While COVID is still taking lives worldwide, many are already tracking future threats.
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www.sciencealert.com/…
High risk of animal-to-human diseases developing in some China fur farms, welfare group says
www.nbcnews.com/…
Which Virus Will Cause the Next Global Pandemic? Scientists Discover New Disease X Clues
scitechdaily.com/…
Starting in 2018, I had begun putting together Emergency Packs for family and friends. When COVID first hit, I actually had a fair number of masks with PM2.5 inserts. Of course I didn’t have enough to last through the Pandemic because that possibility hadn’t crossed my mind as I was building the packs out. My primary reason for the masks in the first place was the California wildfires. I had assumed that each person would only need their mask for up to one week.
And then... the Pandemic hit. I was searching for all manner of PPE just like everyone else. I think we all remember how such things were in short supply if available at all.
I also wound up getting a COVID divorce. This made it impossible for me to hunker down in place and try to ride it out. Getting the house ready for sale along with other aspects of the situation forced me to be out in stores on an almost daily basis.
I became Mr. PPE. Because I was out I was able to be there at different stores when PPE items were brought in or shortly thereafter. I delivered a LOT of PPE throughout my area in addition to food stocks to individuals and families.
I sewed Face Masks and also modified 3M Half-Face Respirators. I gave away a bit over a dozen of these modified respirators to those who were particularly vulnerable. I still have the one I used (shown below) plus two others.
Since PPE became more readily available, I have been building up my stocks for the Next Pandemic which is a given: All experts agree that it is a matter of WHEN and not IF.
For myself I decided that because I felt that the danger was at least somewhat imminent, I would build up my stocks for what I consider the inevitable.
In the image below I show the 30 Adult Sized and 12 Child Sized Masks. Each has been packaged with 10 replaceable PM2.5 Filters. The blue lidded container has spare Filters. FWIW, I am ordering another 300 Filters today. (Yes… I am fully aware of just how Anally Retentive I am about this.)
I have also purchased a bolt of high 400 thread-count cotton and a bolt of Oly-fun for mask making should that be needed too. Oly-fun is a non-woven fabric and is made from Polypropylene. This is the same material that is used in making N95 Masks. The process for creating each is the same but N95s have greater oversight and standards applied to their production. Oly-fun could work as both a mask layer and a filter insert.
www.amazon.com/…
Let’s revisit some YouTube videos on mask making. FWIW, I have downloaded these videos so that I have them readily available. Where needed, I have also created documents and patterns too.
Here is a series of three videos that are the basis of my mask making plans:
Here is a link to 3D files that can be printed if you want to modify your own 3M 6000 Series Half-Face Respirator: cults3d.com/…
Update on the 3D Printed parts linked above: Most FDM 3D printed materials have an innate porosity. You will want to close the items’ pores using something like a thin lacquer.
You can cut any suitable material to use as Filter material. Back in 2020, I was using MERV 15 HVAC filters because this was the highest rated material I could get at the time. I still have some of this and it is what is shown in the image posted above.
Also, here is an image to give you an idea of some of my other general preparations.
Stay safe and think ahead, people.