full face masks 1

Full face masks are the most protective items, since they have a good to perfect fit on all the face, and cover everything. they are reusable after proper cleaning and decontamination, last for months and years, and are fitted with high performance filters.
Glasses can be added.
Military nurses and civilian defense always wear these type of respirators against biological hazard.
During SARS outbreak, these masks were recommanded or used, as inIndia, in Hong-Kong or Beijing, or in Bologna.
Page to be updated later ...

sneezing

Please find pasted pics: persons wearing PPE of different models ( industry, healthcare and late SARS outbreak, civilian defence), who face a girl sneezing. This pic is a scientific photography designed to show what is expelled and you dont see!
Page to be updated ...

half mask system

filters for half face masks

Page to be updated later.
There are three types of filters for half face masks.
1) Thin particulate filters, often now of purple color, to be discarded.
2) Cartridge type filters, each model or brand has its own system.
3) A few respirators are fitted with NATO wcrew, which allows to use the NBC type cartridges, a worlwide norm for attachment. P3 or P100 will be fine. These cartridges have a tniny opening which protects from direct contamination, and are the easiest to be decontaminated.

reusable half face masks

Page to be updated later.
Reusable half face masks have some plus: they can be reused after decontamination and cleaning, the filters last for hours and days and even can be reused after cleaning the outside of the cartridge. They can provide a good seal.
You can see on th epics masks used for common purpose (particulate protection) and used in health care, as MDR TB wards.

Goggles

Goggles: they are a must if you have to be protected against viral contamination, since these infected particulates are able to enter every human mucous membranes, nose indeed but ... your eyes! They prevent too your contaminated hands, mask, to get in contact with your eyes.
Higly recommanded in crowded places, required for close contact with infectious or suspect people if you dont wear a hood or a full face mask.

They should be skin tight fit; normal safety glasses are not the best protection.
You have the choice between vent and ventless, the more protective are indeed the ventless models.

Among ventless you will find :
- models in silicone or plastic material, "airtight" (against splashes and irritating dusts) :

- and "gastight", rubber goggles, against chemical, irritating aerosols, smoke and gasses; these are the easiest to be decontaminated.

Two concerns with goggles :
They are difficult to fit to the skin AND to the half mask.
Fogging due to the perspiration of your skin under the goggles; reduced by antifogging screens or sprays.

Face screens can be found, which wraps the face entirely. Efficient against projections, but not airtight.

Healthcare masks 2

3M delivers particulate masks in series for healthcare staffs. First we have the excellent 1860 model, a classic against tuberculosis, SARS ... With an external covering against fluids, not fit with an exhalation valve, its an universal model, even surgical rated, and should be your mask against flu. The size small is useful for women and teens. The cup form allows a long time of continuous wearing, as in MDR tuberculosis isolation wards. Easy to don, with latex free straps. Yet the breathing resistance of this mask requires training.

New models after new particulate masks are sold too, the 1861 serie. Not fluid protective, but more comfortable to wear, and packed in individual wraps.

Healthcare masks 1

Masks specially designed for healthcare staffs are used against transmissible diseases as tuberculosis. They look more like a surgical mask, and are less bulky than other respirators, yet the filtering rate is N95 and the breathing resistance higher than a surgical. They must be worn by an infectious or suspect patient, since they have not an exhalation valve, and can be worn by any nurse or paramedic, or visitor.
The first model is the orange duck bill Tecnol by Kimberly, easy to don, disposable. Must be discarded after 2 or 3 hours use.
The second model is the Alpha ProTech mask "Positive Facial Lock", which is cumbersome to fit perfectly and must be discarded after use. Yet it is designed to fit a several face size, which is useful, and can be worn for several hours.