Face masks with valves, vents banned from most US airlines

[SheltieLover]

https://www.localmemphis.com/mobile/article/news/health/coronavirus/airlines-face-mask-valve-vent-banned/507-32f98ee8-16d0-44a8-8030-0ac164daa67e

Airlines are requiring face masks, but those with valves and vents can defeat the purpose of stopping the spread of the coronavirus.

Author: Travis Pittman (TEGNA)
Published: 8:58 PM CDT August 12, 2020
Updated: 9:00 PM CDT August 12, 2020

American Airlines will ban the use of face masks that have exhaust valves or vents, joining almost every major airline in the U.S. with this updated policy. Masks with valves and vents can defeat the purpose of preventing a coronavirus-infected person from spreading the virus.

American's updated policy, announced Wednesday, goes into effect Aug. 19. It states face coverings must cover the nose and mouth and cannot have exhaust valves or vents.

More at link.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

1. I hope they can make exceptions to valves that are covered...

... with another mask, but I doubt it.

Once a rule is put in place, the reasons can become forgotten and the emphasis often becomes "Because that's the RULE!"

My best N100 masks have exhaust valves, but I keep them covered with another mask which would be totally acceptable if it was worn by itself. Giving myself more protection by wearing a better filter underneath it? "That breaks the rule!"

Oh, well... I have no intention to fly anywhere unless this pandemic ends.

Edit: Given the ARBITRARY rules about liquids in planes, I pretty much expect craziness with this policy too.

[SheltieLover]

2. Good for you double masking!

And with an N100!

Dunno why they would care, so long as vents are covered with another mask.

I wouldn't get on a plane for anything right now either.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

4. No way that I'll do it either!

Maybe I'd do it while wearing a full PPE body suit, like people working in a bioweapons lab or something. Lol.

[SheltieLover]

7. I hear you!

[LisaL]

3. I am pretty sure that would be o'key.

You can also get a big cloth mask to cover your N100. Would they even see if you have N100 underneath?

[Buckeye_Democrat]

5. The ones I have "stick out" from my face.

So they'd probably wonder what the heck is underneath the outside mask.

My N100 masks look like this (link below), and I thankfully have some multi-layer cloth masks which are big enough to fully cover them (snugly) without bending down my ears severely. I mention that they're snug because anything coming out of the exhalation valve WILL pass through the cloth mask (better than most cloth masks directly on a face).

Trend Stealth Air APF10 Reusable Half Mask Respirator https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077TX6TRX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_w3knFbMTB0KFM

[LisaL]

8. Yea, those would be pretty hard to cover up.

I have some valved N95s which are disposable and pretty flat. I could easily cover them up with another mask.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

11. I can easily cover them, but they would be more conspicuous.

I can just imagine an airline employee asking what's underneath the cloth mask, then ordering me to remove it for "Breaking the rule!" Ugh.

[LisaL]

16. Yea, the mask you have is very conspicuous.

I have the disposable ones with vents, and those are easy to cover up with a cotton mask or a surgical (or whatever they are selling on Amazon resembling a surgical mask). Of course you still have to be able to breathe.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

17. I might try to look for those kinds of disposable masks again.

Impossible to find weeks ago (unless you could show the seller that you're in healthcare or government), and it's probably still that way... but I'll try to find at least ONE.

[LisaL]

18. You know who has them right now?

Menards.com.
Good price too.
Valved 3M N95s.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

19. Seriously?!

Thanks for the tip!



I'm not a greedy, non-conscientious type of person, so I certainly won't try to hoard them! Thanks again!

[Buckeye_Democrat]

21. Done!

Ordered a two-pack just now!

Thank you so much! They will be nice to have as a "back-up plan"!

[LisaL]

22. Yep, in case you don't want anyone to know you have another mask underneath.

You can cover those with a cloth or surgical like mask and none will be the wiser, and it should work just as well as a cloth mask in filtering exhaled air.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

23. Yes, should be far less conspicuous!

I could just hug you!

Well, not now because of the Trump-virus. Lol.

[LisaL]

25. A virtual hug!

[Buckeye_Democrat]

26. That works!

[napi21]

6. What's the purpose of having vents in a mask? I've seen them but never understood the reason

you'd wasn them.

[herding cats]

9. They're for protecting you and making you comfortable.

They're not for protecting other people from you. They're good if you're not dealing with something contagious you may be spreading, like woodworking dust or paint fumes.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

10. Easier to breathe.

The N100-rated ones that I have were originally designed for dusty conditions, like woodworking. So filtration of incoming air was the main concern, not the exhaled breath (which I cover with a regular mask for mine).

I remember seeing N95 masks worn by healthcare workers that had exhalation valves. Makes them more comfortable to wear for several hours -- less humidity inside the mask, etc.

Not a good idea for their patients, though! Saw them while watching news reports of hospitals when the pandemic was first breaking out.

[LisaL]

12. So you can breathe easily.

[Arkansas Granny]

13. I have some masks with vents, but they have 2 layers of cloth covering them on the inside.

Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of the vent to start with? It seems to me it would be the same as wearing a 2 layer cloth mask with no vent.

I don't intend to get on a plane, but I would like to know that I'm wearing a mask that does what it's supposed to do.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

14. The valves are usually not covered.

Well, except for one-way valves that close while inhaling and open when exhaling.

You might have some unusual ones. I wouldn't want to try to explain your valved masks on an airplane either. Figure it would be the usual replies, even if the covered valves were SHOWN to them. "It's our policy!"

[LisaL]

15. Where did you get them?

Usually vented masks don't have cloth covering the vents.

[Arkansas Granny]

20. I got them on Amazon. I like that they are shaped so they don't suck up to my fsce

when I inhale.

[LisaL]

24. Do you have the model number of the name?

I am just trying to figure out what kind of masks those are.
Like I said, valves are normally not covered up with cloth.

[Arkansas Granny]

27. I bought these.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B089SRKX5J?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title&pldnSite=1

I tried to use the filters, but they make me feel like I'm suffocating. There was too much resistance.

[LisaL]

28. Looks like the valve in those is mostly for decoration purposes?

Many people are complaining that it's non functional.
But they likely wouldn't let you on the plane in them, since how would they know if the valve is functional or not?

[Arkansas Granny]

29. I don't plan on flying anytime soon. If I did, I would probably use disposables.