Ikeruga

PSA for folks using Blox N95 masks: there's been reports of tearing and holes where the elastic meets the filtering material. Several people say they fail their fit test with masks that have holes in them. Check your masks for holes, report them to Blox, and avoid using them in high risk situations if possible.
EDIT: The person who reported this initially is in contact with Blox. They claim it should be fine, but people's fit tests show otherwise. There's likely to be some variability with how much a tear compromises the seal for each person. I've amended my warning to say avoid them in high risk situations if possible. Will update this post with official information from Blox when I know more.
UPDATE 1: Mask Bloc St Louis is reporting it to Blox, so send information about your masks regarding the holes over to them so it can be forwarded to Blox (more details below after the email address)
maskblocstlouis@gmail.com
"Most helpful info is: when did the holes appear (came that way; when first stretching but before putting on; when first put on; after one use; or after multiple uses), what is the lot number printed on the mask, whether they pass a fit test and what kind (and if they fail, do they pass for you when there's not holes), and any photos you have of the issue."
UPDATE 2: The official response from Blox was ".. the knurl patterned area (where the holes occurred) is not actually the primary seal area. This knurl patterned area is a structural area designed to evenly spread out the forces from the stretched headband. They stated, while challenging to visualize (and photograph), the inside of the mask around the headband connection point is actually designed so that the shape of the inner solid portion (in addition to the edge of the knurled portion) of the mask actually makes skin contact for the primary seal.
The holes most often occur when the head band is stretched over the top of the head during donning. When holes occur, there is not typically an impact on the seal since the seal occurs mainly from the adjacent solid portions of the respirators making skin contact. The face seal is formed by contact from the entire respirator against the skin including the perimeter areas of the solid mask and the inner edge of the knurled patterned structural area."
No comment on people failing fit tests after the holes showed up. Purely as personal speculation, it's possible the mask got stretched too much from regular wear and tear and the seal was no longer tight enough. If they've kept you safe, don't get rid of your masks, but do keep an eye on how well they're sealing after multiple uses.
#BloxN95 #YallMasking #CovidIsNotOver #SaltingTheVibes #WearAMask

Just to put this out there: if you post videos or images of dead or severely injured people, I will unfollow or block you. Exposing yourself to things that give you PTSD and harm your brain is not bearing witness and helps no one. I'm already depressed as hell and hanging on by a thread, I do not need continuous reminders of the violence innocent people are being subjected to. And with all the images that have been shared and seen, if it got anything to truly change the situation, it would have happened already. Think twice before posting or reposting images like that, especially with no content warning.

Because for some reason an account which defends the State of Israel decided to follow me: I actively oppose the State of Israel and its genocidal campaign against the people of Palestine. There is no comparison of both sides when Israel is deploying their well-funded army upon the population of Gaza, who are mostly children, indiscriminately killing them, bombing their hospitals, universities, places of worship, and their homes, and displacing the survivors. If you believe the suffering of the kidnapped Israeli citizens and their families justifies a genocide (not just the actions taken since October of last year but everything the Israeli State has done to eliminate Palestinians for the furthering of its Zionist project), you are not welcome here.

Realized I boosted a post with an image of food. If any followers have an eating disorder and would prefer I avoid posting images of food without some warning, just let me know. And the same for any kind of content you'd like to engage with on your own terms that I may share carelessly.