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Beartracks

(12,761 posts)
Fri Apr 10, 2020, 12:00 AM Apr 2020

Ever notice how cigarette smoke travels when someone exhales it?

Point this out to people who think masks aren't necessary.

Smoking just makes someone's breath visible. And wherever smoke goes, so does the water vapor in their breath (whether they're smoking or not, duh!). Water vapor that carries germs and viruses, including quite possibly the Covid-19 virus.

So if someone thinks people's breath stays right around their head, remind them of smokers.

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33 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Ever notice how cigarette smoke travels when someone exhales it? (Original Post) Beartracks Apr 2020 OP
Your observation is absolutely right on. CaliforniaPeggy Apr 2020 #1
I'd wear one, but where do you get them? Hoyt Apr 2020 #2
I'm sorry, what? Beartracks Apr 2020 #7
Face masks Hekate Apr 2020 #9
I saw a great DYI on the today show out of a sock. LakeArenal Apr 2020 #28
Ah, of course. Facepalm. Beartracks Apr 2020 #33
DIY. Here's some links to previous DU discussions on same... Hekate Apr 2020 #8
Thanks. Those will work. I have some bandanas, but I'd look like a thief. Hoyt Apr 2020 #19
Go to Etsy and type in face mask. Maru Kitteh Apr 2020 #11
You are right, they have a bunch. Hoyt Apr 2020 #20
Just wear your underwear on your head. You'll be fine. TeamPooka Apr 2020 #15
Or if you have a turtleneck top or sweater, calimary Apr 2020 #17
That one I actually thought about early on. But I only have one pair. Hoyt Apr 2020 #18
Protection up top, commando down below. TeamPooka Apr 2020 #30
Or ask them if they have ever walked behind a perfume bomb. iemitsu Apr 2020 #3
Smokers are blowing out the smoke in a way people who are not smoking don't do. PoindexterOglethorpe Apr 2020 #4
I can see your point. But breath on a cold winter day spreads similarly... Beartracks Apr 2020 #6
It's Also Hot ProfessorGAC Apr 2020 #23
this obamanut2012 Apr 2020 #22
Correct greenjar_01 Apr 2020 #27
Yeah. There is the effect of the heat making it rise and be carried farther as well, but it is brewens Apr 2020 #29
I showed a friend of mine a huge vaper cloud and pointed out that my breath does that RB TexLa Apr 2020 #5
Or the way your breath is visible in a cold day. nt tblue37 Apr 2020 #10
Also a great example. Breathing creates that vapor cloud all the time. Beartracks Apr 2020 #12
+1, uponit7771 Apr 2020 #24
Yes, it's easy to inhale droplets from others. nt Buckeye_Democrat Apr 2020 #13
These are only the same BGBD Apr 2020 #14
In Los Angeles, our mayor just made it mandatory C Moon Apr 2020 #16
Don't wear a mask for self protection... hunter Apr 2020 #21
If that were true, riddle me this . . . Maru Kitteh Apr 2020 #25
My wife is a front line medical professional... hunter Apr 2020 #31
Ooooooof greenjar_01 Apr 2020 #26
Powerful! ConnorMarc Apr 2020 #32

Maru Kitteh

(28,303 posts)
11. Go to Etsy and type in face mask.
Fri Apr 10, 2020, 12:48 AM
Apr 2020

Tons of US-based sellers there, some who have lost their regular jobs are now cranking out cotton face masks in a large variety of patterns, sizes and configurations.

calimary

(80,699 posts)
17. Or if you have a turtleneck top or sweater,
Fri Apr 10, 2020, 02:55 AM
Apr 2020

pull the neck part up. I have one cotton pullover whose turtleneck “collar” is so deep it’ll cover the whole lower part of my face if I unfold it all the way. Whatever covers your nose and mouth. Makes me look like that character in Bazooka Joe bubble gum comics!

PoindexterOglethorpe

(25,746 posts)
4. Smokers are blowing out the smoke in a way people who are not smoking don't do.
Fri Apr 10, 2020, 12:31 AM
Apr 2020

We just exhale. We don't blow smoke out forcefully.

Somehow, I think there's a difference.

Beartracks

(12,761 posts)
6. I can see your point. But breath on a cold winter day spreads similarly...
Fri Apr 10, 2020, 12:36 AM
Apr 2020

... while just walking and talking. It dissipates a little faster than smoke, so it doesn't look like it spreads as far, but I don't see how it cannot.

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ProfessorGAC

(64,422 posts)
23. It's Also Hot
Fri Apr 10, 2020, 10:14 AM
Apr 2020

The heat of the smoke increases the dispersion pattern due to heat rising.
Your example of breath on a cold day is the same.
I'm not debating the issue with virus spread, just that smoking & normal exhaling differ in many ways.

brewens

(13,397 posts)
29. Yeah. There is the effect of the heat making it rise and be carried farther as well, but it is
Fri Apr 10, 2020, 11:16 AM
Apr 2020

still a good point. Just not exactly the same.

 

RB TexLa

(17,003 posts)
5. I showed a friend of mine a huge vaper cloud and pointed out that my breath does that
Fri Apr 10, 2020, 12:32 AM
Apr 2020

with or without the cloud.

Beartracks

(12,761 posts)
12. Also a great example. Breathing creates that vapor cloud all the time.
Fri Apr 10, 2020, 12:59 AM
Apr 2020

You can just SEE it in cold weather. It drifts all around.

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BGBD

(3,282 posts)
14. These are only the same
Fri Apr 10, 2020, 01:41 AM
Apr 2020

if COVID is able to be transmitted through regularly occurring aerosols (not from something like what happens during an intubation). The science right now is mixed on if that's a possible mode of transmission or not. It would have to not only be able to suspend in the air, but also do so at a high enough rate to cause infections.

Masks are effective at catching the droplets that come out. They're bigger than aerosols and fall out of the air quickly. However, the masks that most people use aren't going to be all that effective at stopping aerosols. You would need something that had an airtight fit around the edges and filtered the air coming in, which isn't a mask at all, it's a respirator. Aerosols are going to pass right through most of the masks people are using and thats if it can't just get in around the edges. Those masks aren't going to stop it from getting out either, it's just going to pass through or seep around.

If it only spreads through droplets, then a mask will help a lot to keep you from passing it to others. If it is aerosoled then the mask is going to be much less effective. At that point your only defense is to not be in the environment with it at all. Staying home would be the only option.

Don't wear a mask because you think it will protect you. It's purpose if to protect everyone else from you and that's why you should wear one if you can. A respirator would offer protection, but don't wear one of those either. If you have access to respirators you should give them to medical facilities where they are needed.

C Moon

(12,188 posts)
16. In Los Angeles, our mayor just made it mandatory
Fri Apr 10, 2020, 02:24 AM
Apr 2020

for all essential workers (grocery stores, restaurants serving to-go orders) to wear masks...as well as those who visit these venues.

I say, it's about time.

I also say go to hell everyone who is saying wearing masks is useless. If they are only good for those who have the virus—then think about it! There is VERY little testing going on, and it is now known that people without symptoms can spread the virus.

Wear a mask when you plan to shop, or be in close contact. And always stay 6' away from everyone.

hunter

(38,264 posts)
21. Don't wear a mask for self protection...
Fri Apr 10, 2020, 09:15 AM
Apr 2020

... wear it to protect others from you!

Many people are walking around infected, but with very mild symptoms.

That's one of the scarier things about this virus. Someone who isn't feeling sick can pass the virus on to someone who might get very sick and possibly die.

Maru Kitteh

(28,303 posts)
25. If that were true, riddle me this . . .
Fri Apr 10, 2020, 11:08 AM
Apr 2020

If we were only wearing these masks to protect others from ourselves, why would they insist we use isolation doffing technique to remove them after use, touching the mask only by the ear loops or ties, never touching the front of the mask or letting the front of the mask touch any surfaces?

If this were really only for the protection of others, where is the concern for the inside of the mask, where our droplets have been gathered? If it were only our own infectious agents on the DIY masks, we would teach everyone to show greatest concern for letting the inside of the mask touch anything. If it were only for the protection of others, it wouldn't make any sense to insist we take if off using isolation techniques and put it directly into the wash each time. We could just keep it in a ziplock baggie and wash our hands with soap and water after putting it on and taking it off. Remember, nurses are being told to reuse our masks for FIVE DAYS.


No. Make no mistake, a vital function of the DIY mask is to protect others from your droplets, but it also offers you some measure of protection as well, hence the assumption that the outside of the mask is contaminated. They just don't want to tell people that so they go around feeling like their old pillowcase is some kind of foolproof suit of armor against CV19, and start behaving recklessly.



hunter

(38,264 posts)
31. My wife is a front line medical professional...
Fri Apr 10, 2020, 12:37 PM
Apr 2020

... who is reusing PPE that is supposed to be disposable. She has to touch her patients to do her job. No "social distancing" is possible.

This is terrifying.

I don't know which is worse -- that one of us might suffer a bad case of this, or that we might have a very mild case and infect others.

In any case my wife told me to self-quarantine on March 17th and to assume she's been exposed to this. We are not visiting our octogenarian parents or anyone else. Nor is anyone visiting us.

I'm trying to minimize my grocery shopping, but I've discovered I'm not very good at that, especially when my usual staples have disappeared from the shelves. I wear my mask and gloves when I go out.

It's allergy season and now I begin to wonder about every little cough or scratchiness of my throat.

I sat in on a recent web seminar for medical professionals which only increased my concerns.

Our son, who lives in another city is recovering from this virus. He was probably infected by a student before everything was shut down.

I used to work in blood services. This reminds me of the dark days when one or two of our hemophilia patients were dying of AIDS every week. My wife and I lost friends and colleagues to AIDS as well.

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