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Gerard Hughes @ghhughes.bsky.social · 1d

I think there is a good chance it would work depending on how you do it. Mask fit and respirator fit and performance varies and can be non-intuitive, so PortaCount Fit testing would be needed to quantify the level of protection you get, which could be better or worse than the fit you get with straps

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Gerard Hughes @ghhughes.bsky.social · 1d

And the advice about procedure masks was stop gap advice - what you can do during a shortage of NIOSH-approved masks, not best practices overall advice.

What you are doing is protective. And since fit is so important, you may be getting better protection than someone with a poorly fitted N95.

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Gerard Hughes @ghhughes.bsky.social · 1d

The quality of procedure masks varies. ASTM has some filtration standards for what they call Level 1, 2 and 3 masks, but the most difference between those levels is the splash resistance. Un-certified procedure masks may or may not have good filter media since there is no regulation in the US.

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Gerard Hughes @ghhughes.bsky.social · 2d

Some people have had problems getting them to stick well. Prepping with isopropyl alcohol or witch hazel can help.

---

Pricing as of 10/9/25. Pricing subject to change.

Only yellow ReadiMasks are available.

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Gerard Hughes @ghhughes.bsky.social · 2d

They can be helpful for hair cuts or medical procedures where straps can get in the way. And they can be used for MRIs because they have no metal in them.

AFAIK all ReadiMasks are new old stock that was manufactured years ago with no expiration date....

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Gerard Hughes @ghhughes.bsky.social · 2d

ReadiMask strapless N95s are a specialty item - an important tool for solving problems that other masks aren't working for.

ReadiMasks can help people who have sensory issues or pain from straps or earloops....

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Gerard Hughes @ghhughes.bsky.social · 2d

Huge 75% off discount on NIOSH-approved strapless ReadiMask N95s.

50 for $18.55

Discount code "NonSmokingZone"

Non-affiliate link:
alliantbiotech.com/product/read...

H/t to u/doililah for the code.

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Gerard Hughes @ghhughes.bsky.social · 5d

For many, pseudoscience is comfort. Pseudoscience is easy to do and understand. Science is hard and can give us answers we don't want to hear.

Dr. Jonathan N. Stea @jonathanstea.bsky.social · 5d

Pseudoscience is popular in part because it seeks to confirm our beliefs.

Science can be less popular in part because it seeks to interrogate our beliefs.

Good science, like good art and literature, can upset the established ways in which we see the world.

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Gerard Hughes @ghhughes.bsky.social · 7d

Many people just trust that the claims in the listing are accurate and un-critically repeat and endorse them in their own positive reviews. That helps perpetuate the misinformation in the listing.

Check the negative reviews. Sometimes people catch the issues, but not always.

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Gerard Hughes @ghhughes.bsky.social · 7d

Currently there is no certification I know of for consumer UV sanitizers that would tell you if a device is trustworthy or not.

Oh, and the wand has many 4 and 5 star reviews by people saying how good it is at sanitizing.

So you can't trust the reviews, either.

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Gerard Hughes @ghhughes.bsky.social · 7d

The FDA has warned about using UV sanitizing wands - hopefully the warning will stay posted:

www.fda.gov/medical-devi...

Do Not Use UV Wands That Give Off Unsafe Levels of Radiation

UV wands may cause injury to the skin, eyes, or both after a few seconds of use.

www.fda.gov

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Gerard Hughes @ghhughes.bsky.social · 7d

And you'd need UV protective gloves, clothing and face covering to protect yourself from exposure to the UV light which is not good for your skin or eyes.

An enclosed UV sanitizer is safer in terms of keeping you from being exposed to UV light, but still subject to being fake from Amazon.

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Gerard Hughes @ghhughes.bsky.social · 7d

So, if you could be sure the wand really was UV-C, then would it be good?

No.

Because UV-C isn't instant. There is a needed dwell time to inactivate germs that depends on how bright the UV-C light is and on how far away the light is from the thing you are sanitizing.

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Gerard Hughes @ghhughes.bsky.social · 7d

I tested the UV wand with an expensive meter, and still wasn't sure, so I got an even more expensive one and confirmed that this only gives off 393nm UV-A. The listing lied about having UV-C.

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Gerard Hughes @ghhughes.bsky.social · 7d

There are legit UV sanitizers on Amazon.

But a consumer has no way to tell which UV sanitizers on Amazon are legit and which are fakes. UV light is invisible and there is no way to tell visually if the device gives off the right kind of UV, or any UV, or if it is in the right quantity.

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Gerard Hughes @ghhughes.bsky.social · 7d

So, this wand doesn't sanitize, but if it did output UV-C you'd be exposed to unsafe levels of it. Even the UV-A it does output isn't good for you. The LEDs in the Photoshopped picture are turned off, but are pointing towards the camera, which would expose you directly to UV-A if you turned them on.

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Gerard Hughes @ghhughes.bsky.social · 7d

No. The answer is no. You can't trust UV sanitizers from Amazon.

Amazon gave me this one to review. It's supposed to output sanitizing UV-C light, but only gives off UV-A. Which may be a good thing. The FDA warned that UV wands with un-guarded UV-C sources can expose you to unsafe levels of UV-C.

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Gerard Hughes @ghhughes.bsky.social · 9d

A 3M Aura N95 can pass a fit test on most, but not all adults, and is a great N95 to try.

Mask fit is very individual and you may need to try more than one model of mask to find one that fits and seals on you well.

Check www.reddit.com/r/Masks4All/ for help finding a mask that works for you.

Masks4All

Welcome to Reddit's hub for mask and respirator info! Ready to upgrade your mask but unsure where to begin? Get advice on finding the right mask and achieving a good seal with fit testing. Our helpful...

www.reddit.com

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Gerard Hughes @ghhughes.bsky.social · 9d

N95s can filter even ultra-fine smoke particles. Cooper the cat shows one of the ways they do that: electrostatic attraction.

N95 filters have a semi-permanent electrostatic charge that traps particles.

The better your N95 fits and seals on your face the better it can protect you.

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Gerard Hughes @ghhughes.bsky.social · 9d

Breathing clean air is as important to your health as drinking clean water. N95s are personal air filters, and they can help protect you from particulate air pollution from wood smoke, and much more.

@capublichealth.bsky.social is doing a great job with their public health messaging.

California Department of Public Health @capublichealth.bsky.social · 9d

CA is increasing the use of planned, controlled fires to prevent large, dangerous wildfires. The smoke is less dense & long-lasting compared to smoke from wildfires.

Fire smoke is unhealthy to breathe, even from prescribed fires, so be smoke ready!

📲Learn more: Go.cdph.ca.gov/Prescribed-Fire

A firefighter holding a torch to conduct a prescribed burn. "Prescribed fire helps prevent large dangerous wildfires."

A group of firefighters conducting a controlled burn in a large field. "The smoke is less dense and long-lasting compared to wildfires."

A person using an inhaler while someone observes them. "Smoke from fires could cause health problems for some people."

A person wearing a mask outdoors and holding a blue bag. "Be smoke ready. Stay inside. Wear a well-fitting N95 outside."

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Gerard Hughes @ghhughes.bsky.social · 14d

Yeah, that feeling when someone right next to you starts wet coughing over and over, and you wish you were wearing a mask? You wouldn't have that feeling if you had already put on a mask before going indoors around other people during an uptick in infection.

Well-fitted N95s etc. work.

California Department of Public Health @capublichealth.bsky.social · 14d

Lots of coughing & sniffles going on around you? Stay purr-fectly protected by wearing a mask! 😷🐈

Wearing a high-quality N95 mask protects you from respiratory viruses like flu, COVID-19 and RSV.

📲 https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Respiratory-Viruses/When-and-Why-to-Wear-a-Mask.aspx

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Gerard Hughes @ghhughes.bsky.social · 18d

Special Skills:

"Cat Handling"

:-)

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Gerard Hughes @ghhughes.bsky.social · 20d

There is a whole Reddit sub devoted to ridiculous in-store pricing at Goodwill and other second hand stores.

www.reddit.com/r/ThriftGrift/

ThriftGrift

r/ThriftGrift

www.reddit.com

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Gerard Hughes @ghhughes.bsky.social · 20d

Little Free Libraries even sells a stamp.

shop.littlefreelibrary.org/collections/...

Standard Artisan Stamp

This cute stamp explains that the books in your Library are “Always a Gift, Never for Sale.” No matter where your stamped books end up, future lucky readers will know they came from a Little Free Libr...

shop.littlefreelibrary.org

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Gerard Hughes @ghhughes.bsky.social · 20d

I feel like the Little Free Libraries only exist to the extent we don't value books enough to make them worth people stealing from Little Free Libraries :-(

www.reddit.com/r/LittleFree...

I like the stamp ideas to discourage people from pilfering the libraries for re-sale.

From the LittleFreeLibrary community on Reddit

Explore this post and more from the LittleFreeLibrary community

www.reddit.com

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