Masks: If you need one which one should You buy in Europe?

[Marbe2]

If you wind up needing to buy a high quality Respirator in Europe... for a train or bus ride, these respirators are similar . Many of us are familiar with the quality on a N95 or KN 95 (from China) or a P2 (from Australia). In Europe the equivalent mask is called a FFP2. I know N95s are available in US now...not sure about FFP2 in Europe though.

https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/1791500O/comparison-ffp2-kn95-n95-filtering-facepiece-respirator-classes-tb.pdf

 

[ggtree]

I am currently on the Camino Portugues, week four. I have just the basic thin cloth minimal type. It has not been a problem except for two instances. An airport and an underground. In both cases, when the security person said that mine was not proper the freely handed me the proper type. -Gigi

 

[brian_garcia]

Does anyone know if a bandana is okay or if the preferred is a medical type mask?

 

[C clearly]

Why would you get a respirator?

[Edited to remove confusing additional question]

 

[trecile]

Why would you get a respirator?

N95 masks are respirators.

The Difference Between Surgical Masks and N95s -- Occupational Health & Safety

With the entrance of PPE in the public’s everyday vocabulary, it is important to note differences in masks and respirators.

ohsonline.com

[Edited to remove confusing additional question in quote]

 

[Roby]

FFP2 masks are available everywhere in my country, I’m sure it is the same in Spain.
After use, I put them in a plastic bag and use them again.

 

[jungleboy]

Does anyone know if a bandana is okay or if the preferred is a medical type mask?

In Portugal a bandana is not OK.

 

[SabsP]

IMHO the FFP2 are not needed when you are not working as a medical professional.
Surgical masks will do perfectly and every supermarket or farmacia sells them.
Like I said on another thread I advice against bandanas or cotton masks when on a Camino because you cannot be sure to have them washed at 60 Celsius, the minimum temparature needed for sufficient cleaning.
Also take into consideration that a surgical mask can only be worn for max 8 hours and then you have to throw it away. If you sweat alot you might want to consider to change it more often.

 

[Marbe2]

N95 masks are respirators.

The Difference Between Surgical Masks and N95s -- Occupational Health & Safety

With the entrance of PPE in the public’s everyday vocabulary, it is important to note differences in masks and respirators.

ohsonline.com

If I am in a contained area, where I might actually need to use PPE, on, say a bus in Spain, where I have no idea who is vaccinated, or how good the ventilation is, yes, I would wear an N95 respirator, that is my best protection. And yes, I would then wear a second medical mask, which would protect the other people. This has not been an uncommonpractice for me. I do this on all trains, planes etc.

 

[Kathar1na]

I posted this image in March 2021 to explain the differences between chirurgical masks (blue), FFP2 and FFP3 masks without valve, and home-made masks, tissue masks and masks with a valve. I don't remember the context.

The text says "You cannot enter with these masks" and "You can enter with these masks".

While I don't know the situation in Spain, I'd expect the masks on the right to be widely available, in shops and pharmacies. Where I live and where required, I use the blue masks and occasionally the FFP2 masks without valve. Both types have a CE mark.

 

[Marbe2]

The old N95 respirators luckily were at home, prior to the pandemic -those had the value. Those I had used when we painted or sprayed our grounds outside. There was no concern about infecting others.

When the pandemic hit getting a mask was not easy here. The country had sent PPE elsewhere and was completely unprepared for a pandemic. So I added a cloth mask and used the N95 valve respirators to shop. Later, I added a one time medical mask to valveN95s. In March, after completing vaccination shots, plus two weeks, we began using KN95s alone. Neither the KN95s or the new N95s have a valve. However, when enclosed in a car, a bus, or a train or plane I put a medical mask on as well! Since I am not moving around the second covering causes no discomfort.

 

[Roby]

IMHO the FFP2 are not needed when you are not working as a medical professional.
Surgical masks will do perfectly and every supermarket or farmacia sells them.
Like I said on another thread I advice against bandanas or cotton masks when on a Camino because you cannot be sure to have them washed at 60 Celsius, the minimum temparature needed for sufficient cleaning.
Also take into consideration that a surgical mask can only be worn for max 8 hours and then you have to throw it away. If you sweat alot you might want to consider to change it more often.

I agree with you but I only use the mask when I enter an enclosed space or public transport, I do not intend to walk with it unless required to do so by regulations.
I only sit on open terraces where masks are usually not required.

 

[David Tallan]

Does anyone know if a bandana is okay or if the preferred is a medical type mask?

Early in the pandemic, before I had a ready supply of masks, I was using a buff, folded to double thickness, over my mouth and nose. I later say some research that seemed to indicate that the practice was worse than wearing nothing at all. I can't speak to bandanas, but I believe from what I've seen that the cloth masks designed for the purpose seem somewhat effective, and not far off from the disposable paper masks that are sold around here in boxes of 50, but not as good as the N95s (or equivalents).

I'm not sure if it is still the recommendation here, but for a while they were advising double-masking, with both the disposable paper and cloth masks for people not in a medical setting.

 

[Kathar1na]

Masks: If you need one which one should you buy in Europe?

It depends on where in Europe you are. I checked this morning with someone who lives in the land of Bavaria: they are still obliged to wear FFP2 masks on public transport and as customers in retails shops.

Bandanas and scarves as public health related protection are not ok. That was allowed in early 2020, not in 2021.

 

[Miguel de Flandes]

In Belgium, ffp2 are readily available, but mostly worn by health care professionals. Paper surgical masks, and purpose-made cloth masks are allowed for public transport, shops, busy streets where social distanceing isn’t possible. I was in the hospital earlier this week, and they insisted on at least a paper surgical mask or an ffp2. Bandanas, scarfs, buffs and the like haven’t been accepted as protection since mid-2020, when ”real” masks became readily available.

buen camino

 

[Bill's_Walking]

Respirator masks were not allowed where I live and work in the States from very early on, since they could spread Covid. You can get a KN-95 mask that is a non respirator mask and around here they seem to be some of the best available. I bought a box of them for my Camino in August.

 

[trecile]

Respirator masks were not allowed where I live and work in the States from very early on, since they could spread Covid.

I think that you are confusing masks with exhalation valves (not allowed) with respirators, which is what N95 masks are.

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/pdfs/UnderstandDifferenceInfographic-508.pdf

 

[Bill's_Walking]

I think that you are confusing masks with exhalation valves (not allowed) with respirators, which is what N95 masks are.

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/pdfs/UnderstandDifferenceInfographic-508.pdf

View attachment 104146

Looks like it. we called the valved ones the respirators. and didn't use that term for the non valved masks.