Face masks starting to sell out in downtown San Francisco stores as air quality expected to worsen

[brooklynite]

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

With the Air Quality Index listing Thursday as "very unhealthy" and Friday expected to get worse, it's no surprise that most Bay Area residents are rushing to their local hardware stores for a (hopefully regulation) face mask.

If the number of people walking around with masks outside seems to have increased, it's likely not your imagination. Two stores in the downtown area were sold out, and one confirmed its other locations are experiencing much of the same.

Cole Hardware on Fourth and Mission streets said that much of the week has been filled with a steady stream of customers looking for masks. Thursday, however, became the store's busiest since the Camp Fire first started sending smoke toward the Bay Area. Employees said the line stretched the entirety of its store and back.

"People are trying to buy as many as they can get," said Michael Costa, a sales associate with Cole Hardware. "We've been limiting them at a maximum of four [masks] when we have full stock, but when it gets down to lower, we limit them to two, and then one."

Read more: https://www.sfgate.com/california-wildfires/article/Face-masks-sell-out-San-Francisco-N95-store-Cole-13396975.php

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[warrior1]

1. Found this out after picking up an n95 face mask

[link:http://www.saccounty.net/news/latest-news/Documents/N95%20Respirator%20Mask%20Recommendations.pdf|

Sacramento County Department of Health Services
Public Health Division
N95 Respirator
:
The
Sacramento County
Public Health Officer does not r
ecommend
use of N95 respirator m
asks
for
the
general public in
the
Sacramento County
area due to
the
smoke coming from the Butte County Camp
Fire.
The use of the N95 Respirator Mask is only recommended for those near the fire who do not have the
option to be indoors or have access to filtered/recirculated a
ir. N95 respirator use by those with heart
and respiratory diseases can be dangerous, and should only be done under a doctor’s supervision.
Caution/warning statements for N95 Respirator Mask distribution to the public:
•
N95 respirator can make it more diff
icult for the wearer to breathe due to carbon dioxide build
up, which reduces the intake of oxygen, increased breathing rates and heart rates.
•
People with chronic respiratory, cardiac, or other medical conditions that make breathing
difficult should check with their healthcare provider before using an N95 respirator
•
To work as expected, an N95 respirator req
uires a proper fit to your face
•
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not generally recommend
facemasks and respirators for use in
home or community settings.
Risks of N95 respirator
use
outside of fire zones outweigh benefits
:
•
Most people will not contact their healthcare provider before using
the N95 respirator
•
N95 use may lead to increased heart rate, respiratory rate, work of
breathing, CO2 buildup in
micro
-ambient air, potentially posing risk to sensitive populations
•
May encourage outdoor activity which could worsen exposure
For Sacramento County Residents
, the
Public Health Officer
does not recommend N95 respirator use,
and instead recommends the following:
•
Minimize all outdoor activities if you see or smell smoke, even if you’re healthy
•
Children, the elderly and people with respiratory or heart conditions should be particularly
car
eful to avoid exposure
•
Stay indoors with doors and windows closed as much as possible
•
Asthmatics should follow their asthma management plan
•
Contact your doctor if you have symptoms of cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms
you believe to be caused b
y smoke
•
Those with heart disease should especially limit their smoke exposure since the particulate
matter can cause heart attacks

[BeyondGeography]

2. Cole Hardware

Great neighborhood hardware stores. Be well SFO.

[BuddhaGirl]

3. I live in the Bay Area

Yesterday the air quality was much worse than Wednesday. I'm very grateful that the weather has at least been cool enough that we can keep all the windows closed in our home.