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Hazy days and rocking a face mask

By Changmoh • Monday, 21 September 2015 • Brit Stuff, Health & Fitness

First off, what has been enveloping us here in Singapore shouldn’t be called haze. That makes it sound too friendly and unapologetic. How about smog? After all, that’s what this looks like (above).

I cling somewhat desperately to the notion that smog caused by land clearances fires must be less toxic than poisonous air belching out from factories in China, but I am not basing that on any solid facts. It does, however, make me feel better. If only a little.

PSI

Then there is the issue of wearing a face mask which it is advisable, once the psi reaches 200 and above. It sounds easy enough, doesn’t it? “Ooohhh, just pop a mask on.”

The reality is those two mega-tight yellow straps at the back are little b*****ds to wrestle with. I can actually feel myself getting into a sweat just thinking about forcing them both over my head. Both my earrings pinged off the first time I tried (glamour and a mask, don’t try it kids).

The other slight problem I have with mask-wearing is that I’m British. What went through my head when I had one on was, “Good Lord, what if someone sees me?” I am of course kidding, but wearing masks just hasn’t caught on in the UK – unless perhaps you’re cycling in central London. Even then it’s very much an optional extra.*

In the interests of living to a ripe old age, I did try to wear a mask when the haze was horrendous and apart from finding it extremely tricky to put on, once I actually got it on, I instantly wanted to take it off; it made me feel boiling and rather cross. But getting it off was almost as hard as getting it on. As soon as I popped inside to cook some lunch, I decided looking ridiculous was easier than having to start wrestling with it all over again when I next went back out.

The result:

Unmasked horror

Not a good look

This is how it looked as soon as I pulled it down…

IMG_8402

Again, not really cutting it. A quick rearrangement and it looked like this:

IMG_8396

Not sure that’s any better. Oops and I’ve got my eyes closed. I am not going to get very far crossing the road. Not that I could see it very well with my eyes open.

Has anyone mastered the mask? If so, how. Where am I going wrong?

—

* London actually issued an unprecedented warning to joggers this summer to avoid certain blackspots in the City due to high levels of air pollution.

PS: It’s PM (short for particulate matter) 2.5 that’s the one to watch. When the air particles or droplets are 2.5mm or smaller – that’s 100 times thinner than a human hair in case you were wondering – they are able to penetrate deep into the lungs and are thought to cause all sorts of nasty health risks.

 

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  • Anita Sunday, 4 October 2015 at 6:45 AM

    Has anyone mastered the mask? If so, how. Where am I going wrong?

    Hi Dear Changmoh
    Very interesting post, and you ask the right question – one needs to master a mask/respirator. You obviously dont. And do everything wrong, sorry to tell you.
    As a RN nurse, and used to the issue of PPE (pulmonary, infectious, …), I guess I master it – a little. And have been regularly fitting visitors of an infectious patient with N95, training them to don, breathe without choking etc.
    A few thoughts and advice, I can send more by email … (I cant join pics to my post).
    1) Wearing the mask (a respirator) is a MUST. N95 or better N100 (= FPP2 or 3 in EEC). To make short, breathing smoke during hours and days is alike smoking cigarettes – a lot of them, daily.
    2) Size and shape are most important. Obviously, your mask is a standard size, and too large for your face (a common problem with teen’s and female’s faces.) You need a size small. Some brands offfer this choice (the green mask http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/3M-PPE-Safety-Solutions/Personal-Protective-Equipment/Products/Product-Catalog/~/3M-Health-Care-Particulate-Respirator-and-Surgical-Mask-1860S-Small-120-per-case?N=7576198+8690968+3294172510+3294529207&rt=rud) – Moldex
    http://www.moldex.com/respiratory-protection/disposable-respirators/healthcare-and-surgical/1500-n95.php
    http://www.moldex.com/respiratory-protection/disposable-respirators/healthcare-and-surgical/2200gn95.php.
    http://www.moldex.com/respiratory-protection/disposable-respirators/standard-2-strap/4200n95.php
    3M 8210 S does exist in S (http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/3M-Defense-US/Defense/Products/~/3M-Particulate-Respirator-8210-N95-160-Case?N=8699174+4294936934&rt=d); the reference is 8110S (N95) See the pdf, I have also a pic of (Singapor ?) girl wearing it. http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/540004O/3m-disposable-respirator.pdf2)

    3) “those two mega-tight yellow straps at the back are little b*****ds to wrestle with. I can actually feel myself getting into a sweat just thinking about forcing them both over my head. Both my earrings pinged off the first time I tried “.
    The right way of donnning and removing (doffing). Always to be done peacefully, quietly, with the right steps, and taking your time. It can take a few minutes. Practise is a must.
    A girl wearing properly her respirator is a well-ordered view. Female hair and jewels are always tricky. This is why the followingl recommandations before donning : full face, ears and nape of the neck free of hair, and long hair attached. Earrings are not advised (“Can’t leave the house without: earrings” – sorry, forget – or put them back after donning). I have pics for the right look to share with you.
    The way of donning. Some pdf online, and a choice of good videos (most on Youtube). The main steps are explained, but generallay not the requirements for the face/hair (yet everything is in place). The fitting of the respirator before going out to the contaminants is also well explained.
    Cf http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/40738O/3m-filtering-facepiece-respirator-fitting-instructions.pdf
    also for Moldex http://www.moldex.com/pdf/posters/1500.pdf
    Fitting 3M™ Aura™ 9400 Series Disposable Respirator https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jv5TiwBnIus – see the requirements.
    Singapore
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo-PEzHE7iw
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jz5TrauCC8g
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJO_rRBA6N8
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NPxyL_rdq4
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIhyppZQweg
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s96ZY3i_R3k
    with make up advice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxBW4y_z6R8
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSYCRAPHz0I and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kgA6v6-9gQ
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3aEY52et7k
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phbtUVVkurg
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGXiUyAoEd8
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d_RaKdqeck
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH_OWkH7WRk
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zWleOLfyb4
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhM6q2bnUm0
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5W-0ouypOOc
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjkIukKl4Ds
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8G0Va2BIwdU
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOb5Hnh3eW0
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyUdJJJ7b5E
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSBEqjA2WPg

    3M, HD very accurate (no need to understand the langu.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ham22b7Lxkg, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAqCaT5ZWZ4
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9zKdsQB-eM
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHPFJjtI_tc
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMPP7GPP-14
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb63h4lK3JU
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8XoIy2LhCE&list=PLcRbZC2c2d12FTPoPOjuV7AU1IFH-nqlG

    4) How to wear and breathe. “In the interests of living to a ripe old age, I did try to wear a mask when the haze was horrendous and apart from finding it extremely tricky to put on, once I actually got it on, I instantly wanted to take it off; it made me feel boiling and rather cross. ”
    Think you have the choice of breathing irritating haze and getting slowly intoxicated (with eventually close or far bad health consequences you never know), or breathing with the constraints of the mask, but staying well protected from the hazard.
    It will be hot and sweaty more or less depending on your activity and the heat etc. – see further for the type of respirators. You have to acept it.
    You must get used to breathe slowly and deeeply. Relax, the mask gives you the air you need. You just have to accord your breathing to the specifics of the respirator. Dont attempt to walk or climb too fast.
    5) valved – Also some new respirators unvalved improve the “comfort” in hot and humid places, and allow some extra freeness for speaking. See New 3M aura /Vflex, or Moldex Airwave. Instead of disposable, one can wear reusable with removable filters; they do have valves which do give a better control of your breathing (and are less expensive in the time).
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzIDhYGnDIM
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRzVz9KDU2Q
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLPInrmBnpQ
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5zbj3_ezqE
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZexCrlAj1s
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH5Xj_m1z8I
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HLCoMt66yM
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQtHi03dFno
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzyV8s_wL1w
    6) Eyes are unprotected from haze …

    Please be free to discuss – Anita

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The Chinese Angmoh
Why the strange name? Changmoh is an amalgamation of the words Chinese & 'Angmoh' (local speak for Caucasian should you be reading this in a country other than SG) // I'm an English girl living in Singapore and love the local way of life so much that I actually think I’m half Chinese. Maybe even three-quarters // Freelancer writer, author and editor ... you read it here first.

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