It’s the beginning of fire season, so I’m going to share this memory and some advice I learned the hard way.
In fall 2020 the wild fires on the west coast were so bad that you could barely see 15 feet at times. Where I lived the aqi hit 590 at one point. We could not evacuate and we had no insulation in our house.
The gas masks saved us. Me and my roommates taped our windows shut and wore respirators in the house for a week. I did this sketch of them while we were watching the muppet movie one night.
Most of you will have experience a fire or smoke storm at some point, this is not going away. Smoke inhalation can have permanent and long term effects.
Get a respirator mask, and get replacement filters for organic and biological material. They can be as cheep as $12, and even if you don’t think you’re at risk, it is not something you want to find out you need afterwards. If you can afford to, get extras. Someone you know might need it.
Sheep? Those who wear a mask are the total opposite! Despite mounting peer pressure, constant propaganda in the press, and government lies, we STILL stand up against forced mass infection of a SARS virus. Wearing a mask is an act of rebellion, not submission.
From Twitter (X) The only thing that is wrong with the picture is the man should be wearing a respirator (N95).
🚨 COVID19 WEATHER REPORT: HOLIDAY SPIKE RAGES ACROSS USA 🚨
1/1/2024: Okay! Things are bad! We're JUST beginning to see how many people caught COVID-19 during the holidays. Right now it's moving through the USA causing AT LEAST 2 million infections per day (and that's the under-counted government numbers alone).
During this surge, ~100 million people total (~1 in 3 people in the US) will likely get COVID. Different areas will peak at different times, so keep an eye on your local numbers.
Reminder: All our viral data (recorded infections, deaths, wastewater viral count, etc) works on a 2 week delay - the length of COVID-19's initial acute phase where people are contagious and shedding viruses.
We want to slow the current spike down as much as we can by using respiratory masks like N95s, air filtration, and isolating and testing for COVID-19 multiple times after exposure. Hopefully we'll hit the peak soon (and not get hit as hard as Omicron in 2022).
DON'T GIVE UP HOPE! RESPIRATOR MASKS STILL PROTECT US
Respirator masks like N95s and KN95s use electrostatic filters that block at least 95% of dangerous virus-carrying respiratory aerosols, and can be adjusted to fit snugly around your nose and mouth. The few viruses get in, the less "sick" you'll get during the acute phase, and the less long-term damage they'll cause to your vascular and immune system (aka Long COVID).
If you are sick, please stay home and REST for as long as you can - the goal is 14 DAYS even if the surface symptoms seem "mild". People physically need rest to prevent worse damage to our organs. We need immediate emergency aid from our local and federal government to keep people staying HOME and fed and with medicine like Paxlovid.
If you are forced to work while sick, please wear a well-fitted N95/KN95 respirator mask to prevent further outbreak (but surgical/cloth masks are better than none). Avoid CROWDED PLACES, COVERED SPACES, and CLOSE CONVERSATIONS. Stay hydrated and eat easy, bland food, keep cleansing your sinuses and throat with nasal sprays/CPC mouthwash, and take ibuprofen/aspirin instead of tylenol for pain. If you keep struggling to breathe and you can't get enough oxygen, you need emergency hospitalization (look for blue/purple/grey tips to fingers, tongue, lips).
Please take care of yourself and each other! We will get through this.
If you can afford it now might be a good time to stock up on N95 respirators or invest in an elastomeric reusable respirator that you won't have to replace the filters in as often.
N5H1 (bird flu) has been transmitted to humans a bunch of times independently, most recently in Texas. So far it seems like the death rate is close to 50% so it's pretty scary. The concern is if human to human transmission starts. It will likely be worse than covid at least in the acute stage. Also like measles and tuberculosis have been popping up more recently.
So basically start getting prepared before people start panic buying. If demand ramps up more slowly and people start buying supplies early there will be more supplies for everyone. Plus you and your family will be better equipped. The preppers on reddit are already starting to prepare.
I will be entering a highly toxic area, therefore it is mandatory to wear required safety gear. Including a DuPont Tychem suit, 3M full face respirator, and chemical resistant gloves. ☣️
MSA Comfo Respirator Hoods, c.1930's/40's
The better condition example on the left belongs to @bureau-of-mines, the other, we're trading off to a friend.
I'm still not 100% positive what application these were meant for.
Probably just paint and nuisance dust.