> >In relation to objective 2, you could monitor the performer's blood oxygen. Just yesterday, my daughter did a performance rehearsal where she sang with a mask on. No stage movement, just singing. Not good. She simply couldn't get enough air thru the mask provided.
There's an interesting video related to this at
https://twitter.com/i/status/1276799020673888258A male nurse "demonstrates" that masks don't interfere with one's blood oxygen. First he wears one surgical mask, then 2, then 3. He doesn't notice any difference in how own breathing or in blood O2 levels with any of those configurations. Then he takes the masks off and you see he has significant facial hair. So it's unlikely that he's breathing much air that is going through the masks.
The demonstration doesn't address what would happen if he wore a tight fitting cloth mask, as the public is urged to do. It also suggests to me that the purpose of the mask is not inhalation protection but control of cross contamination.
It also leaves open the question as to how long people should be asked to wear masks while performing a variety of activities. In many situations, wearing or not wearing a mask is not a cost-free decision. I don't disagree with his message, but the way he gets there seems misleading to me.
- Ralph
Ralph Stuart, CIH, CCHO
Environmental Safety Manager
Keene State College
603 358-2859
ralph.stuart**At_Symbol_Here**keene.edu
