Cutting through the haze: When do you need an N95 mask?
SINGAPORE: The National Environment Bureau (NEA) said on Tuesday (Sep 17) that it pushed out additional stocks of N95 masks to retail stores over the weekend, amidst reports that the masks were sold out at some shops.
Saturday was the start time since August 2022 that the 24-hour PSI reading reached the "unhealthy" level, after the Pollutant Standards Alphabetize (PSI) went beyond the 100 mark at 4pm.
Air quality over again entered the "unhealthy" range on Tuesday and Wednesday.
READ: 'Robust action plans' in identify to mitigate brume touch on, says NEA
READ: MOE will consider closing schools when air quality forecast enters 'hazardous' level
While the NEA has said the government has "sufficient" stockpiles of the masks, here'southward a guide on how and when y'all should wear one:
Do YOU NEED A MASK?
According to NEA's list of ofttimes asked questions and answers on its website, in general, a healthy person may want to wearable a mask if he has to be outdoors for several hours when the air quality forecast is in the hazardous range.
N95 masks are not necessary if yous are going to be indoors or out for merely a short menses of time, such equally commuting from habitation to school or piece of work.
According to NEA, PSI readings below 50 denote good air quality. The air quality is moderate if the reading is betwixt 51 and 100, unhealthy for 101 to 200, and very unhealthy for 200 to 300. A PSI reading above 300 mean air quality is considered hazardous.
When air quality reaches the very unhealthy level, children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with chronic lung or heart illness should avoid or minimise outdoor activity. If they have to be outdoors for several hours, an N95 mask may assistance them reduce their exposure.
The agency cautioned, however, that the elderly, meaning women and those with severe lung or heart issues who take difficulty breathing should consult their dr. equally to whether they should use the N95 mask. If they exercise wear a mask, they should stop doing then if they feel uncomfortable.
Employers of workers who are required to work outdoors for prolonged periods are encouraged to maintain a seven-twenty-four hours stock for immediate response.
WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE TO Clothing AN N95 MASK?
According to NEA'southward website, N95 masks increment the effort it takes for 1 to breathe. For some people, the masks could crusade discomfort in breathing, tiredness or headache.
"This may be due to the mask causing increased resistance to breathing, and a reduction in the volume of air breathed," it said.
For near people, this is not serious.
Nonetheless, some elderly people, people with lung or heart weather, and women in the later on stages of pregnancy may already have reduced lung volumes or animate problems and should accept a break from using the masks if they feel uncomfortable.
IS THE N95 MASK ADEQUATE PROTECTION AGAINST Brume?
The mask will only work if it fits the face of the wearer. If the fit is not expert, the air the wearer breathes in volition become through the gaps between the mask and his face, and not through the filter as intended.
Brume can contain fine particles that are ii.5 microns or smaller (PM2.five), and studies have shown that N95 masks provide good protection against particle pollutants as they are at least 95 per cent efficient against fine particles that are between 0.i and 0.3 microns.
WHERE CAN YOU Become A MASK?
Masks are available at major pharmacies and supermarkets, such equally Unity, Watsons, Guardian, Cold Storage, Behemothic and NTUC FairPrice.
NEA said on Tuesday that information technology has been working with the Ministry of Wellness since April to ensure stocks of N95 masks are made bachelor in retail shops.
"We will continue to closely monitor the availability of masks to the public," said NEA.
"We would similar to assure the public that there are sufficient stocks in the warehouses and government stockpiles," it added.
NEA also said on its website that the national stockpile of N95 masks may be released to the major pharmacies and supermarkets if more are needed.
SHOULD You lot REUSE A MASK?
Y'all tin can reuse your N95 mask, said NEA. However, the mask should be inverse when it is soiled or distorted in shape. It should not be shared.
HAZE IN SINGAPORE
Haze conditions took a plow for the worse on Fri when PSI readings hiked to loftier-end of "moderate" level. On Saturday, information technology reached an unhealthy level for the get-go fourth dimension in three years as it surpassed the 100 mark, and remained high through Sunday forenoon.
The situation improved on Mon, with the PSI in the moderate range, before hitting unhealthy levels again on Tuesday afternoon in certain parts of Singapore.
On Tuesday, NEA besides said government agencies in Singapore have put in place "robust action plans" to minimise and manage the impact of haze on the public.
The plans by the Brume Task Force, comprising 28 government agencies and led by NEA, allow "tiered responses depending on the intensity of brume which is based on the 24-60 minutes Pollutants Standard Alphabetize (PSI) readings", NEA added.
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Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/haze-singapore-n95-mask-stock-229876
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