Call Me Paranoid - COVID 19 Precautions Part 1
Call me paranoid, but I do not trust our government’s handling of this pandemic based on our track record to date. I am also at heightened risk to contract and suffer more than most from covid 19 due to several health factors. I’m +60, Diabetic, Overweight, have a history of both heart and vascular disease, and I used to smoke and drink A LOT. In my wild and crazy youth I didn’t believe in drug abuse — I believed in multiple drug abuse. I don’t have any tattoos because my entire body is a walking welter of scars from my misadventures and fool hardiness at work. (e.g. “don’t worry I can carry that 330 lb microfiche machine” begat surgical scars and mesh in both groins; “hey, that muffler is falling, I got it” begat a burn stripe across my wrist, etc.)
So during the corona virus crisis you can bet that I will be taking extra precautions, and it can’t hurt to share them here over the next few days and weeks.
**Just a quick disclaimer however: I’m no expert, I’m not your doctor, I’m just a well read individual with some Ideas. IF you take my ideas without double checking them or comparing to real expert doctor advice, then you are a freaking idiot. You’ve been warned.**
This first thing I’m posting is about sensible precautions in the form of masks. The experts are absolutely right - real masks are in short supply and you going out to buy one would take it away from a health care worker who desperately needs it. So don’t do that.
Instead you should make or improvise a mask and / or other protective gear for any trips outside the house. Ignore that noise about washing your hands being just as safe, it is NOT, you should be doing BOTH. As the video below points out, wearing a mask and any other gear protects others more than it protects you but definitely slows the spread for all.
While Covid -19 can penetrate HEPA Filters easily, in most cases it’s in liquid or aerosol form (sneezes, Coughs,) and the average face mask designed to stop bacterial spread will greatly reduce the chance of that virus getting to you. Remember: the homemade mask is only partially protective. Wearing a mask uses the same logic as health care workers wearing a tyvek suit - while Covid can penetrate Tyvek (only guaranteed against microbial penetration…) the Tyvek still stops the great bulk of it from getting through.
So make a mask, there are tons of patterns on the internet (here’s one that my wife made in approximately 10 mins,) just make sure you use good 100% cotton material that’s tight woven and multiple layer. If you can’t sew, get a friend to make you one. If you don’t have a friend who can sew, then grab a keffiyeh or other large scarf - put it on before you put your shirt on, then put the shirt on over it so the bottom of the mask is sealed with your shirt’s collar or neck band - voila, a mask that’s better than nothing. One last thing - for small cloth items like this you can use the poor man’s autoclave to disinfect your mask if you are in a hurry and don’t have time to wash and dry it. Microwaving for ~20 seconds will make corona virus inert, I use 30 seconds to be safe. If you put the metal nose strip in, then microwaving is out.
Have thoughts or comments? What are you doing for Covid-19? Please share in comments or create a post, this is about helping the LGF community.