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Fake 3M N95 masks enter Pakistan*

RescueRanger

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Due to the rise in fear and public concern in Pakistan as a result of the Corona Virus, some merchants have started to sell counterfeit 3M n95 masks. Here is how you can spot a real mask vs a fake.

fakemasks4.jpg

Packaging is just the same as regular 3M 8210/N95 mask

Fake n95 2.png

Counterfeit masks will have a clearly visible difference in the quality and thickness of material used to make the mask and obvious difference in font and print quality.

Fake n95.png

Fake 3M masks have a plain black porous foam nose seal compared to the patented 3M nose seal in the actual 3M N95 mask. Please be mindful when spending your hard earned money to purchase PPE, and report any counterfeit goods to the Police and local authorities.
 
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It must be "made in china" they have the "expertise" of producing such counterfeits :lol:.
 
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*shared as sent!

Due to the rise in fear and public concern in Pakistan as a result of the Corona Virus, some merchants have started to sell counterfeit 3M n95 masks. Here is how you can spot a real mask vs a fake.

View attachment 610474
Packaging is just the same as regular 3M 8210/N95 mask

View attachment 610475
Counterfeit masks will have a clearly visible difference in the quality and thickness of material used to make the mask and obvious difference in font and print quality.

View attachment 610476
Fake 3M masks have a plain black porous foam nose seal compared to the patented 3M nose seal in the actual 3M N95 mask. Please be mindful when spending your hard earned money to purchase PPE, and report any counterfeit goods to the Police and local authorities.
I won't mind the counterfiet as long as it offers same level of protection and complies with the standard.....
 
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I won't mind the counterfiet as long as it offers same level of protection and complies with the standard.....

Except that it doesn't, NIOSH N95 standards = a mask that is (tested) to filter out at least 95% of airborne particles. These masks are like wearing a fake ROLEX, they look the part but that's about it!

When it comes to your health and safety, there should be no compromise. After all, you wouldn't wear a "replica" bullet proof vest so why wear a replica mask!
 
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Except that it doesn't, NIOSH N95 standards = a mask that is (tested) to filter out at least 95% of airborne particles. These masks are like wearing a fake ROLEX, they look the part but that's about it!

When it comes to your health and safety, there should be no compromise. After all, you wouldn't wear a "replica" bullet proof vest so why wear a replica mask!
Agree but these masks are very simple, I have used these masks extensively and it's not difficult to replicate these.

Same as a Kevlar any breathing apparatus requires care in use and handling, so effectiveness of these masks will be lost if they are not taken cared of properly. Also consider the fact that with exposure to moisture or water these masks will be rendered useless.

So although you are right & I agree with you on what you have said, but I still won't mind using the counterfeit in case of N95, unless am in direct contact with the virus or the carrier

Heck if am in direct contact with virus or an Emergency Responder, I would be wearing a P100 cartridge mask :D
 
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Agree but these masks are very simple, I have used these masks extensively and it's not difficult to replicate these.

Same as a Kevlar any breathing apparatus requires care in use and handling, so effectiveness of these masks will be lost if they are not taken cared of properly. Also consider the fact that with exposure to moisture or water these masks will be rendered useless.

So although you are right & I agree with you on what you have said, but I still won't mind using the counterfeit in case of N95, unless am in direct contact with the virus or the carrier

Heck if am in direct contact with virus or an Emergency Responder, I would be wearing a P100 cartridge mask :D

P100 is too expensive for mass use :lol:, even for most responders in the west, n95 is the baseline and it gradually goes up to Drager. Problem with use of any PPE is training, correct and safe application and replacement. Back in bird flu season we went through about 30 boxes of these like they were Ding Dong bubblegum.
 
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P100 is too expensive for mass use :lol:, even for most responders in the west, n95 is the baseline and it gradually goes up to Drager. Problem with use of any PPE is training, correct and safe application and replacement. Back in bird flu season we went through about 30 boxes of these like they were Ding Dong bubblegum.
i had access to P100 as if it was just another PPE and used N95 as a box of tissue paper. That is why I am saying i won't mind the counterfeit for general public use or aam awaam. Sir we are a nation which is making mask out of rubber bands and tissue paper / hand towels, what else can you expect from us. Fake n95 will be a blessing for awaam. :D
 
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I won't mind the counterfiet as long as it offers same level of protection and complies with the standard.....
Very strange of you for being perfectly fine with illegal criminal counterfeits. The whole concept of counterfeit is to produce an extremely cheap "fake" (it doesn't work) lookalike of a high priced "real" product and rip off the handsome amount of money (sometime even life like counterfeit medicines) of the consumer. I am really surprised with your validation of criminal act of counterfeit production.
 
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Very strange of you for being perfectly fine with illegal criminal counterfeits. The whole concept of counterfeit is to produce an extremely cheap "fake" (it doesn't work) lookalike of a high priced "real" product and rip off the handsome amount of money (sometime even life like counterfeit medicines) of the consumer. I am really surprised with your validation of criminal act of counterfeit production.
Have you used 3m N95 mask? Can you please explain what is this mask all about?
Please read my post again and comprehend what i have said.
My post is clear that as long as it offers same APF protection and complies with the relevant standard, am fine with it.

Lets put it this way. What if there is another manufacturer out there making a mask with same APF and complies with the standard, it is industry approved....would you still not buy it?
Why would you buy 3m mask only...please tell me that
 
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*shared as sent!

Due to the rise in fear and public concern in Pakistan as a result of the Corona Virus, some merchants have started to sell counterfeit 3M n95 masks. Here is how you can spot a real mask vs a fake.

View attachment 610474
Packaging is just the same as regular 3M 8210/N95 mask

View attachment 610475
Counterfeit masks will have a clearly visible difference in the quality and thickness of material used to make the mask and obvious difference in font and print quality.

View attachment 610476
Fake 3M masks have a plain black porous foam nose seal compared to the patented 3M nose seal in the actual 3M N95 mask. Please be mindful when spending your hard earned money to purchase PPE, and report any counterfeit goods to the Police and local authorities.



Masks only help if some one is already infected. Not on anyone who is not.

Besides...

Coronavirus: UAE ministry issues warning about use of masks

The Ministry of Health and Community Protection in UAE has warned residents against the usage of N 95 masks, as a preventive measure for the coronavirus.

The ministry's statement as posted on Wam official Twitter account said that N95 masks are only meant to be used by medical staff working in entities treating coronavirus patients. Use of these masks by the general public may impose pressure on the user's respiratory system and may cause respiratory diseases among its users.

The use of these masks is also strictly forbidden for children.

The N 95 masks have a close facial fit and more filtration material than general surgical masks, enabling them to keep out at least 95 per cent of the particles.

The 'N95' designation means that when subjected to careful testing, the respirator blocks at least 95 percent of very small (0.3 micron) test particles. If properly fitted, the filtration capabilities of N95 respirators exceed those of face masks.

Fear of the spreading coronavirus has led to a global run on sales of face masks despite evidence that most people who aren't sick don't need to wear them.

Many businesses are sold out, while others are limiting how many a customer can buy. Amazon is policing its site, trying to make sure sellers don't gouge panicked buyers.

The ministry's statement as posted on Wam official Twitter account said that N95 masks are only meant to be used by medical staff working in entities treating coronavirus patients. Use of these masks by the general public may impose pressure on the user's respiratory system and may cause respiratory diseases among its users.

The use of these masks is also strictly forbidden for children.
 
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Masks only help if some one is already infected. Not on anyone who is not.

Besides...

Coronavirus: UAE ministry issues warning about use of masks

The Ministry of Health and Community Protection in UAE has warned residents against the usage of N 95 masks, as a preventive measure for the coronavirus.

The ministry's statement as posted on Wam official Twitter account said that N95 masks are only meant to be used by medical staff working in entities treating coronavirus patients. Use of these masks by the general public may impose pressure on the user's respiratory system and may cause respiratory diseases among its users.

The use of these masks is also strictly forbidden for children.

The N 95 masks have a close facial fit and more filtration material than general surgical masks, enabling them to keep out at least 95 per cent of the particles.

The 'N95' designation means that when subjected to careful testing, the respirator blocks at least 95 percent of very small (0.3 micron) test particles. If properly fitted, the filtration capabilities of N95 respirators exceed those of face masks.

Fear of the spreading coronavirus has led to a global run on sales of face masks despite evidence that most people who aren't sick don't need to wear them.

Many businesses are sold out, while others are limiting how many a customer can buy. Amazon is policing its site, trying to make sure sellers don't gouge panicked buyers.

The ministry's statement as posted on Wam official Twitter account said that N95 masks are only meant to be used by medical staff working in entities treating coronavirus patients. Use of these masks by the general public may impose pressure on the user's respiratory system and may cause respiratory diseases among its users.

The use of these masks is also strictly forbidden for children.
Yes you are right about face masks not being a silver bullet, but N95 masks are NOT just designed for use by health care professionals, these are occupational safety masks which are designed to comply to a standard which is N95, they are not designed just for health care professionals and can be used by anyone as they offer particulate filtration.

N95 is just a standard it is not a brand of mask, there are specially designed masks to fit children which meet the N95 standard and there is plenty of scientific evidence to support wearing masks in children has no detrimental impact on children's RR: breathing rate, HR: Heart Beat or SpO2: Saturation of Oxygen in the blood stream.

41598_2019_55451_Fig6_HTML.png

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-55451-w
 
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Yes you are right about face masks not being a silver bullet, but N95 masks are NOT just designed for use by health care professionals, these are occupational safety masks which are designed to comply to a standard which is N95, they are not designed just for health care professionals and can be used by anyone as they offer particulate filtration.

N95 is just a standard it is not a brand of mask, there are specially designed masks to fit children which meet the N95 standard and there is plenty of scientific evidence to support wearing masks in children has no detrimental impact on children's RR: breathing rate, HR: Heart Beat or SpO2: Saturation of Oxygen in the blood stream.

41598_2019_55451_Fig6_HTML.png

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-55451-w


Well IDK but the government of UAE doesn't seem to agree with you lol
Hence, the statement they made above.

As for masks in general. they are useless against coronavirus as it spreads with touch and not breathing. It can only help stop an already infected person from spreading it to others by coughing on them, but provide no help to a non infected person.
 
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Well IDK but the government of UAE doesn't seem to agree with you lol
Hence, the statement they made above.

As for masks in general. they are useless against coronavirus as it spreads with touch and not breathing. It can only help stop an already infected person from spreading it to others by coughing on them, but provide no help to a non infected person.

Gov of UAE is a GOV, i am talking science.. Please click the link, it's peer reviewed! Thanks! :)
 
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Well IDK but the government of UAE doesn't seem to agree with you lol
Hence, the statement they made above.

As for masks in general. they are useless against coronavirus as it spreads with touch and not breathing. It can only help stop an already infected person from spreading it to others by coughing on them, but provide no help to a non infected person.
bhai, there are 4 'Routes of Entry' through which any substance will get deposited in human body.
1) Injestion 2) Inhalation 3) Injection 4)Absorption
the most common being inhalation.

Now when you said that Virus is spread through touch, that is 'Process of Entry' - how virus reaches the point where entry is made into the body. but regardless of whatever POE is, ROE will always be any of the above. So now i want you to review above 4 categories and let us know where 'Touching' fits into the equation.

I highly doubt that a virus will get absorbed into skin, it's a different case when there is an open wound will epidermis and dermis have been punctured.This way the virus will entry the blood stream under the fatty tissue in skin.... @RescueRanger is correct in every aspect. UAE govt is trying to avoid the state of panic that is all.....

Well IDK but the government of UAE doesn't seem to agree with you lol
Hence, the statement they made above.

As for masks in general. they are useless against coronavirus as it spreads with touch and not breathing. It can only help stop an already infected person from spreading it to others by coughing on them, but provide no help to a non infected person.
I was on mobile hence response was limited.
Most common route of entry for a Biological agent is Inhalation when droplets from infected person are inhaled. An infected person when sneezes on other person or coughs, tiny droplets containing virus are released into the environment. When someone inhales into that environment, those droplets can be inhaled into the body, reaches alveoli & enters the blood stream during gas exchange process in lungs. Since virus is smaller than 0.3 microns it will not be filtered out by the mucous lined membrane in nose or trachea or bronchi. Face Mask in this case will offer protection to the Health Care provider / Professional, as route of entry is protected.

The second most common route of entry for B.A is Ingestion. When you eat or drink in an environment which has been exposed to virus, it will gain entry into the body through Ingestion process via mouth. Hence it is prohibit for health care professionals to eat in work environment. When they are away from work they are required to wash hands with proper solution to ensure that any deposits of the B.A have been eliminated......

N95 mask will offer protection to the patient as well as public since you have eliminated the spread of droplets

Gov of UAE is a GOV, i am talking science.. Please click the link, it's peer reviewed! Thanks! :)
The guy you quoted clearly lacks the knowledge on subject matter.

reminds me of a time when I was asked to put on an Overt Vest to go into Hot Zone which was rated to provide protection against cut, slash & Blunt trauma (non blastic). When they handed me the vest it felt odd so I asked the person if I was expecting to be beaten up by Pipes or being stabbed. The guy smiled and thought I was joking, I repeated myself again and shown that I was seeking his confirmation. He said no, but there could be Small Firearms. I responded to him in a bit harsh tone, that why the eff he was handing me a vest which was not rated for SAPI. The guy had confused Non Ballistic Trauma Plates with that of NIJ III inserts. Had I not inspected my PPE properly, I would be getting into a hot zone with false perception of the protection.

Hence it is best to educate ourself on the equipment we are going to use or intend to use. Sadly our people don't pay much attention to this aspect and just go with the flow, do as others are doing.....
 
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reminds me of a time when I was asked to put on an Overt Vest to go into Hot Zone which was rated to provide protection against cut, slash & Blunt trauma (non blastic).

Brings back memories, when we were forced to wear these antiques designed for fragmentation and hope it stops the odd stray round, I remember a very fond vendor saying "American mal hain, kuch nahi ho ga". These are still in use in some quarters in Pakistan and belong in a museum! I know how you must have felt!

P2012karkhano.jpg
 
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