respirators/flu

[Guest guest]

This was a presentation given at the last CIAQ meeting. It is of how to

keep the buildings protected from viruses, etc. I think I would be more

likely to practice some of these recommendations before I would subject myself

to a Swine Flu shot.

_http://www.epa.gov/iaq/ciaq/influenza_presentation.pdf_

(http://www.epa.gov/iaq/ciaq/influenza_presentation.pdf)

In a message dated 8/10/2009 7:04:07 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,

ntefusa@... writes:

I foudn this on the CDC website...I think the CI's have their opt out of

the vaccine?????I foudn tI f

_http://www.cdc.http://www.chttp://ww_

(http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/masks.htm)

We all have respirators!We

Facemasks and Respirators

Recommendations for the uses of facemasks and/or respirators are listed in

Table 1 below for different settings where a person may be exposed to

novel H1N1 virus. These recommendations also differ based on whether the person

exposed to novel H1N1 is in a group at increased risk for severe illness

from influenza infection. More information on preventing influenza

transmission in health care settings can be found in the Interim Guidance for

Infection Control for Care of Patients with Confirmed or Suspected Novel

Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection in a Healthcare Setting.

In community and home settings, the use of facemasks and respirators

generally are not recommended. However, for certain circumstances as described

in Table 1, a facemask or respirator may be considered, specifically for

persons at increased risk of severe illness from influenza.

Use of N95 respirators or facemasks generally is not recommended for

workers in non-healthcare occupational settings for general work activities.

For specific work activities that=2 0involve contact with people who have

ILI, such as escorting a person with ILI, interviewing a person with ILI,

providing assistance to an individual with ILI, the following are recommended:

workers should try to maintain a distance of 6 feet or more from the

person with ILI;

workers should keep t

heir interactions with ill persons as brief as possible;

the ill person should be asked to follow good cough etiquette and hand

hygiene and to wear a facemask, if able, and one is available;

workers at increased risk of severe illness from influenza infection (see

footnote 3 of table 1) should avoid people with ILI (possibly by temporary

reassignment)workers at

where workers cannot avoid close contact with persons with ILI, some

workers may choose to wear a facemask or N95 respirator on a voluntary basis.

In the occupational healthcare setting, respiratory protection is

recommended. Because infection control precautions, including respiratory

protection, are imperfect, workers who are at increased risk of severe illness

from

influenza, and who are caring for a patient with known, probable, or

suspected novel H1N1 or ILI, may consider temporary reassignment to avoid

exposure.

Additional recommendations for use of facemasks by people who have ILI

that may be due to novel H1N1 infection are included in Table 2.

There are important differences between facemasks and respirators.

Facemasks20do not seal tightly to the face and are used to block large droplets

from coming into contact with the wearer’s mouth or nose. Most respirators

(e.g. N95) are designed to seal tightly to the wearer’s face and filter out

very small particles that can be breathed in by the user. For both facemasks

and respirators, however, limited data is available on their effectiveness

in preventing transmission of H1N1 (or seasonal

influenza) in various settings. However, the use of a facemask or

respirator is likely to be of most benefit if used as early as possible when

exposed to an ill person and when the facemask or respirator is used

consistently. (Ref. 1. MacIntyre CR, et al. EID 2009;15:233-influenza) in

various

settings. However, the use of a facemask or respirator is likely to be of most

benefit if used as early as possible when exposed to an ill person and when

the facemask

Facemasks: Unless otherwise specified, the term â€facemasks†refers to

disposable facemasks cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

for use as medical devices. This includes facemasks labeled as surgical,

dental, medical procedure, isolation, or laser masks. Such facemasks have

several designs.=2 0One type is affixed to the head with two ties, conforms to

the face with the aid of a flexible adjustment for the nose bridge, and may

be flat/pleated or duck-billed in shape. Another type of facemask is

pre-molded, adheres to the head with a single elastic band, and has a flexible

adjus tment for the nose bridge. A third type is flat/pleated and affixes to

the head with ear loops. Facemasks cleared by the FDA for use as medical

devices have been determined to have specific levels of protection from

penetration of blood and body fluids. Facemasks help stop droplets from being

spread by the person wearing them. They also keep splashes or sprays from

reaching the mouth and nose of the person wearing the facemask. They are not

designed to

protect against breathing in very small particle aerosols that may contain

viruses. Facemasks should be used once and then thrown away in the trash.

Respirators: Unless otherwise specified, " respirator " refers to an N95 or

higher filtering face piece respirator certified by the CDC/National

Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). A respirator is designed

to

protect the person wearing the respirator against breathing in very small

particle aerosols that may contain viruses. A respirator that fits snugly

on the face can filter out virus-containing small particle aerosols that can

be generated by an infected person, but compared with a facemask it is

harder to breathe through a respirator for long periods of time.

Respirators20are not recommended for children or people who have facial hair.

Where respirators are used in a non-occupational setting, fit testing,

medical evaluation and training are recommended for optimal effectiveness.

When respiratory protection is required in an occupational setting,

respirators must be used in the context of a comprehensive respiratory

protection

program as required under OSHA’s Respiratory Protection standard (29 CFR

1910.134). This includes fit testing, medical evaluation and training of the

worker. When required in the occupational setting, tight-fitting

respirators cannot be used by people with facial hair that interferes with the

face

seal.

When respirators are used on a voluntary basis in an occupational setting,

requirements for voluntary use of respirators in work sites can be found o

n the OSHA website.

Employers should continue to evaluate workplace hazards related to the

novel H1N1 influenza A situation in accordance with CDC and OSHA guidance.

Mandatory use of respiratory protection may be required when work activities

in occupational settings confer risk that is task/function based, and risk

analyses conducted by the employer could identify hazardous work activities.

For example, performing activities which generate large amounts of

aerosols require respiratory protection regardless of the setting in which it

is

performed (i.e. in a hospital, an outpatient setting, a prison).

For additional information on facemasks and respirators, see the CDC/NIOSH

website, the Food and Drug Administration website, and the Occupational

Safety and Health Administration website.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Guest guest]

I foudn this on the CDC website...I think the CI's have their opt out of the

vaccine????????????????:

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/masks.htm

We all have respirators!!!!!

Facemasks and Respirators

Recommendations for the uses of facemasks and/or respirators are listed in Table

1 below for different settings where a person may be exposed to novel H1N1

virus. These recommendations also differ based on whether the person exposed to

novel H1N1 is in a group at increased risk for severe illness from influenza

infection. More information on preventing influenza transmission in health care

settings can be found in the Interim Guidance for Infection Control for Care of

Patients with Confirmed or Suspected Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection in

a Healthcare Setting.

In community and home settings, the use of facemasks and respirators generally

are not recommended.  However, for certain circumstances as described in Table

1, a facemask or respirator may be considered, specifically for persons at

increased risk of severe illness from influenza.

Use of N95 respirators or facemasks generally is not recommended for workers in

non-healthcare occupational settings for general work activities.  For specific

work activities that=2 0involve contact with people who have ILI, such as

escorting a person with ILI, interviewing a person with ILI, providing

assistance to an individual with ILI, the following are recommended:

workers should try to maintain a distance of 6 feet or more from the person with

ILI;

workers should keep t

heir interactions with ill persons as brief as possible;

the ill person should be asked to follow good cough etiquette and hand hygiene

and to wear a facemask, if able, and one is available;

workers at increased risk of severe illness from influenza infection (see

footnote 3 of table 1) should avoid people with ILI (possibly by temporary

reassignment); and,

where workers cannot avoid close contact with persons with ILI, some workers may

choose to wear a facemask or N95 respirator on a voluntary basis.

In the occupational healthcare setting, respiratory protection is recommended. 

Because infection control precautions, including respiratory protection, are

imperfect, workers who are at increased risk of severe illness from influenza,

and who are caring for a patient with known, probable, or suspected novel H1N1

or ILI, may consider temporary reassignment to avoid exposure.

Additional recommendations for use of facemasks by people who have ILI that may

be due to novel H1N1 infection are included in Table 2.

There are important differences between facemasks and respirators. Facemasks20do

not seal tightly to the face and are used to block large droplets from coming

into contact with the wearer’s mouth or nose. Most respirators (e.g. N95) are

designed to seal tightly to the wearer’s face and filter out very small

particles that can be breathed in by the user. For both facemasks and

respirators, however, limited data is available on their effectiveness in

preventing transmission of H1N1 (or seasonal

influenza) in various settings. However, the use of a facemask or respirator is

likely to be of most benefit if used as early as possible when exposed to an ill

person and when the facemask or respirator is used consistently. (Ref. 1.

MacIntyre CR, et al. EID 2009;15:233-41. 2. Cowling BJ, et al.

Non-pharmaceutical interventions to prevent household transmission of influenza.

The 8th Asia Pacific Congress of Medical Virology, Hong Kong, 26-28 February

2009.)

Facemasks:  Unless otherwise specified, the term â€facemasks†refers to

disposable facemasks cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for

use as medical devices. This includes facemasks labeled as surgical, dental,

medical procedure, isolation, or laser masks. Such facemasks have several

designs.=2 0One type is affixed to the head with two ties, conforms to the face

with the aid of a flexible adjustment for the nose bridge, and may be

flat/pleated or duck-billed in shape. Another type of facemask is pre-molded,

adheres to the head with a single elastic band, and has a flexible adjus tment

for the nose bridge. A third type is flat/pleated and affixes to the head with

ear loops. Facemasks cleared by the FDA for use as medical devices have been

determined to have specific levels of protection from penetration of blood and

body fluids. Facemasks help stop droplets from being spread by the person

wearing them. They also keep splashes or sprays from reaching the mouth and nose

of the person wearing the facemask. They are not designed to

protect against breathing in very small particle aerosols that may contain

viruses. Facemasks should be used once and then thrown away in the trash.

Respirators: Unless otherwise specified, " respirator " refers to an N95 or higher

filtering face piece respirator certified by the CDC/National Institute for

Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). A respirator is designed to protect the

person wearing the respirator against breathing in very small particle aerosols

that may contain viruses. A respirator that fits snugly on the face can filter

out virus-containing small particle aerosols that can be generated by an

infected person, but compared with a facemask it is harder to breathe through a

respirator for long periods of time. Respirators20are not recommended for

children or people who have facial hair.

Where respirators are used in a non-occupational setting, fit testing, medical

evaluation and training are recommended for optimal effectiveness.

When respiratory protection is required in an occupational setting, respirators

must be used in the context of a comprehensive respiratory protection program as

required under OSHA’s Respiratory Protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134). This

includes fit testing, medical evaluation and training of the worker. When

required in the occupational setting, tight-fitting respirators cannot be used

by people with facial hair that interferes with the face seal.

When respirators are used on a voluntary basis in an occupational setting,

requirements for voluntary use of respirators in work sites can be found o

n the OSHA website.

Employers should continue to evaluate workplace hazards related to the novel

H1N1 influenza A situation in accordance with CDC and OSHA guidance. Mandatory

use of respiratory protection may be required when work activities in

occupational settings confer risk that is task/function based, and risk analyses

conducted by the employer could identify hazardous work activities. For example,

performing activities which generate large amounts of aerosols require

respiratory protection regardless of the setting in which it is performed (i.e.

in a hospital, an outpatient setting, a prison).

For additional information on facemasks and respirators, see the CDC/NIOSH

website, the Food and Drug Administration website, and the Occupational Safety

and Health Administration website.