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The Medical Masks Worn By Healthcare Workers
During a viral or bacterial outbreak or when caring for someone with a suspected infection, healthcare employees use masks that are:
-fitted for their face (annual fit test)
-are made and used for airborne viruses
-expensive
-should not be reused
Now, during this massive outbreak of coronavirus COVID-19, however, hospitals all around the country are running out of these medical-grade masks. So they are asking for the community to sew cloth masks for them.
Um, what?! As a nurse, when I first heard of cloth masks, I thought it was a joke! However, the CDC even said, if you are in a crisis, wear a bandana!!!!
Cloth masks are not the answer for our healthcare providers. I’m going so far as to say they’re a dangerous recommendation. Here are some studies (yes, medical evidence) to show you why.
In 2015 there was a study published by MacIntire that studied medical masks vs cloths masks against a flu-like illness.
The rate of spread was significantly higher in cloth masks than medical masks.
In the study, the cloth masks had moisture retention and poor filtration. The study states that cloth masks should not be recommended in health care workers, particularly in high-risk situations.
Edited to add: cloth masks are now recommended for the general public to wear during outings for essential items (food, gas, medical care – stay home, people!) Here are some helpful ways to get them:
- Make your own quick guide: FREE on Amazon
- Set of 3 masks
- 2 masks + filters
The 2013 study in the Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness had the same conclusion. It should only be used to prevent droplet transmission from infected individuals.
The author of the study even said that cloth masks should not be considered sufficient protection! It also states for individuals NOT IN THE MEDICAL FIELD. The #1 value of the cloth mask is to potentially prevent you from spreading it to others.
To me, it sounds like that you are putting the virus up against your face all day.
These are studies, which is evidence!
Medicine loves evidence. It also indicates that the hospitals have resorted to last-hope measures (as of March 25, when this video recorded).
Can we just pause for a second...
I think that the hospitals are offering false hope. They do not have enough medical-grade masks, so they are taking the hero role and recruiting the community. To me, it sounds like “We didn’t order enough, sorry we are not ready, so we will ask the community to help.”
It sounds like they are buying time to keep the nurses working until they show symptoms. Are nurses really that disposable? How many people are they accidentally infecting?
We KNEW about this virus in January in China.
I am hearing that it takes about 18 months for masks to be ordered, produced, and shipped out.
Did we order masks? I am not sure… BUT nothing changed.
Were we listening to the scientists who were telling us that this has happened before?
In 2009 during H1N1, there was a shortage of masks! Well, it was considered mild, so maybe that one doesn’t count… (sarcasm)
The Spanish flu in 1918 was considered “severe” but did we learn anything about the potential of viruses on our world?
Clearly….. um, no.
Our Protective Equipment Stockpile is Shit
According to federal officials, the STRATEGIC stockpile only holds 1% of personal protective equipment for healthcare workers in hospitals and clinics (PPE). We knew this was coming. How could we not be stockpiling like our lives depended on it?
Nurses were already being told to save their N95 masks in paper bags and use it again throughout the day (risk to the nurse and all of the patients they care for) before it really hit hard in the US.
THEY KNEW THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH!
This is upsetting. This is scary.
I got an e-mail on March 20th from the VA Board of Nursing saying that they are waiving the regulatory barriers to expedite nursing licensure. That’s scary! Do they know that nurses will be getting sick by the masses? That there won’t be enough well people care for the sick and dying due to the lack of PPE?
This is not “we are doing our best” and “we do not know the potential benefits a cloth mask has” because I see two studies that show that they are not effective.
Options are not options anymore, because we do not have the supplies. At this point it’s do the best you can do.
Rewearing mask gives you more protection than nothing. Using a cloth mask gives you more protection than nothing. But how irritating is it that it’s a “better than nothing” situation in America already?
A midwife friend of mine was denied a mask because she was not an MD. I am not saying that MDs do not need masks, but what kind of hierarchy is that? Can anyone in charge really manage a hospital without the other staff?
What about staff over 50? Staff with kids? Staff with asthma? Pregnant staff? Who determines who gets the masks?
Also, spoiler alert, in some hospitals labor nurses float to other parts of the hospital. We do not have extra people for specific departments, so they’re pulled from other departments.
In these times, priorities are highlighted. Healthcare workers seem disposable to their employers, now more than ever. I’m ranting about these tough topics, because I want you to make an educated decision.
Stand up for yourself. This is not the time to be compliant if you are uncomfortable. Review your options and do what’s best for you and your family.
You might also like: Delivery Room Rules: How to Navigate Hospital Rules in Labor and Delivery
Click on the video below for more discussion on the cloth mask craziness! 👇
3 Responses
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