Medical Masks Are Mandatory According To Nurses Association

The New York State Nurses Association gathered its 37,000 members to remind them to wear medical mask; the mask will efficiently defend them from swine flu. According to scientists, nurses with close contact to flu patients must wear an N95 respirator.

By means of an open letter to State Commissioner of Health Richard Daines, the association insist for the use of respirators in New York because airborne germs are obvious hazards for health workers. Renee Gecsedi, the Association's Director of Education Practice and Research, said that surgical face masks are not enough because particles can get through it. The existing guiding principles of the state are adequate, nurses will be protected by compulsory vaccinations, defended by Claire Pospisil, Spokesperson for The State Department of Health.

N95 respirators have filters and a fixed seal that can give 12 times protection. The Institute of Medicine scientists said that these are more helpful than surgical masks against airborne swine flu germs. Federal officials also advised day care and Head Start workers to follow special swine flu precautions as parents of 5 year old kids. Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, explained that children who are less than 5 years old are at higher risk for complications. People who are in close contact with children must get the regular flu shot. The goal of the federation is to quickly distribute the H1N1 vaccine to day care and Head Start centers once it is available. [via nydailynews.com]