Wear a mask to protect yourself

[Quixote1818]

[onecaliberal]

1. We've been doing it all along for that reason.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

2. Yes, which makes playing football...

... without masks all the more insane.

Saw some local high school football players who were face-to-face (helmet-to-helmet) during blocks and tackles, during highlights from the news, surely while they were breathing heavily too.

Meanwhile, only the players on the sidelines were wearing masks!

[stopdiggin]

3. pretty hard to play football

(or any other sport really) with a mask on. Kinda' surprised that they were able to get anyone on the sidelines to wear them either. There's a reason for terms like "wind sprints", "gassed" and "sucking wind."

(admit to being behind on the technology, and probably the sports as well -- but the masks available to me .... difficult to imagine any degree of effective performance.)

[Buckeye_Democrat]

4. Agreed, so the games shouldn't be played.

I have some valved N100 masks that aren't very hard to breathe through, but even those limit the air-intake enough that I wouldn't want to run while wearing them.

The exhalation valves help a lot for easier breathing, and they wouldn't be as much of a problem if everyone wore them.

In other words, unless the players are helped with PPE that can filter their inhaled air without too much strain, it strikes me as crazy to even try to play.

Edit:
Even a neck gaiter would help, which I didn't see in the game highlights. (Yet worn by this college player at Pitt.)
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/Pitt/2020/08/07/Pitt-football-Jaylen-Twyman-Damar-Hamlin-Pat-Narduzzi-Kenny-Pickett-Jimmy-Morrissey-Patrick-Jones-opt-out-NCAA-ACC/stories/202008070146

[stopdiggin]

5. your first point.

I don't believe it can be done safely. And -- the one way valves are NOT a good idea. Exhalation is probably more critical than inhalations. (remember all the times we've been told "it's for the protection of others!" Those masks are not recommended for Covid at all.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

6. I wear them with a regular cloth mask...

... over the exhalation valve. So it gives me greater inhaled filtration with no difference in the exhaled filtration.

And if everyone wore them -- which they don't in everyday life and why I'm conscientious with a cloth mask on top -- while playing sports or whatever, they would indeed be very helpful.

Not sure if any types would be practical during strenuous activity, though. If not, then I agree the games should just be avoided.