I'm probably asking for trouble by posting this, but another thread not in this area made me think it could be of use.
As techs, a lot of us have N95 masks laying around. I don't use them myself (I use full face cartridge masks or 3M cartridge respirators), but I used to keep a box of used N95s for surfboard visitors (I make surfboards), including some of the non-vented -- the ideal both for protecting others and oneself -- and I have been rotating the used ones since the pandemic began. When the pandemic hit, I had a box full of used ones that had been sitting for 30 days.
Because of the early PPE catastrophe in the US, it could have offended or "triggered" some people to see me, a Chinese guy just shopping, wearing an N95. Luckily, every N95 I had in the box of used masks was marked with someone's name with a Sharpie. Most of the names don't really match me, and some are post-hippy era girl's names. I think that is why I've never endured a weird moment, to date, caused by my wearing an N95. I live in a place with an unusually high loonybin factor. My guess is that even though my masks are all beat up, from being reused, I would have had hassles if the masks didn't have other people's names written on them.
So, that is my very controversial tip: if you have N95s, but don't use them to avoid drama in public, writing a name across the outside of one that couldn't be yours will likely get you around that.
I haven't bought any more, since the pandemic began, fwiw, and am absolutely not suggesting anybody should do that, especially at this particular moment.
As techs, a lot of us have N95 masks laying around. I don't use them myself (I use full face cartridge masks or 3M cartridge respirators), but I used to keep a box of used N95s for surfboard visitors (I make surfboards), including some of the non-vented -- the ideal both for protecting others and oneself -- and I have been rotating the used ones since the pandemic began. When the pandemic hit, I had a box full of used ones that had been sitting for 30 days.
Because of the early PPE catastrophe in the US, it could have offended or "triggered" some people to see me, a Chinese guy just shopping, wearing an N95. Luckily, every N95 I had in the box of used masks was marked with someone's name with a Sharpie. Most of the names don't really match me, and some are post-hippy era girl's names. I think that is why I've never endured a weird moment, to date, caused by my wearing an N95. I live in a place with an unusually high loonybin factor. My guess is that even though my masks are all beat up, from being reused, I would have had hassles if the masks didn't have other people's names written on them.
So, that is my very controversial tip: if you have N95s, but don't use them to avoid drama in public, writing a name across the outside of one that couldn't be yours will likely get you around that.
I haven't bought any more, since the pandemic began, fwiw, and am absolutely not suggesting anybody should do that, especially at this particular moment.
