If your talking about the white mouth and nose covering type masks (3M '95 types), if nosy folks really need to know why you buy so many...you refinish old furniture for a hobby or do a lot of home reno.

i can get those basic 3m dusk mask from work for free if i want to take home a couple per week. Free firewood from scraps at work, free tarp/tyvek cutoffs. I don't have any use or room to store firewood at my home though. Too bad cause my workplace throw alot of materials away.

I've had the discussion about food, water, etc. sharing with my ex and my cleaning lady/neighbour. Both know I've got the "back-up" supplies and were of the opinion that if the SHTF they could come a knocking. I said, like my buddy Preppersaurus (in BC) joked with me once, "but do you know the password?" Well, don't have to worry about the ex' anymore since she's moved back east. I'd likely help out the neighbour, especially if her husband wasn't back in town from up north. One of their kids has a place out in the countryside; got to get to know those kids of theirs' better ....

Anyway, I just thought I'd mention, given I just did a grocery "run" last night, whenever someone sees me buying or bringing in 20 to 30 cans of soup, veggies, fruit, etc., I just tell them I'm putting together a care package again for the local food bank ... which I admit I do about every 6 months. A little "white lie" based on a little truth keeps me from feeling guilty.

Glad to see the discussion moved onto dust masks cause ... your typical dust masks aren't good for anything except keeping out dust and heavy liquid splatter. If you want better protection with those dust masks, create a better "cheap mask" by sandwiching ground fine charcoal between two dust masks and taping together the edges.

But even better ... for us SCUBA divers out there .... Get into your dry suit, zip up, hood up, connect a pony bottle to a full face mask and the dry suit, and for enhanced protection, duct tape up all zippers and seams. Which reminds me ... I need to get my suit out of storage and check the material integrity. Got thinking about this some time ago, and though I haven't gone SCUBA diving in a while, the gear comes in handy; say, for using a dive mask and a Spare Air for escaping a smoky fire. I plan on acquiring a Pony bottle just for that purpose and another SCUBA tank in another two months.

TIP: An old SCUBA tank, if kept up to date, i.e. visual'd and hydro'd, and 75% FULL, even with the use of an old regulator can be used as a great means of inflating flat vehicle tires - or recreational floats, even Zodiacs. Heck, even a pony bottle and an old regulator can easily fill one flat tire with air to spare - a lot faster than a hand pump or those loud humming electric pumps.

There are MANY different kinds of masks. It is IMPERATIVE you get accurate information as to the capabilities and criteria for use and NOT take word of mouth or theory as gospel. Doing so WILL seriously affect your health or KILL you. The basic N95 mask is the BASE LEVEL of mask that will adequately protect you from airborne pathogens. They will filter 95% of airborne particulates of .03 micrometers in size and can only be used in a non oily environment. Regardless of the mask you choose, it's efficiency will degrade with time and the amount of moisture it holds from your exhalation. A typical mask used in a health care setting will last about 6 hours give or take. There are also masks rated at N99 and N100 which filter 99% and 99.97% of particulate. They will NOT filter gases or chemical contaminants. Masks also come in various sizes which must be fit tested to each person to ensure an adequate seal. If you have facial hair the mask WILL NOT WORK. If you have scarring or a physical change in your face due to weight loss or injury you must be fit tested again. The idea of taping 2 masks together with charcoal between them is ridiculous at best. If you anticipate the need for a system to deal with high levels of chemical contamination get the proper equipment with appropriate filters.

JAB

I have never bought any of these masks before, but plan to this week. Where can you find the N95, N99, and N100 masks? Are they sold in the drugstores?

Other people have also talked about the fear of protecting their stash and their family. I had been focusing on what concerns I have that are the drive behind my prepping, but there are also fears when the SHTF for real. Actually, in my present situation renting a house in the city, the only two fears I really have are keeping warm in the winter and security. Once I buy my own home and install a wood stove and solar, the heating won't be an issue anymore and even where I am now, we'd get by somehow. The security thing is really my greatest fear. I could live quite happily after the SHTF if it wasn't for the worry of others trying to take from us. The idead of defending it is not an appealing one, although I would do it, of course.

Here is a link to a good Canadian site for all manner of first aid equipment, supplies, respiratory protection and the like.
http://www.firstaidcanada.com/respiratory-protection.html
Yes you can get N95 masks at most big box stores and some drug stores. The better quality ones are available from more specialized suppliers.
Hope that helps.

JAB

Here is an idustrial supplier for N-95 mask as well as half-face respirators.

https://www.acklandsgrainger.com/AGIPortalWeb/WebSource/ProductDisplay/globalProductDetailDisplay.do?item_code=MMM8210V

This is just one item in that section of their online catalog.

Acklands Grainger is a major supplier to many industries.

They also have first aid kits, gloves, safety glasses and hearing protection.

Cheers,

Mountainman.

I also want to reinforce MrandMrsW's last note.
FYI:
from the 3M website, http://www.3m.com/product/information/n95-particulate-respirator.html
Also, a note about the N95 masks from elsewhere, which puts it very nicely:
http://www.naturalnews.com/026160_preparedness_flu_swine.html

As for my comment about the "taped charcoal masks", that was for a quick emergency. Note I said "cheap."
A person would still have to ensure a good fit to their own face, say by taping to the skin.
But thanks, JAB, for ensuring I come back and clarify this.
Was this something akin to your source, i.e. link:
http://www.healthline.com/health/cold-flu/mask#2
If so ... wrong! A N95 mask won't protect you. An N95 mask will only protect others around you if you're infected and spewing.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/disp_part/n95list1.html
About the only way an N95 mask will protect you is if a person directly spits at your mouth and nose.

I also advocate having a personal full face mask with both chemical / biological filter canisters available.
They are rather expensive though. But not as expensive as the loss of a loved one ....
Luckily for me, my company pays for my chemical mask and I get fit-tested each year.

NOTE: the rubber on full face masks degrades over time.
Masks themselves need to be tested at least annually,
and replaced every five to ten years.
Just think of it as replacing not just the batteries in your household smoke, or carbon monoxide, detector(s) each 6 months / year,
but also replacing the entire unit every five years. There is a reason for it. The detector's main radiological component has a shelf life, that guarantees reliable unit operation within that time frame. You go past it, and you then take the chance it doesn't perform adequately.

gPRS. I looked at the links you provided and couldn't see how they were relevant to your argument. Can you clarify and perhaps quote the applicable parts to support your argument. Regardless if you were describing the use of 2 masks taped together with charcoal between them as a "cheap" or "emergency" application it is still bad advice. As for taping a mask to the face... well.. that won't fly. There is a difference between ideas, conjecture and fact. I prefer to deal in the latter. You state that the only way an N95 mask will protect you is if someone "spits at your mouth and nose". Again.. can you provide the source of your information to back up that statement. You are lucky that your company pays for your chemical mask. Mine pays for my biological hazard masks as well as fit testing. Seeing as I work in an environment that is heavy in bacterial and viral contamination and confidently and effectively utilize N95 masks daily as well as higher levels of PPE on occasion, I have to rebut your statements. I do however agree with your advice on smoke detectors.

JAB

JAB

JAB,
I think reading the second web link would be self-explanatory, and there is no need to copy content and use it out of context here.
However, for another reference, please read this page:
http://www.masksnmore.com/n95-medical-masks1.html

Perhaps I am thick but I am still missing your point. I asked for information to back your statements. You sited a few links with no reference to actual material relevance. In rebuttal you simply give another link and state it is a reference...to what part? How does it support your argument? I am curious how your statements were taken "out of context". You are making statements that some people will take as fact and base their safety and the safety of their loved ones on. I think it is reasonable to expect accurate information to back up those statements when it is requested.

JAB

I have an issued canadian forces gas mask with an unopened canister but no decontamination sponge/wipes. I have used it once and it works great. Went into a gas hut filled with tear gas and they do burn your eyes and lungs but with the proper training I was the lucky few who did not panic and ran out and had to redo. If you have a army type gas mask, I advise you to learn how to use them properly and go through the drills. I guess it goes to any equipment you have. First you must learn how to operate it before you can use any equipment effectively. I got my timing for decontaminating and mask on within 10 secs. The faster you are the quicker you can aid those who are struggling with it.

Chemical Warfare is the worst kind and I hope I never need to use my gas mask.

I agree Regularguy. Training, training, training, plus practice, practice, practice. This the best way to do it. I got mine with masks and SCBA originally back in Ontario as part of the onsite fire-fighting back-up crew at one place where I worked. Normally, I worked another job but since the Safety Trainers knew my background in First Aid and SCUBA instruction outside my normal day job, I got advanced training with them too. It was a nice bonus.
JAB, the content of those page links I provided speak volumes for themselves.