I have two new N-95 masks. Ok to use them or not?

April 6, 2020 6:24 AM

My husband and I were given two N-95 masks by the wife of a (retired) doctor from church when C19 was barely making headlines. She said he had a couple of boxes from his practice.

Is it legal for us to use them if we *must* go out? I am immunocompromised, if that makes any difference. My husband is not. I understand the moral argument for not using them. Is it worth taking just two to drop off at a medical office or hospital? We are in a mid-sized city in the southeast, not a big city like NYC.

Your thoughts are appreciated.

posted by KleenexMakesaVeryGoodHat to Health & Fitness (9 answers total)

Best answer: Is it legal for us to use them if we *must* go out?

AFAIK nowhere in the US has even suggested that it is or would be illegal for private individuals to own individual N95 masks, but if it happened it would be on the state or local level rather than Federal, so check in with your state/county/city government & Board of Health websites to see what if any guidelines or rules are in place for owning N95.

Is it worth taking just two to drop off at a medical office or hospital? We are in a mid-sized city in the southeast, not a big city like NYC.

Probably, yes, we're at the point where every little bit helps, and smaller cities are likely to have a less robust health infrastructure than big ones, and it's very likely that smaller cities and the southeast have not yet seen peak infection.

IMO a reasonable compromise would be to keep one for yourself as immunocompromised (or for your husband to use if he goes out to stores or wherever - and he should probably be the one making the necessary trips out of the house) and donate the other.
posted by soundguy99 at 6:37 AM on April 6, 2020 [2 favorites]

I can't comment the legality of the masks, but be aware that there is sizing for different types of N95 masks. It's not a one size fits all so if they are not the correct size for you and your spouse, their effectiveness would be impacted. I'd also check their expiry date.

We just dropped off 2 N95 masks off at our local hospital that we found in the garage. According to a friend who is a nurse, they are desperate for supplies here and are sterilizing N95s to use again in some cases. Which is definitely not recommended by the manufacturer and can lead to issues. It's a drop in the bucket but I figure every little bit helps and ethnically as a relatively healthy 31 year old I couldn't hang onto to them knowing about the situation at the hospital. However, I'm not around folks or myself immunocompromised so I'm not sure how that would of changed my decision.
posted by snowysoul at 6:39 AM on April 6, 2020 [1 favorite]

I disagree with the moral argument that you shouldn't use them. For one thing, medical providers can only take materials that are still in their packages, so if you have two loose masks they aren't going to want them. It's okay to wear a high quality mask if you happen to have one, since protecting yourself and others is important. It's far better for you and your husband to use them than to not use a mask. I've seen advice to extend the use of your N95 mask by wearing a homemade cloth mask over it, so that might be something to look into.

I happen to have two N95 masks myself that were in my Burning Man supplies and I have no qualms about wearing one when out in public.
posted by cabingirl at 6:40 AM on April 6, 2020 [13 favorites]

I guess I was wrong that they might not want them per the above posters, but I still think we are "allowed" to own one decent mask per person if we want to protect ourselves.
posted by cabingirl at 6:41 AM on April 6, 2020 [1 favorite]

Best answer: You're immunocompromised which means you're more likely to catch it, which means you're more likely to pass it on to others in the asymptomatic phase if you're not wearing a mask, and you're more likely to require hospitalization, which will tax the hospital system and put health care workers at more risk. Aside from health care workers, you're exactly who the more advanced masks are for. It doesn't help them if you donate the masks and then both show up a month later to take up two hospital beds and two vents. Also, it's two masks, not an entire case that you're hoarding. I would wear them if you absolutely have to go out, but also cut trips out to the absolute minimum.
posted by bluecore at 6:54 AM on April 6, 2020 [19 favorites]

It is legal to own and use them. It is also moral. Each person who contracts the disease requires teams of hospital workers to care for them, which puts their lives at risk. Taking care of yourself takes care of them.

If you have extra equipment, beyond your needs, it is right to donate it. I am in a special situation in which i was able to make a few hundred pieces of PPE and it is all being donated.
posted by fake at 6:55 AM on April 6, 2020 [10 favorites]

I think that this question (keeping/reusing one or two masks you already have) is really one where there is no single best answer.

One thing to keep in mind is that if you and your husband are in an increased risk category, such as being over 60, immunocompromised, or with pre-existing conditions, there is also a significant benefit to the system to keeping you out of the hospital.

So if I were you, I might sew/make a dust cover to keep out pollen/dust, and very carefully reuse those two masks to help keep yourself safe.
posted by mercredi at 6:56 AM on April 6, 2020 [4 favorites]

Response by poster: Thanks everyone. I'm calling this solved. We decided to keep one an check with the non-emergency number to if a patrol officer wants to pick the other up when s/he is in our area.

Be safe!
posted by KleenexMakesaVeryGoodHat at 7:07 AM on April 6, 2020 [1 favorite]

For one thing, medical providers can only take materials that are still in their packages

This may be something that is variable. I had a stack of N95 dust-style masks that were not in the original packaging and my local hospital was happy to have them. Make sure whoever wears it knows how to safely put it in and take it off and also consider a cover which will keep it cleaner. Best wishes.
posted by jessamyn at 12:11 PM on April 6, 2020 [2 favorites]