Quality Protective Masks

Dual layer cotton - ear loops -straps - nose bridge

filter pouch with 3M 2200 Flitrete material.

- Protect Yourself - Protect others -

Medical masks should be reserved for front line health care workers. But regular Canadians need to be able to buy quality masks so we decided to make some available using the best design we could find.

Our Masks sell for $17.70 each plus shipping and HST. You can order from our Online Shopify Store and pay by credit card.
Browse and click on items in our store to add to your online cart to place your order here and pay by credit card in our secure checkout.

Or email your order to masks@chcatm.com and pay by email transfer. Do not send your CC info by email. Use the secure online check out or call us at 1-877-571-2867 to provide payment info. Thank You.

Pick up can be arranged from the UPS store at 157 Hardwood Avenue North in Ajax, ON with prepaid order. 10% off 10+ orders. Limited quantities.

We have been mainly making the large size which find fits myself, my wife and my 12 and 16 year olds. We are now making Medium sizes in Blue Denim, Cream and Light Green fabric. Suitable for smaller head sizes. See Store for availability or email us and ask. Small and XS child sizes on request with limited Angry bird pattern available on request. Medium is likely best if your child is over 80 lbs.

Masks

I have always been an advocate for wearing protective masks. When I worked at Cyanamid's Niagara carbide plant I religiously wore 3M cartridge masks to protect me from dust and fumes. I worked for 3M selling masks to protect painters from iso-cyanates in paint fumes. I trained painters how to fit test their masks so I am familiar with issues surrounding leakage from improperly fitted masks. I have been researching masks extensively and we decided to manufacture masks on a limited scale and make them available to the public.

Who wears a mask all the time!? Well, not me. I only wear a mask when I come into proximity of potential contagion. Once a week when I go out to the grocery store etc. Not in my house, or in the yard. When I venture out on a walk with family or to the store, I bring my mask. I don my mask if I go into a store or into proximity of potential contagion in crowded areas, stores or gatherings such as crowded paths or bus stops.

source of our pattern;
https:/diymask.site/

How To Clean and Sanitize Filters

DO NOT iron the 3M Filtrete 2200 filter cannot be reused after being ironed due to loss of electrostatic filtration. It should not be treated with other chemicals.
Reuse of the 3M Filtrete 2200 filter is possible if you bag the potentially contaminated filter and store for 7-9 days to allow all virus to die off.

Or, heat the filter in a 190F oven for 30 minutes to sterilize.

Paper filters should be disposed after single 4-hour use.

Usage Limitation

1.     The use time is the same as the general disposable surgical mask.
2.     Users are recommended to replace the filter every four hours. And the mask cover should also be sanitized and cleaned as instructed above. Paper filters should be disposed of, other filters may be sterilized per above instructions.
3.     No warranty or guarantee of protection.

How to wear wear and fit: Tips and Suggestions

According to the CDC, your face mask should do the following when put on correctly:

·         Fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
·         Be secured with ties or ear loops
·         Include multiple layers of fabric
·         Allow for breathing without restriction
·         Be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape
·         Cover mouth and nose with no gaps between your face and the mask.
Also, individuals should be careful not to touch their eyes, nose or mouth when removing their face covering and should wash their hands immediately after removing it.

The World Heath Organization’s tips:

·         Before putting on a mask, clean hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
·         Cover mouth and nose with mask and make sure there are no gaps between your face and the mask.
·         Avoid touching the mask while using it; if you need to, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
·         Replace the mask with a new one as soon as it is damp and do not re-use single-use masks.
·         To remove the mask: remove it from behind (do not touch the front of the mask); treat as contaminated. Bag reusable mask and later wash and sterilize in hot water and soap; clean hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.

My glasses fog up! If you are having issues with foggy glasses try these suggestions;

1. Soap and water may do the trick. According to research published in the Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 2011, doctors who washed their glasses with soapy water, without rinsing, and let them air dry prior to wearing a face mask experienced reduced fogging.
   
   Washing glasses with soapy water “leaves behind a thin surfactant film that reduces this surface tension and causes the water molecules to spread out evenly into a transparent layer,” the study said. “This ‘surfactant effect’ is widely utilized to prevent misting of surfaces in many everyday situations.”

2. Medical Tape may help. Try putting a piece of 3/4” medical tape across the bridge of the nose area half on mask sealing to your nose.

3. Folded tissue. Another solution is to create an absorbent layer between your nose and your eyes to effectively soak up any moisture before it can fog up your glasses. A folded-up piece of tissue paper could do the trick. This was an idea that circulated around Japan, where people commonly wear masks throughout the year to reduce the spread of illnesses. The problem here is that it can be a little annoying to try to keep the tissue in place, and it may cause you to keep touching your face to readjust it or keep it from falling off. If you really want to keep the tissue in place you can use medical tape to keep it firmly stuck to your nose.
   
   Be sure to wash your hands with hand sanitizer or soap and water every time you adjust your mask.

My ears hurt! If you are having issues with the mask’s ear loops hurting your ears try these suggestions;

Some people find the ear loops uncomfortable. Our design includes adjustable straps but everyone’s face is different. Some people simply tie the mask and do not loop the elastics around the ears. This can compromise fit and reduce your personal protection as air can bypass your filter material. The mask will still be effective at protecting others from your breath. If you are interested in maintaining personal protection you need to maintain the extra fit provided by the ear loops. Here are some suggestions to keep the and minimize discomfort;

1. One suggestion is to take a shoe lace or string etc and loop and tie it around your head through the elastic ear loops. This takes the pressure off the ears.

2. Another is to wear a head band with buttons beside your ears so you can hook the elastic ear loops to the buttons. This also relieves the pressure on your ears and holds your hair back.

3. Easy Ear Savers: Take piece of fabric with buttons on the end. Hook the elastic ear loops on the buttons and attach behind your head. I saw this online: Click on YouTube video below. We are making Easy Ear savers as an accessory;

As with our masks, you can make them yourself. Many people either do not have the skills, tools materials or inclination to do it themselves. That’s why we are making them for you.

Strap Lock Clamp

Do you find it inconvenient to tie the top straps behind your head? Buy the Strap Lock Clamp accessory for $1.60. The durable plastic spring loaded single hole strap clamp makes it a snap to put on and adjust your mask. Thread the the upper straps through the hole of the Strap Lock Clamp. Grab the loose ends of the upper straps with one hand and Squeeze the spring loaded easy release clamp, gently pull the straps till comfortable fit is achieved and secure the straps in place by releasing the spring loaded clamp.

Do I need to put a filter in my mask’s pouch?

If you are mainly concerned with protecting others you can wear the mask with no filter inserted. Two layers of cotton fabric have been shown to be effective at filtering the air from exhaled aerosols, [Source] If you are interested in increasing your personal protection and minimizing any potential viral load you are exposed to, then add a filter.

Adding a filter to your mask increases your protection from exposure to a high viral load. Fit is critical as filter material isn’t effective if fit is poor. The DIY Mask design we use has the best combination of fit and comfort in our opinion. Check our tips and tricks to increase comfort and fit.

What Filter Material Should I use?

- Protect Yourself -

We chose to source 3M Healthy Living 2200 furnace HVAC filters made from meltbown fabric with electrostatic properties for high efficiency.

We carefully pull the cardboard framing off and remove the metal grill and cut away any residual hot melt glue. Then we cut the filter material into 5” x 7” squares to fit into the pouch on our masks.

We sterilize the filters using 170F heat and UVC light prior to packing one with each mask we sell.

You can buy 5 packs of spare filter panels 5” x 7” for $9.99. Suitable for L and M size masks. You can cut down for S and XS masks.

With care you can re-use these filters. Do not wash or iron the filter, but gently heating in an oven at 170F for 30 minutes should eliminate virus and not damage the material. Or leaving in a bag for 7 to 9 days will ensure all virus has died off.

Though not tested in the lab we feel these filters provide superior filtration.

Here are some of the filter materials you could use and a notes about effectiveness and comfort for each material:

• Pellon Interfacing – sold out in most stores and hard to breath through

• Coffee Filters – hard to breath through but widely available

• Vacuum Bag Hepa Filters – hard to breath through and limited availability

• Quilter’s Batting – hot to wear

• Reusable Shopping Bags or Oly-fun Fabric – Still widely available, inexpensive and breath-ability is okay

• See DIY Mask Hong Kong filter chart below;

Click for Best Filter Materials resource Another source for filter evaluation Click here

Specifications and details of our masks;

• Dual Layer Cotton Mask with filter pouch

• Metal nose bridge, elastic ear loops and adjustable chin straps for fit and comfort.

• Shipped in sterilized plastic bag with manual

• includes 1 X 5”x 7” 3M 2200 Filtrete filter while supplies last (smaller for smaller masks)

• Assembled from open source HK mask www.DIYMask.site

  $17.70 + $3.39 postage.
  Ships sterilized in zip lock bag with manual and 1 x 3M 2200 Filtrete 5"x7" filter MERV 13 equivalent while supplies last.
  Mask sterilized for reuse by washing in soap and water. Filter can be sterilized in 190F oven 30min.
  List of alternate filter materials that can be used in this Mask / filter holder
  Not for medical use and not a substitute for hand washing and social distancing.
  No guarantee of effectiveness.

• Not a medical mask.

• Remove filter before washing.

• Treat as contaminated. wash hand and avoid touching your face when doning and doffing or adjusting

• use at your own risk.

  You can order from our Online Shopify Store and pay by credit card.

  Or email your order to masks@chcatm.com and pay by email transfer or call and pay by credit card if you feel that is more convenient.

  Pick up can be arranged from the UPS store at 157 Hardwood avenue North with prepaid order.

Related Articles and Sources

Best materials for DIY masks NY Times

Evaluation of Filter materials for masks Oxford Academic

What are the best materials for making DIY masks? Smart Air Filters.com

Watch "A Surgeon's Perspective on Masks for All" on YouTube

Not all masks are created equal Healthing.ca

Great video on Covid19 spreading Vox

Hong Kong health officials support wearing masks in public CNN

Shop towel decent filter material Business Insider

White house briefed that aerosol spreads Virus CNN

Its time to face the Facts America Must wear masks Wired

Cultures clash over wearing masks Apple News

Consumers didn’t cause the shortage of masks National Post

Ontario Stockpiled 55 Million N95 masks in 2003.. they all have expired National Post

CDC recommends home made masks in emergencies CDC

Doug Ford and Theresa Tam support DIY mask wearing

As the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outside China is accelerating, we urge policy makers to reconsider the role of masking. WHO recommends against wearing masks in community settings because of lack of evidence. However, absence of evidence of effectiveness should not be equated to evidence of ineffectiveness. The message that wearing masks in public is not beneficial has been repeated in Canadian media and by Canada’s health officials until recently.

They seemed to be concerned that wearing a mask may give you a false sense of security and you may stop washing your hands or start touching your face more. They were saying all along that infected people should wear a mask to reduce the spread of contagion. Canadian health officials have finally acknowledged that Sars-Covid2 virus which causes the Covid19 illness has been shown to be transmitted Asymptotically we should be treating ourselves as if we may be infected. Since people can be shedding virus and showing no signs of sickness wearing a mask makes perfect sense. Also, reducing the viral load of any exposure is a good thing with evidence strongly suggesting that a lower initial exposure will result in less severe illness.

Doug Ford recently stated that he would wear a mask in public for his protection. Theresa Tam has come out and stated that people can choose to wear a DIY mask in public so long as they take care not to touch their eyes and maintain good hand hygiene etc..  April 6 she finally said people should wear non-medical mask in public.

How are people supposed to get masks if they can't be sold online??

Our Kijjiiji and Facebook ads keep getting taken down. We have appealed and look forward to as a reversal of this blanket policy apparently designed to stop price gouging and sale of hoarded medical supplies.

You can order from our Online Store and pay by credit card.
Or email your order to masks@chcatm.com and pay by email transfer or call and pay by credit card if you feel that is more convenient.