Face mask with valve

AprilSun

AprilSun

Senior Member
They are saying that face mask with valves aren't safe but why wouldn't they be if they have filters in them also? If they didn't have filters in them, that would be understandable because as they say, the air I exhale would be going out the valve. I ask this because I didn't know it when I had purchased my mask and it has a valve. But, it also has filters that I can insert in the mask over the valve. Why wouldn't that be at least as safe as a cloth mask, etc. that people wear without filters?
 

My husband was just talking to me about those a couple of days ago, he said that they don't protect others from the spread of Covid and shouldn't be used by people. It's safe for the wearer, as the filter filters air you're inhaling.....but the breath you exhale, which may be infected with the virus is not filtered as it goes out into the air. I'd prefer being near someone with a plain cloth mask, not a valve. Here's a little bit about it.

https://healthnewshub.org/health-ne...with-a-filtered-valve-it-can-spread-covid-19/
 
SeaBreeze said:
My husband was just talking to me about those a couple of days ago, he said that they don't protect others from the spread of Covid and shouldn't be used by people. It's safe for the wearer, as the filter filters air you're inhaling.....but the breath you exhale, which may be infected with the virus is not filtered as it goes out into the air. I'd prefer being near someone with a plain cloth mask, not a valve. Here's a little bit about it.

https://healthnewshub.org/health-ne...with-a-filtered-valve-it-can-spread-covid-19/
Click to expand...

If mine didn't come with filters that go over the valve, I would understand it but it has two filters plus the mask. I just put the filters up to my mouth and blew pretty hard and I could just barely feel my breath. I don't breath that hard and that was without the cloth section of the mask. I was just curious about it.
 

MarciKS said:
Actually my mask with the filter & valve is more protective than what my co-workers are wearing.
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That's why I don't understand why they are not safe. Now without the filters, it makes perfect sense but to have the filters and the mask, it doesn't to me. I realize they can't tell who has filters in place and who doesn't and maybe that's why they're saying that because they can't tell who has the filters in. I don't know. As I said earlier, I am just curious.
 
It is seeming to me, that not all of the masks with valves, are the same, and that some would be better than others.

It also seems to me, that in some situations, even the mask with lesser perfection, or one with a valve that didn't come with a filter, could be better than none.

While I do understand fully why in some situations, the wrong type of mask does no good, or might give a false sense of protection,

in other situations, any mask could possibly at least somewhat lower the amount and wide range and distance traveled, of someone's breathing, (thereby at least lowering the risk)

and/OR, I've noticed that in some settings,
wearing a mask, seems to let others know that you are also doing social distancing, and if the visible mask alerts people, then it serves some benefit that way too.

People seem to give me a wider berth, when I have any on, than they give the people I see with none on, because it's assumed, they don't care about the distance, and that's often a correct assumption about them. They arent doing the social distancing either.
 
MarciKS said:
I don't see how they could be any less effective because you are breathing in and out through the filter that sits behind that valve.

I did the same thing @AprilSun
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It sounds like it worked the same for you as it did for me. Maybe all the masks with valves don't come with filters, I don't know. If they don't, then it is understandable. Just yesterday, they were saying on the news that some hospitals are not letting people in if they have a mask with a valve. They are turning them away. That's when I checked my mask and saw it has a valve.
 
AprilSun said:
It sounds like it worked the same for you as it did for me. Maybe all the masks with valves don't come with filters, I don't know. If they don't, then it is understandable. Just yesterday, they were saying on the news that some hospitals are not letting people in if they have a mask with a valve. They are turning them away. That's when I checked my mask and saw it has a valve.
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And see I don't understand that because those bandana masks offer even less protection & they let them in.
 
MarciKS said:
And see I don't understand that because those bandana masks offer even less protection & they let them in.
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I know. I don't understand it either so you're not alone. I know I'm not going to purchase another mask just because of a valve. I'm not going to the hospital anyway and really, I'm not going anywhere right now but surfing online.
 
The place I work at hands out homemade masks with no filters to employees & visitors all day long. I don't see how that is safer than one with a valve that has a filter.
 
MarciKS said:
The place I work at hands out homemade masks with no filters to employees & visitors all day long. I don't see how that is safer than one with a valve that has a filter.
Click to expand...

Also, I have noticed that a lot of these masks don't fit their faces very well. Look at the air that escapes when they don't fit correctly. These masks with valves and filters should be more protection than those that don't fit snug.
 
That's right. I have a pretty good fit with that valve one. It had adjustable elastic but that was hurting my ears. I pulled the little rubber piece off & tied a knot in the elastic & they are much more comfy now.

They even look more secure & safe than some of those paper masks.
 
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