I bought more than 50 N-95 masks years ago and have used very few of them myself. I had given quite a few to people who needed them more than I did before the pandemic but I still had more than 25 left. Then, the you-know-what hit the fan and I have used one N-95 and offered most of the rest to medical workers I know because their workplace is not giving them any. In fact, those workers are strongly "encouraged" to use only one surgical mask each per day.
I still have about 10 new, unused N-95 masks left. One of those is reserved for a particular medical worker if he finally agrees to accept. I keep a used (by me) N-95 in my car in case I need to use it. You can bet I protect that one like my life depends on it (because it just might).
I have also bought (since the pandemic hit the U.S.) about 20 reusable masks (different types, not surgical or N-95). I have used or kept about a third of those and given the rest away (mostly to workers where I get my groceries because their workplace was not giving them any).
Essential businesses that are open in my area are now legally required to provide its workers maslks. It drives me crazy when I see essential workers wearing masks improperly, especially when they have a bad attitude about proper mask use.
OTOH, there are also a lot of people making masks and giving them away. That gives me the warm fuzzies. Every time I see a jerk or an idiot endangering others, I just try to think about the "helpers".
I can't afford to buy and give out masks anymore but I look forward to the day when this is all over and I can stock up on more emergency supplies so that they will be ready when the next who-knows-what makes an appearance.
@ColoKate63 wrote:
@BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz wrote:
Yep. I see some nurses doing that, often to protect the N-95s so that they can use reused longer. Tough to breathe, though.
I’m insanely protective of my N95 mask. Don’t know if/when I can resupply. Wear my cloth on top, loosely, I figure it will help stretch its lifetime out. Don’t notice much difference with cloth on top, air-wise.