Another meeting to discuss the topic of masks in an influenza pandemic. Many professionals are swearing by the N-95 model of mask as the only real protection available. I say that the N-95 can't protect you from the influenza any more than James Bond 007 could.
The reason behind this is not that the masks aren't good, it's that people don't use them properly. This was evident during the SARS crisis. Health workers used gloves, gowns and masks everywhere. This equipment over time became hot, sticky, scratchy, altogether very uncomfortable and workers wanted to get out of them as soon as possible. In particular, I saw nurses in cafeterias taking the mask off their face and raising it to plop it on their head while they were eating. As soon as they finished eating, they would bring the mask back down over their mouths. Of course the mask at that time would have been contaminated with whatever was in their hair, rendering it useless.
The whole question of masks is one of proper attitude. During the SARS, most people in China wore masks. The reasoning for wearing them however, was not to protect themselves but to protect others. There was a social consciousness at play here. From this point of view any mask is useful to stop the droplets that we send when we speak.
What is needed around the world but particularly in North America, is a whole campaign on how we should protect others in a pandemic by wearing masks; any kind of mask. That's the disucssion we need to engage in and not only amongst health and emergency professionals.
So if you want real protection, neither the N-95 nor James Bond can help, only a legitimate concern by all of us for our fellow citizens will do the trick. Someone has to promote this attitude. Let's take example from the Chinese.
To the health of all of us,
Alain Normand
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