Post by RoxMonster on Jan 21, 2021 20:13:36 GMT -5
I'm a teacher (not vaccinated yet) going back into full classrooms with 0 physical distancing next week, and I wanted to wear a face shield over my mask. I asked for recs a few weeks ago here and purchased some.
I tried it on today for the first time with my mask, and how do you keep it from fogging up? It said it was "anti fog" but within seconds, I couldn't see anything. It also was like...kind of suffocating? I felt like I couldn't get any air to breathe. I am not one of those people saying "OMG you can't breathe in a mask!" I breathe perfectly fine just wearing a mask. But with the shield on, I was only able to take like shallow breaths.
I know healthcare workers have been wearing shields for a long time and maybe some other teachers too. Have you had these issues? How do you solve them?
I'm a teacher (not vaccinated yet) going back into full classrooms with 0 physical distancing next week, and I wanted to wear a face shield over my mask. I asked for recs a few weeks ago here and purchased some.
I tried it on today for the first time with my mask, and how do you keep it from fogging up? It said it was "anti fog" but within seconds, I couldn't see anything. It also was like...kind of suffocating? I felt like I couldn't get any air to breathe. I am not one of those people saying "OMG you can't breathe in a mask!" I breathe perfectly fine just wearing a mask. But with the shield on, I was only able to take like shallow breaths.
I know healthcare workers have been wearing shields for a long time and maybe some other teachers too. Have you had these issues? How do you solve them?
Do your masks have adjustable nose pieces that form a good tight seal around your nose? If not, you’ll get fogging. Signed — person with glasses.
Also a teacher (have been face to face full time all year) and I wore a shield for maybe 5 mins. It didn't work at all. Everything was muffled sounding and the kids couldn't hear me well, even with my microphone on. Mine wasn't on long enough to fog up really, so no advice there. I would honestly just stick with a mask and wash your hands/sanitize constantly. I recently bought some paper masks because I couldn't find masks that doesn't dog my glasses or rub the skin off my nose completely.
Post by RoxMonster on Jan 21, 2021 20:46:59 GMT -5
My masks don't have the nose pieces. I could try to find some.
I could try double masking. I have not found any disposable masks that work for me - all of the surgical masks, even when I press the nose piece down tightly, ride up until they are into my eyes, and I figured that me constantly touching it, pulling it down and messing with it was worse than wearing the comfortable cloth ones.
My husband is a doctor and has to wear face shield + masks for any patients who can't wear masks. He has used some shields that work well and others that are hard to wear. I'd suggest trying a few different types.
Even with a face shield, I’d feel more comfortable wearing a KN95 under a cloth mask. Amazon has the FDA approved Powecom masks; I’ve found that they stay in place pretty well.
I’m sorry that you’re in this position. It’s stressful
Post by UMaineTeach on Jan 21, 2021 21:13:08 GMT -5
We are required to face shield and mask if we are closer than 6’ for 15 minutes. Unless you have a plexiglass barrier. I prefer the shield to the barrier. It was rough for a couple weeks.
I wear the shield for every group, because I found that teaching from 6’ away and not touching any of their stuff was going to send me over. Get out your reading folder! No, that’s your math folder. The red one! No, that’s yellow. Right there! Ok, now find the vocabulary worksheet. Nope, not that one. Sigh.
I think anti fog stuff is just a fun label. I did wipe mine with someone’s anti fog spray, that didn’t seem to help. Eventually, it stopped fogging on its own. I can’t say why.
It really only does it now when I’m helping a kid in the bathroom and there’s an extra adult. The 3 of us all huddled in a small bathroom breathing on each other. None of the cleaners in my room seem to clean, disinfect AND remove the cloudy film from the shield. I just keep trying things and go in hard with the microfiber cloth to buff. It’s the FlowFold one.
I also bought these 20pcs Full Protective Face Shield, Extra Large Splash Guard, Reusable plexiglass Safety Face Masks, 3 Frame + 20 Films www.amazon.com/dp/B088YDPMQN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_slJcGbF2ZH8WS?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 they stand further from your face, so they fog less, but still seem to provide good coverage. They also flip up for a quick break. I don’t wear it as often, not for any particular reason.
Our district also approved safety goggles in place of face shields for close contact. They only bought them for the people who work with children who have behavioral challenges, but anyone was welcome to buy their own. You could check on that possibility.
Also a teacher (have been face to face full time all year) and I wore a shield for maybe 5 mins. It didn't work at all. Everything was muffled sounding and the kids couldn't hear me well, even with my microphone on. Mine wasn't on long enough to fog up really, so no advice there. I would honestly just stick with a mask and wash your hands/sanitize constantly. I recently bought some paper masks because I couldn't find masks that doesn't dog my glasses or rub the skin off my nose completely.
This is me. I've been in person since August and am just masking, washing my hands a lot, opening windows and being outside as much as I can, and hoping for the best. It was rough and scary for a couple of weeks. You'll get used to it. Good luck <3
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”
So this may be irrelevant but I am putting it out there anyway.
The kind we use for work are the same as one that was recommended to you. We weren't told that there was a peel-off film on both sides. I couldn't see shit the first few times and felt really panicky. Once I removed them I had zero issues.
So this may be irrelevant but I am putting it out there anyway.
The kind we use for work are the same as one that was recommended to you. We weren't told that there was a peel-off film on both sides. I couldn't see shit the first few times and felt really panicky. Once I removed them I had zero issues.
I did remove the film from both sides!
But still glad you mentioned that-I meant to say it and I forgot-because if others are purchasing these, I will add that the film is very very hard to notice and easy to miss.
The fact shield I liked pre-COVID and now for my staff was this style of product - opdop.com
I'm not sure if this product is out there for consumers. The plastic on this type of shield is more sturdy than the ones with the foam and elastic that I see sold at the supermarket. The visor also increases the distance between the face and the shield. But I would recommend goggles in this situation. It will provide the same level of protection as the face shield and be much easier to tolerate. Also the wire in the mask is key - it takes a while to get used to the mask "riding up" into your eyes but once you find the right spot on your nose, it's much better.
Post by EloiseWeenie on Jan 21, 2021 22:45:34 GMT -5
My district had us mask & shield any time we were within 6 ft, and any time kids were eating a meal or snack. I used the kind with the foam piece at the top, and it fogged frequently. Most people switched over to this version that sits on a glasses type frame. They all preferred this style and said it didn't fog like the other style provided by admin. I can't personally vouch for them, because I ended up moving out of state for my husband's job before buying one myself.
Post by wanderingback on Jan 21, 2021 23:24:21 GMT -5
It sounds like you need a better mask. That’ll help with the fogging. If the face shield doesn’t work then I’d get goggles and see if those are better. I switch between both but neither fog because I wear a n95. I like goggles for when I’m doing procedures, especially near a patient’s face because I do think I see out of the goggles better and that’s kinda important when doing procedures!
This is what I use in the hospital - I bought them myself since we were offered those flimsy foam ones at the time. I don’t have any issue with fogging.
I would not trust a cloth mask alone in the situation you described. Heck, some European countries are requiring medical grade masks now to ride the subway or shop in a store.
I wear hospital provided n95s at work but purchased some kn95s and kf94s for my own personal medical appointments. They’re about $2/piece but I rewear and let them air out for a week between uses. You could have five in rotation M-F. There’s a metal nose clip.
My masks don't have the nose pieces. I could try to find some.
I could try double masking. I have not found any disposable masks that work for me - all of the surgical masks, even when I press the nose piece down tightly, ride up until they are into my eyes, and I figured that me constantly touching it, pulling it down and messing with it was worse than wearing the comfortable cloth ones.
Have you twisted the ear holders to make it tighter or bought one of those contraptions that allow the ear holders to be secured on your head? Sounds like the masks you have are too big and not a good fit so they’re riding up. I think that’d solve your problem!
And if you have trouble finding n95 I could probably order some more for you, but they’d prob take a month to arrive, just let me know.:
I feel like an outlier here, but I've been full time in a classroom since September with no distancing in the classroom. I actually work physically closer to students than our teacher since I'm on the special ed assistant side and I've been wearing nothing but my Old Navy cloth mask. I don't expect to get a vaccine until summer (maybe? Canada is currently delayed in delivery and educators weren't high on the list to start with in my province). I feel like my best defences are washing my hands frequently, keeping my personal surfaces cleaned, and not sharing my supplies with kids.
Maybe our overall numbers are lower so we're not seeing transmissions in schools, but we've been okay. It's not perfect and there has been anxiety, but it's not as bad as I initially feared.
I feel like an outlier here, but I've been full time in a classroom since September with no distancing in the classroom. I actually work physically closer to students than our teacher since I'm on the special ed assistant side and I've been wearing nothing but my Old Navy cloth mask. I don't expect to get a vaccine until summer (maybe? Canada is currently delayed in delivery and educators weren't high on the list to start with in my province). I feel like my best defences are washing my hands frequently, keeping my personal surfaces cleaned, and not sharing my supplies with kids.
Maybe our overall numbers are lower so we're not seeing transmissions in schools, but we've been okay. It's not perfect and there has been anxiety, but it's not as bad as I initially feared.
Yes the hand washing and not touching face (especially nose and eyes)! I die a little on the inside every time someone on the subway pulls down their mask to pick their nose lol.
I feel like an outlier here, but I've been full time in a classroom since September with no distancing in the classroom. I actually work physically closer to students than our teacher since I'm on the special ed assistant side and I've been wearing nothing but my Old Navy cloth mask. I don't expect to get a vaccine until summer (maybe? Canada is currently delayed in delivery and educators weren't high on the list to start with in my province). I feel like my best defences are washing my hands frequently, keeping my personal surfaces cleaned, and not sharing my supplies with kids.
Maybe our overall numbers are lower so we're not seeing transmissions in schools, but we've been okay. It's not perfect and there has been anxiety, but it's not as bad as I initially feared.
Yes the hand washing and not touching face (especially nose and eyes)! I die a little on the inside every time someone on the subway pulls down their mask to pick their nose lol.
Did you not die a little inside when someone picked their nose on the subway before covid? Lol 😆
Can you wear glasses? I was at the pediatrician office this week and everyone was wearing protective eyewear (like for mowing the lawn or getting your teeth cleaned but with extra parts like goggles?)
Thank you everyone! This has been super helpful. I can buy the Kn95 type masks at a pharmacy here. It’s nice to know I can reuse after a week if I let them air out. I can also try buying that other kind of face shield or perhaps just try goggles.
Post by dulcemariamar on Jan 22, 2021 2:31:40 GMT -5
I am a SEN teacher that has been back since September. I found the best combination for me is a surgical mask and a face shield. The face shield doesn’t fog up for me but sometimes it can give me a headache if I pull too tight.
I am asthmatic so I feel like a surgical mask is the only thing I can wear and still teach. A cloth one is ok when I am not at work and don’t have to have speak that much but wearing it to school I feel out of breath.
The only other thing that I do is that basically after every 30 minutes I change my group of kids so I wash my hands. In the beginning, I was careful with cleaning supplies and workspace but it became a losing battle for me. It is crazy to see how kids just randomly touch everything and everyone.
And when I get home I put all my clothes to wash and take a shower. I wipe down any personal belongings with alcohol. It is such a process and it so nice when the weekends roll around.
For what it is worth the face shield also made me feel claustrophobic. I don't know why as a mask doesn't bother me a bit. But the double coverage was jarring. I also felt like I could never get a breath in and had to shout to have my voice heard.
Since I teach less this semester and do more logistical stuff like check students into an event I am doubling up n90 and cloth mask. I am going to have more quick encounters with a larger number of people and less extended contacts.
I’m also recommending a double mask and glasses/goggles instead. I just read an article that basically said the double mask creates an “obstacle course” for any particles to get through to reach you. It also showed pictures of a sneeze with medical grade (n95) vs single vs double. It was clear to me that as a non medical person the double mask is my best option.
Kn95s come out of China and there are discrepancies in the testing of batches (I.e. some masks work like they are supposed to and others don’t) . This is likely due to inconsistent monitoring practices in the Chinese factories. I would only use these with a cloth mask too.
Post by kittenponypony on Jan 22, 2021 7:14:47 GMT -5
I would suggest wearing a better mask and maybe also double masking. These are FDA approved N95s and KN95s and they ship pretty fast — bonafidemasks.com/face-masks/
At my work we’ve all switched over to wearing the glasses style face shields like PP posted above, but the best bang for your buck prevention wise is a higher quality mask
OK it sounds like double masking is my best bet. Maybe with a cloth mask over the surgical mask, it would stay in place.
I have a fat face, so I don't think it's an issue of the disposable mask being too big. I definitely would not be able to twist the ear loop and have it fit. I have just not found any mask, even cloth ones, that have that shape of like being straight across to work for me. The ones that stay put on me kind of come up to a point on the bridge of my nose.