production is at maximum capacity. I decided to err on the side of caution and buy some respirators for myself and family. I guess that I am a Boy Scout at heart and just want to be prepared.
Filtera has not taken a position on which masks are most appropriate for use in these circumstances; however, we do carry a full line of quality 3M masks in N-95 and better ratings. The main difference between the various N-95 masks is their level of comfort for wear over an extended period of time. If you are going to be sitting in your office with a mask on all day, it had better be comfortable or you will take it off. If you are just going to use it when grocery shopping, maybe a cheaper, less-comfortable mask will do fine. Some masks have exhale valves that keep the user cooler under the mask. These valves are one-way valves that will prevent particles from being inhaled, but they will not keep contaminated particles from being exhaled - so don't put a mask with a valve on a sick person because they will still be able to exhale contaminated particles. All masks come with instructions from the manufacturer on their use in a commercial setting, and none are recommended for use by small children. In a commercial setting, OSHA and other authorities require that masks be fit-tested to each user to be sure of a good seal around the nose and mouth. If you don't have a good seal where the mask meets your face, you will get particle by-pass around the mask. First it was terrorists, then tsunamis, then hurricanes and now bird flu - good luck to you and your family and God bless.
Bill Reed, President
for Filtera