What You Should Know in Deciding Whether to Buy Escape Hoods, Gas Masks, or Other Respirators for Preparedness at Home and Work

Respiratory protection is effective only if:

• the correct respirator is used,
• it’s available when you need it,
• you know when and how to put it on and take it off, and
• you have stored it and kept it in working order in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions

Comfort Masks:

• Are not designed to protect your lungs from airborne hazards.
• Do not have the word NIOSH and the approval type (i.e. N95/P2) printed on the product.
• Are not cleared by the FDA for use as a surgical mask.
• Have not been tested to any government performance standards for filtration.
• Usually have only 1 head strap.
• Do not fit tightly to the face - there might be gaps around the edges.

Key Differences Between Respirators and Masks

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Dear Valued 3M Channel Partner,

As previously communicated, 3M is seeing very high demand for respiratory protection products due to the outbreak of a newly identified novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). In response, 3M is increasing respirator production and is working with 3M authorized channel partners to help ensure they have inventory to meet end-user demand. We remain committed to the balanced distribution of product so that your domestic industrial customers can receive the 3M respiratory protection products they have chosen to rely on to help facilitate their day-to-day operations.

3M P2 Respirators Update

Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)

Information for university and vocational educations students and staff arriving from Hubei Province, China

An outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was detected in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in late December 2019.

Can I attend my university or vocational education facility?

Coronavirus reaches Australia: Man is quarantined in Melbourne after testing positive to deadly Chinese disease - as seven others are isolated amid fears more Aussies could be infected

• A man has been quarantined in Melbourne after contracting coronavirus 

• The man travelled to Australia alone from Wuhan, via Guangzhou, on January 19

• He initially showed no symptoms, but eventually became ill when in Melbourne 

• There is said to be little risk of the man spreading the deadly virus in Melbourne 

• The Chinese-national is now isolated at Monash Medical Centre in Clayton

• Five people in NSW are being assessed for potential infection of the deadly strain

• Over 40 people have died in China, and 1000 have been affected globally 

KEY POINTS

3M Tech Update: Children and P2/N95 Respirators

With school holidays nearing the end, parents are questioning what to do with their children when the air quality is still poor.

Does 3M have a P2 or N95 respirator for children in Australia & New Zealand?

Given that poor air quality has been present for such a long time and remains a concern, there are new considerations for the effectiveness and use of the P2 facemasks and with school holidays nearing the end, parents are questioning what to do with their children when the air quality is still poor.

ARE THEY SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN?

The heavy smoke affecting the ACT is expected to continue while fires continue to burn across the border. During this time, the ACT Health Directorate’s advice remains the same.

**Information last updated on 11 January 2020**

Bushfires are part of life in Australia. These fires can produce vast amounts of smoke, off-gases and ash and there is a need to consider the most appropriate ways of providing respiratory protection for those exposed to these contaminants.

Fire decomposes or breaks down materials. The composition of these breakdown products will vary depending on:

• The composition of the burning materials - this can be from many sources
• The ventilation conditions - poor ventilation reduces the available oxygen and changes the makeup of the decomposition products.
• The temperature of the fire.
• Burning produces particles as well as gases and vapours. The gases can often include irritant gases like hydrogen chloride and acrolein.

Smoke is defined in AS/NZS1715:1994 as "particles of low vapour pressure suspended in the air. Smoke is made from the solid and liquid products of combustion. Smoke particles settle slowly under gravity. Normally, the combustion process that produces smoke also produces gases".