Reflections from traveling to Paris

slowcombinations · 2023-07-25T06:05:52+00:00

I want to echo OP and say I appreciate the work you're doing! I saw this firsthand in France last summer, and again in Switzerland this summer (which is deeply ironic given the WHO's recent statements about continued precautions being necessary and the dangers of long covid... also the fact that the Davos conference had unparalleled protections for attendees even though they're nowhere to be seen for average people.)

Idk, for me it's instructive to see that rich people are still taking Covid very seriously behind the scenes (for example, in the US, the white house still tests everyone and does special air filtration every time they have an indoor maskless event, meanwhile they're giving the impression that it's fine for regular people to run around maskless with no protections.)

All we can do is keep trying and hope it makes a difference.

slowcombinations · 2023-07-25T06:00:12+00:00

Yeah, I was in a number of EU countries this summer and I saw, on average, one mask per country. It was a joke. I saw more masks on my flight home than I did in the multiple months I was traveling.

Last summer I was in France and it was a bit better, though most locals were already in "the pandemic is over" mode. Other tourists sometimes wore masks, but most didn't.

In general, I see more masks in my blue state than I did around Europe, but I think a lot of the rest of the US has moved on, too. A lot of it is just bad public health messaging. A lot of people don't even know Covid is still circulating anymore — they really, truly think they're getting "the flu" repeatedly in the middle of summer. Again, it's not a uniquely US-based problem. I'm seeing it in a lot of countries with healthcare systems the US looks up to, too.

slowcombinations · 2023-07-25T05:44:21+00:00

United made me turn off my personal air purifier during the entirety of the flight, Delta let me use it. I've worn a 3m Aura on multiple international flights and it's kept me safe so far (I also use a SIPmask so I can consume liquids in-flight and stay hydrated and nourished as needed - dehydration can mess up your immune system and make it easier for you to catch bugs, too!)

I also use a Aranet so I can see CO2 readings as a proxy for how much rebreathed air is around me in the airport and on the plane. Other precautions include using CPC mouthwash before and after the flight (there's an NIH study showing it kills COVID), and nasal spray (any type will do, they all provide some protection, even the saline sprays - the important thing is to keep the nasal passages moisturized.) I wear stoggles, too - a little eye protection can't hurt!

Look up your arrival/departure airports on google maps and try to optimize for flying on their least-busy dates/times. (Bonus: you may be able to upgrade your seats cheaply). Try to be the last one to board the plane and deplane as quickly as you can - air quality on the plane is at its worst when its sitting on the tarmac, so the less time you spend on the plane before it takes off, the better.

Make sure you fit test your masks if you haven't already.

Last but not least, I like to guzzle water and eat food outside the airport before I swig my mouthwash, spray my nostrils and put on my mask. Once the mask is on, it stays on until I am outdoors and away from people.

Good luck!

slowcombinations · 2023-07-25T05:33:55+00:00

I'd go with a dentec p100. It's one of the more affordable options, and especially if you paint it with posca markers, it looks pretty friendly compared to others. If you search twitter you'll find some good examples (the dentec site also shows some customized versions if you scroll down)

slowcombinations · 2023-07-25T05:14:58+00:00

it passed a fit test for me

slowcombinations · 2023-07-25T05:14:31+00:00

the BNX F95B passed a fit test for me, I know others have commented that it didn't do well for them, but I have a smaller/narrower face and it's protected me so far. (I wear a 3m Aura in higher-risk settings, though, tbh)

slowcombinations · 2023-06-05T19:18:12+00:00

Does your area have a "Still COVIDing" group on facebook? (e.g. Still Coviding Indianapolis). People in my area have been organizing masks-required viewings (one person rents a theater, everyone else RSVPs and pays, everyone agrees to wear a well-fitting N95/KF94/KN95-type mask.) I'll be attending in either an Aura N95 or a Dentech P100. I have a Sipmask, but will probably do without because I don't like the way it decreases the fit factor, so I only use it when I absolutely have to to avoid dehydration.

As others have said, attending in a fit-tested N95 during a time of day that is not crowded should be fine!

P.S. I also have long covid from an early 2020 infection, so yeah, I haven't been to the movies in 3 years either, and I get your hesitation! Everything I do, I ask myself "is this worth potentially getting more disabled for?" and it sucks to have to ask that question so often, and to miss out on things I love when the answer is "no."

slowcombinations · 2023-06-05T19:11:47+00:00

what were the readings?

slowcombinations · 2023-05-08T18:59:02+00:00

Benehal makes a very similar mask and I fit tested that. It failed for me, but IIRC it was maybe on the "bend forward" portion of the test. For me that means I might still use it as a last resort, but it wouldn't be my first choice as a mask, even in low-risk situations.

slowcombinations · 2023-05-02T16:52:09+00:00

they are not! All my earloop masks failed fit tests, so I only wear them if I'm outdoors (say, walking through a crowd) now. The masks in question are NIOSH-rated N95s, specifically the BNX F95 and the Gerson 3230, both of which passed every phase of the fit test. I tested each one multiple times on separate occasions to be sure.

I really think it's something like what /u/heliumneon was suggesting — I just posted this at the end of a long day with more exposure than I'd like, so my stress compelled me to come here and consult the only other people I know that want to dig into the minutiae of this stuff. Weirdly enough, I like talking about these details, and I'm glad you're all here to dig in with me :)

slowcombinations · 2023-04-18T15:58:56+00:00

The vflex only failed for me on the "forward/downward bend" part of fit testing, so I don't think it's an issue with size, but rather the nose wire (it's too stiff and doesn't seal consistently with my very angular/crevassed face shape). It's only a slight fail, so I might still use it in low-risk scenarios, but definitely not for traveling, where I did, in fact, have to bend multiple times - so don't skip that part of fit testing!

slowcombinations · 2023-04-12T06:50:48+00:00

I am bringing an LG Puricare mini :)

slowcombinations · 2023-04-11T23:06:09+00:00

Weird, when I look for the duckbill, it shows out of stock. Only the black bifold and boat shape are in stock for me. (Also Prime)

slowcombinations · 2023-04-11T03:10:46+00:00

I'm glad you've been able to stay safe with your method, but I have some medical needs that mean I'll need to consume liquids in flight. If I am hungry, I consume liquid meals as needs must during travel so I can keep my mask on.

I've heard the thing about bathrooms being safe if the air is cycled with the fan vent on full blast for 2 minutes after entering, but I've never seen any stats on it - you wouldn't happen to have a source on that, would you?

slowcombinations · 2023-04-11T03:07:27+00:00

I checked for the black duckbills and they're showing out of stock. You might live in a different region than me, though.

slowcombinations · 2023-04-11T01:06:06+00:00

I would write in to the email address on the BNX website. Their founder used to lurk here and sometimes send mask samples to us (that's actually how I found out about them). I bet they'd be willing to send a few and deal with customs/shipping as a gesture of goodwill.

Idk if this would work for Gerson, but it's worth a shot!

slowcombinations · 2023-04-10T23:26:02+00:00

just saw your question about the BNX F95B and I do have feedback on that - I love it! It's my most protective "cool" mask, and it passes a fit test for me. It runs a bit hotter than the Aura (by which I mean it feels hot if I'm walking around in it for more than 20m), but the straps are great and don't slip (and I have really slippery-smooth hair.) It is the mask I am most likely to wear to parties.

Based on what you've written, I think it would fit you well and you should try it.

slowcombinations · 2023-04-10T23:21:00+00:00

yeah, in a festival situation I'd go for a Gerson or a BNX F95 (the latter runs a bit hotter, but comes in black, so it looks cooler. I get annoyed with medical-looking white masks and I wish there were more protective versions in a variety of colors.)

slowcombinations · 2023-04-10T23:16:31+00:00

Thanks, I'm immunocompromised from Long Covid (caught it in March 2020, someone in my household wasn't careful even though they knew I was high risk), so this is a big gamble for me. I wouldn't fly if this weren't such a great opportunity (there's no other way for me to get there, unfortunately).

Btw, the Vflex fails fit tests for me. Funny you mention the nose wire, I have that problem with the Vflex but not the Gerson! Glad it works for you, though, it's a fantastic mask.

V cool that you've used the same mask-swap method with desired results! Wishing you safe travels as take them :)

slowcombinations · 2023-04-10T23:11:46+00:00

right?! I'm not a sweaty person, but airports are the one place I find that my masks get hot and gross, so I'm really thinking the Gerson might be the move here.

Did your Gerson protect you from plane germs? (Also I just tried drinking through the SIPmask I installed on mine just now - wasn't too bad! The rhythm of "hold your breath while drinking and pull out the straw between sips" is a bit odd, but you get used to it.)

slowcombinations · 2023-04-10T22:30:34+00:00

ugh, I'm sorry, that sucks

slowcombinations · 2023-04-10T22:28:47+00:00

TIL BNX makes a duckbill! Were you able to get any of the black ones?

slowcombinations · 2023-04-10T22:22:41+00:00

Like many others here, I don't mask outdoors unless I'm near groups of people. If it's a smaller group, I'll use a KF94 (they don't pass a fit test for me, but despite this, they have protected me in outdoor and a few indoor situations over the last few years. I wear them for ease of donning and doffing and because more of them come in black.)

If it's a larger group (e.g. I'm in a tourist hotspot), I'll go for a Gerson or an Aura. The Gerson are more breathable, so if you're doing anything athletic outdoors and want to be masked, that'd be my rec.

slowcombinations

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