Are you worried about #Covid risk travelling abroad and, especially, on planes? Here's a short #facemask 🧵... yes, it has been a while!

I recently travelled long-haul to Nepal and Indonesia (same trip) and was very concerned about getting Covid. I didn't get #COVID19! 1/ 2/ I was worried because I haven't had Covid yet, so I didn't know how ill I would be. But, I was also worried because my work insurance didn't cover extra costs associated with quarantine, which was mandatory in Indonesia ... and I wanted to get home for my holiday!

For those of us outside of #Ukraine, the war is remote; horrific images on news channels - hard to really comprehend. A colleague, Kateryna Terletska, an academic from #Kyiv, has let me share the story of her family's escape and the traumatic losses and guilt she is bearing.🧵1/ 2/ Kateryna is a mathematician - a fluid dynamicist working on oceanography and climate change. Before the war, she made a beautiful documentary about women in science: .
Please watch and share it. #WomenInSTEM

#KidsMasks🧵cont.: Over the past week, we have tried more vertical-fold #FFP2 #facemasks for kids. We haven't yet found any that fit my kids (or my!) faces properly. Here's why, and also some suggestions for adaptations to improve fit: 1/
#BetterMasks
#MaskUp 2/ Here are the 4 masks we tried. The black one was the one we had already. It fits well on my kids (aged 15 and 11) except around the nose where the clip doesn't stay moulded, letting air out (and in) around the edges.

What are 'non-disposable' hi-fi #masks and are they effective respiratory protection? Another short 🧵...

Disclaimer: To demonstrate mask features/types, I will show example images of masks and credit their source. I do not endorse these or any brands, or specific masks.
1/ 2/ I will discuss 2 types of non-disposable #facemasks. The 1st has layer/s of #N95/#FFP2 material internally and usually cotton outer layers. They are marketed as being washable & re-usable. The 2nd is called an '#elastomeric' or 'half-face' #respirator. Images: @vogmask @3M

Since I posted this tweet, people made suggestions on how to improve fit. Since #bifold #masks are the most commonly available, I decided to try them again, in the context of considering them for my kids who now need to wear masks in school classrooms and communal spaces. 1/

https://twitter.com/claire_horwell/status/1477330229639225345

2/ I bought some standard sized #FFP2 bi-fold masks from a major online retailer. 10 masks for £10 - good value. I have a narrow, small face, so quite good analogue for some kids. As soon as they arrived, I could see they would be large on me (photo pre-fitting).

Following my @guardianopinion article, people asked which #mask I recommend. I won't recommend a specific brand or model but I can recommend features of masks that will enhance comfort and fit. This🧵relates to industry-certified masks. 1/ theguardian.com/commentisfree/…
#BetterMasks 2/ Firstly, what do I mean by 'industry-certified'? These respirators conform to (and have passed tests for) industry standards of filtration efficiency (at a minimum). To cut a long story short, mainly #N95/N99 (US), #FFP2/FFP3 (Europe/UK) & KF94 (Korea). theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

Thanks for the interest in my #mask tweets. For new followers: Pre-covid, I led a large project on effectiveness of #masks for the public, in relation to 🌋 ash exposures. I have extensive experience communicating to the public about mask wearing. ivhhn.org/information #IVHHN

https://twitter.com/claire_horwell/status/1466400270137630727

Adding to my pinned tweet with links to each of my mask threads. In the tweet above I link to the 🧵about re-use of disposable masks.
Here, I link to the 🧵about the features of #BetterMasks which enhance comfort and fit:

https://twitter.com/claire_horwell/status/1477330212383776769?s=20

Short🧵on healthcare facilities insisting on the public swapping #N95/#FFP2 #masks with surgical masks on entry. I have heard of this happening in @NHSuk too. Is it a ridiculous request? 1/

https://twitter.com/DavidElfstrom/status/1470568048562159616

2/ I assume that the reason healthcare facilities insist on this is to ensure that people do not enter the facility with contaminated masks and that, for the majority of the public, who are wearing cloth masks, or don't have a mask, a surgical mask will provide better protection.

With UK regs changing to mandatory #masks, here's a short 🧵to answer the question: can you wear a disposable #facemask more than once? The answer is YES. Many manufacturers state that masks should be disposed of after 8 hours but this is not true. Read on to find out why ... 1/ 2/ Certified #masks (e.g. N95/N99, FFP2/FFP3) are manufactured for workers exposed to harmful airborne particles in industry or healthcare settings. The masks are designed to be worn for one shift (usually 8 hours) and then disposed of. Photo: @3MUK

Short 🧵to address this comment. The public do not need to be fit tested in order to wear an FFP3/N99 or FFP2/N95 mask. Here's why: 1/

https://twitter.com/emilymcbrearty/status/1414472584125730817

2/ Fit testing is a procedure which employers are legally obliged to undertake to ensure the safety of workers in dusty industries. It ensures that respirators fit so that workers are protected from the constant exposure to potentially toxic dusts, that they receive over a shift.

The Health Interventions in Volcanic Eruptions project has finished. It has been amazing and challenging in equal amounts!! I will be adding highlights to this thread over the coming days. Enjoy! #IVHHN The consortium was made up of academic (@durham_uni, @GeofisicaUNAM, @univ_indonesia, Kagoshima Uni, @IOMworld) and stakeholder institutions (@PAHOemergencies, @pmi_diy @SaveChildren_ID) and funded by @Elrha/@wellcometrust/@DFID_UK.