Clear panel face masks?? Anyone bought one and have a source to share?

[TheReader]

As the start of school approaches, it's looking more and more like I am going to need to mask at least part of the time while teaching. (I teach K-2 at a homeschool co-op setting). 

Because I teach K-2, I teach phonics, reading, etc. and mouth formation is an important part of that. 

I can sew, but not sure what level plastic/vinyl to purchase to use for the clear panel. And not sure I want to hassle with going into a store to find it, honestly. (we are still, in my house, really limiting our outings to essential things only, and while this is, that store is likely to be crowded and I'd rather not). 

But there are so many ads for these -- and some sites are sketchier than others. 

Anyone bought this style already, received it, and can recommend the source?  Thanks in advance!

[sassenach]

I’m curious about this, too. I will be working with many senior citizens in the fall and I know communication in masks will be a challenge. 
 

For those who have used one, does the panel fog up? I’m trying to imagine how it wouldn’t. 

[WoolC]

1 hour ago, sassenach said:

I’m curious about this, too. I will be working with many senior citizens in the fall and I know communication in masks will be a challenge. 
 

For those who have used one, does the panel fog up? I’m trying to imagine how it wouldn’t. 

Our son’s therapist has been using one and it does fog up every time she speaks, making it useless for the intended purpose.  

[J-rap]

I'd love to get one of those for my dad!  He's able to meet with my mother from a distance now, outside (she's in a LT care facility), but since he wears a mask and has to sit 6 feet away, she often doesn't recognize him.

[Malory]

How about something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/unidades-seguridad-protección-transparente-transpirable/dp/B086WFYC1B/ref=sr_1_5?crid=267N1FMG4V228&dchild=1&keywords=face+shield&qid=1594226294&sprefix=face+shield%2Caps%2C231&sr=8-5

[Wheres Toto]

The problem with face shields is the air that gets in around the sides and bottom.  I'm planning to use a face shield with a drape/mask around the edges that will attach to the sides of a visor at the top, then cover the sides and bottom of the face shield, not allowing air in without going through the "mask".

Picture the face shield in the link with a cloth scarf extending from the top, along the sides and bottom.   I'm going to ask my mother who sews (she's been making us masks), to make a drape that will be basically a rectangle with a cut out in the middle going all the way up to the top, that clips to the visor on either side, with the clear shield in the opening.  

[kristin0713]

I am an ASL interpreter and I made my own.  I'm not interpreting in person right now, but I thought it might be helpful if I need to interact with any Deaf/HH individuals in person.  I bought vinyl from Joanns and used a pattern that I found online.  It's not hard, but I'm working on modifying the design to make it better.  (I am not taking orders, sorry.  I just don't have the time to make them in bulk unless I have a Deaf/HH friend in need for their own communication needs.) 

Anyway -- you can wipe the panel with a bit of Dawn dish soap to help prevent fogging.  I have found that this does help.  You can also get a face shield instead, if the rules will allow it.  If you are in a school or any place of work with people with hearing loss, your business should absolutely provide for you a clear mask or face shield.  It is extremely important for individuals with hearing loss to see your mouth when you are speaking. 

 

[kristin0713]

1 minute ago, Where's Toto? said:

The problem with face shields is the air that gets in around the sides and bottom. 

 

Yes, but honestly, cloth masks aren't preventing air from getting in.  They protect others from the wearer much more than they actually protect the wearer from what is in the air. 

[Wheres Toto]

8 minutes ago, kristin0713 said:

 

Yes, but honestly, cloth masks aren't preventing air from getting in.  They protect others from the wearer much more than they actually protect the wearer from what is in the air. 

I shouldn't have said air, except in the sense that the air could be carrying droplets/aerosol/viral particles.   The cloth masks have been shown to filter out quite a bit of the things we are worried about, without filtering out air (since we need to breathe).  

[Pen]

Try Leaf and Totobobo ? 

Nm leaf not actually available yet and Totobobo probably doesn’t show mouth clearly enough 

Edited July 8, 2020 by Pen

[TheReader]

3 hours ago, Malory said:

How about something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/unidades-seguridad-protección-transparente-transpirable/dp/B086WFYC1B/ref=sr_1_5?crid=267N1FMG4V228&dchild=1&keywords=face+shield&qid=1594226294&sprefix=face+shield%2Caps%2C231&sr=8-5

Yes, I did just read that a face shield is an acceptable alternative according to our state mandate (I'm not clear if it applies to us anyway, b/c our building is not open to the public, but just in case I want whatever I wear to be in compliance with that anyway). 

3 hours ago, Where's Toto? said:

The problem with face shields is the air that gets in around the sides and bottom.  I'm planning to use a face shield with a drape/mask around the edges that will attach to the sides of a visor at the top, then cover the sides and bottom of the face shield, not allowing air in without going through the "mask".

Picture the face shield in the link with a cloth scarf extending from the top, along the sides and bottom.   I'm going to ask my mother who sews (she's been making us masks), to make a drape that will be basically a rectangle with a cut out in the middle going all the way up to the top, that clips to the visor on either side, with the clear shield in the opening.  

I was also thinking about this; I'm much more concerned with what the kids can get from me than vice versa, but still. Especially since the time I'll mostly be wearing it is sitting down on our rug squares, reading to them, any droplets would be directed downward to escape under the face shield onto them/into their air space. 

3 hours ago, kristin0713 said:

I am an ASL interpreter and I made my own.  I'm not interpreting in person right now, but I thought it might be helpful if I need to interact with any Deaf/HH individuals in person.  I bought vinyl from Joanns and used a pattern that I found online.  It's not hard, but I'm working on modifying the design to make it better.  (I am not taking orders, sorry.  I just don't have the time to make them in bulk unless I have a Deaf/HH friend in need for their own communication needs.) 

Anyway -- you can wipe the panel with a bit of Dawn dish soap to help prevent fogging.  I have found that this does help.  You can also get a face shield instead, if the rules will allow it.  If you are in a school or any place of work with people with hearing loss, your business should absolutely provide for you a clear mask or face shield.  It is extremely important for individuals with hearing loss to see your mouth when you are speaking. 

 

I do know of anti-fog ideas; that's good to know that it works. 

I would love if you'd be willing to share what pattern you are using; I have been making masks, and could certainly follow a pattern, if you don't mind sharing it. 

I still may end up doing a face shield instead, because I need to be fully visible, and completely unmuffled. I mean, I'm teaching phonics, in a state where /e/ and /i/ sound the same anyway (no one here can discern a difference between pen and pin, for example, and when I try and enunciate the sound, the kids usually hear it as /a/ instead....). 

We're "independent contractors" for purposes of employment things, so any face shield, etc., is on me (it's just a small homeschool co-op type thing, not a large business or school in the traditional sense).  And no hearing loss, just kids learning phonics. 

[kristin0713]

I looked at several tutorials on YouTube and the following two examples.  I kind of made my own hybrid by just inserting a clear panel into the regular masks I was making but mine is close to the Communicator Face Mask. 

https://www.hsdc.org/accessible-deaf-friendly-face-mask/ 

[TheReader]

14 minutes ago, CuriousMomof3 said:

I'm a special educator.  I'm not going back to the classroom, but if we ever get back to the classroom, I'll be supervising teachers who are.  Many of my students have significant language and communication issues, and rely heavily on being able to see people's facial expressions, so I was really interested in the early reports on face shields.

But from what I understand, face shields mostly work in direct face to face situations.  If you're in a classroom for 6 hours, and the issue is that the virus is building up in the air over time, then a face shield may not be as helpful, especially for protecting the students from the staff. 

Given that my students are old enough that the "little kids probably don't spread" thing doesn't apply,  many of our students are high risk, and many of them need adults in closer proximity than six feet, I think we may have staff wear masks, and add face shields for up close interactions.   I am very interested in clear masks as an option. 

Hmm. that's a good point. 

The kids are only with me for 3 hours (and then a different group the other 3 hours, with a 30 minute outside time in between the 2 groups; the 3rd group is a different day). The room DOES have opening windows, BUT last year for whatever reason the church asked us to stop opening them. I'm not sure if because of interfering with the A/C, or alarm, or them not being locked afterwards, or what (I mean, I always relocked mine, but....). So I'm not sure if we'll be able to open our windows or not; if we are, I'd feel much better. Although, hot. 

The room I use is LARGE -- I have a BIG floor rug that sits between the white board and the kids' tables, and the kids all sit only one side of the table, and so I'm easily (normally) 20+ feet away....? I'm terrible at guessing distances. But for sure 15 feet or more, when I'm at the board and they're at their tables. So my thought was, when I'm "teaching" from up there, probably I don't need one. 

But then we sit on the rug (using individual rug mats, and if at all possible, an empty mat between each person, for distancing, arranged in an oval-ish shape), and normally at least one is in my lap. Which I'm thinking I have to absolutely avoid this year, right? Only...waah. And can I guarantee that a K'er won't just flat climb into my lap before I can say "nope." So I was thinking, for "rug time" when we're all down on the floor, I should wear.....something. Right?? 

And at that point, it's not generally phonics instruction time, so a mask would be okay, most likely. I'm going to try out options. They still need to be able to see my face, IMO. Facial expressions are so important for little kids. 

And then for passing out papers. Helping cut. Helping glue because someone can't figure out the craft. Passing out animal crackers. I'll be right over their shoulders &/or right across the table. So, face shield. Or something. 

I don't know. I haven't really studied/thought a lot about the whole "breathing the same air for three hours" issue. :sigh: I need to look into that. I'll have a 3 hour class with K students (4 & 5 yr olds), a 3 hr class with 1st graders (6 & 7 yr olds), and on a different day, a 3.5 hr class with 2nd grade (8-ish yr olds). All 3 groups (and K/1st will be together) eat in the classroom. I will work very hard to maintain social distancing even during that time (especially during that), but then they will have recess outside together, so......maybe all for nothing. Or maybe the shared air w/o masks on their little faces anyway means all the social distancing is for nothing. I don't know. 

I'm happy to wear a mask for the whole time, if I find one that doesn't muffle AND doesn't block my face. That's why I asked; I was hoping someone had a source for good quality clear panel ones. I'd prefer a mask to a face shield, really. And it may be that I reverse it and wear it all of the time and just take it down briefly while well distanced and specifically doing phonics instruction, when absolute clarity of speech is vital. 

Gah, this is so complicated. All I know is, I don't want to be the point of contact for anyone that gets sick. 

[Moonhawk]

So I'm following for the clear mask which would be very helpful in a couple situations I've found myself in.

I've already recommended face shields in another thread, but here's the ones I'm using in case it's helpful: https://mypowis.com/blog/portfolio/myshield/

A face shield might be in your interest anyway if you are working with K'ers (like you said). I remember my mom as a school librarian during reading time (much as you describe on the ground in a circle) where inevitably someone would try to sit on her or use her skirt to wipe their nose or just plain run/fall into her because, you know, kids. Accidental contact with your face is kind of their specialty.

For the air circulation, will you be able to have windows or doors open? I have no idea if air purifiers are any help with this type of situation.

Good luck, many hugs in your journey with this!

[kristin0713]

39 minutes ago, CuriousMomof3 said:

Are you constantly smelling dish soap?  Do you know if it has to be Dawn or could be something unscented?  I'm not hugely reactive to smells, but I think 6 hours of dish soap would be hard. 

Well I haven't worn it for any extended period of time.  It doesn't smell to me when I put it on.  The instructions said Dawn, and that is what I had, so that is what I used.  I haven't looked into this, but I wonder if it would be better to try products made for preventing fog on snorkeling and diving masks. 

This really is a hard thing.  My friend who is technically deaf but functionally hard of hearing (reads lips, has some residual hearing, but heavily depends on reading lips and facial expression) said that she cried herself to sleep the other night because it is so hard to communicate with people right now.  She is an OT and she said that she just needs to keep virtual appointments only right now.  Which is also hard with her hearing loss.  My other friend works at a grocery store and she is really, really struggling.  She can't understand anyone with masks on and she is dealing with rude and impatient customers all day. 

To be clear, I'm not advocating for *no masks*, just affirming that this is a tough issue to resolve in a way that protects everyone but keeps communication open for those who need the visual input. 

[TheReader]

6 minutes ago, Moonhawk said:

So I'm following for the clear mask which would be very helpful in a couple situations I've found myself in.

I've already recommended face shields in another thread, but here's the ones I'm using in case it's helpful: https://mypowis.com/blog/portfolio/myshield/

A face shield might be in your interest anyway if you are working with K'ers (like you said). I remember my mom as a school librarian during reading time (much as you describe on the ground in a circle) where inevitably someone would try to sit on her or use her skirt to wipe their nose or just plain run/fall into her because, you know, kids. Accidental contact with your face is kind of their specialty.

For the air circulation, will you be able to have windows or doors open? I have no idea if air purifiers are any help with this type of situation.

Good luck, many hugs in your journey with this!

Thank you; yes, that's the thing. These kiddos are just always all over you, so....:sigh:  

I need to find out if we can open the windows again or not. We do have big windows that do open, but midway through the year, the church said no opening windows. Our classroom door opens into a hall, and we do keep that door open (it's one of those half doors, so the bottom may get partially closed, but not the top), and the room is LARGE (at least 20 x 20, maybe bigger...? I should measure...), and it's looking like I'll only have 5 kids at a time (10 during lunch) unless we get an influx now that the schools have announced their plans. At most 10 at a time (but then 20 at lunch, which concerns me, but....we may go "picnic style" and eat on the floor to maintain distancing, if that's the case). 

thanks; I love these kiddos, and hope I can just keep them healthy. 

[TheReader]

10 minutes ago, CuriousMomof3 said:

I think that the fact that you teach little ones is a huge advantage.  They won't spread it to you, if the current conclusion is correct, and if you're cautious outside of school, you're less likely to have it to spread to them.  

I think if you're gathered on the floor, you should mask, but honestly, I think you should mask the whole time.  If you want to show your face, I'd make little videos and show them.  Might be better because you can get up close, and you can point to different parts.  You probably can even find videos if you look.  

As far as sitting on laps and passing things out, I might look at routines from the beginning.  Can you place papers on the tables as the class lines up on whatever social distancing markers you have, and then go out to recess, so when they come back the papers have had some time to air?  Virus doesn't last long on paper. 

I think outside is way safer.  If you can do some of your instruction outside, nature walks, and outdoor circle time, that would be ideal.  Outdoor snack?  Picnic lunch?  

I'm super cautious outside of school. I'm strongly considering shifting to curbside grocery pick-up, which will eliminate my only real contact with other people outside my family. We already aren't doing anything else right now (I do visit my grandma once/week-ish, but we remain well within social distance guidelines for her safety already). We've had a few socially distant visitors, but only other people also being just as cautious as us, and still we maintain social distancing (and visit outside, at that). 

No way I'm using videos of me in class. I did YouTube during March-May, and oof. So.Much.Work. So much work. I can do a clear panel mask. I don't mind wearing the mask the whole time, as long as I find one they can see through.  A 10 minute language arts lesson takes a minimum of an hour of work to create, sometimes longer. Repeat that for math, history, science......nope. 

I will definitely discourage lap sitting; my plan is to have individual rug mats for everyone, and a blank one between each student (which I will place upside down so it's obvious and not comfortable to test).  So, that would be an empty one on either side of me, as well. If I make it clear from Day One that's the rules, it should more or less work. 

Passing things out....maybe I can work out a way to get everything together so I only distribute papers once, but there's just no way to physically stay distant for the whole class. Someone will need help gluing. Or cutting. Or they dropped their paper on the floor. Or they'll bring me their juice box to open for lunch. Etc. It's just not possible.

I will absolutely do my best; I've reorganized all of my classroom stuff to individual packs, so there won't be any sharing among the kids. I have trays for them to use as well as reversible table mats to put down (so, the table will get disinfected when I get there, and the chairs, then I'll put these mats down; K gets one side, and between class I'll disinfect and flip them over, so 1st grade gets the other side). I'll disinfect chairs. Lightswitches. Bathroom. Faucets. Etc.

I will take us outside as I can; it will be October at least before it's cool enough, though (it will be probably 100 degrees when we start, and still high 90s throughout September) so not feasible at first. Their little 30 mins on the playground has them coming in red faced and drenched in sweat the first part of the year (and it's fairly well shaded). 

 

[Pen]

Photo deleted once seen

 

 

 

Edited July 9, 2020 by Pen

[Wheres Toto]

3 hours ago, Moonhawk said:

 I have no idea if air purifiers are any help with this type of situation.

Air purifiers are supposed to help.  I'm getting really good ones with tight filters that refresh the air frequently for my classrooms but they are $$$.  

My plan is face shield with side drapes, air purifiers, spacing as much as possible, cleaning between every class, not sharing materials between students, and frequent hand washing.

[TheReader]

4 hours ago, CuriousMomof3 said:

I think that that, and the way you socially distance from parents and other teachers, is going to make a bigger difference in the risk to the kids than what you do in the classroom, just based on what we know so far.  

Yeah, I think that YouTube teaching is very hard.  

I was thinking of something like this (I realized after I wrote that you should make it, that someone already must have done so.  So, not a whole lesson, just a 2 second clip you could pull up when you talk about a certain sound.  (clipped video for quote)

Keep in mind that my anxiety about this is very high.  Both because of my own family, but also because the students I am responsible for have many of the same challenges you describe, but also adult sized risk of spread, and many high risk conditions.  With small, mostly healthy children you don't need to be as overprotective as I am. 

Oh, that makes sense about the videos! Duh. Yes, I could certainly do/use something like that. 

And thank you; yes, it's mostly small children, with healthy/low risk families at that. I will certainly mask or social distance when doing drop off/pick up, and by the nature of my class, I have almost zero contact with the other teachers already anyway, so I will maintain that level of social distancing there as well.  

I really *feel* like I pose a very low risk to the kids.....but again, numbers in our area are skyrocketing, so....just in case. But also, yes, the kids themselves are really not at risk (and most who are ending up at our place this year are those who feel the precautions are very over-the-top....:sigh:....they all think I'm doing too much already). 

3 hours ago, Pen said:

Leaf that I mentioned above isn’t yet available, but maybe it would be worth getting on their preorder list?

 

(clipped photo for quote)

 

 

 

That actually looks really good; I'll look into that, thank you.  

1 hour ago, Where's Toto? said:

Air purifiers are supposed to help.  I'm getting really good ones with tight filters that refresh the air frequently for my classrooms but they are $$$.  

My plan is face shield with side drapes, air purifiers, spacing as much as possible, cleaning between every class, not sharing materials between students, and frequent hand washing.

I'd love a link/info on what you are using; something like that would be ideal, honestly, and I can probably splurge for it. 

I'm already planning spacing as much as possible, no sharing, and frequent hand washing, and extra cleaning/disinfecting between students. Plus then either the face shield &/or mask, assuming, like I've said, that I find something that works.  And staying at a high social distancing/isolating level at home as well (which we're already doing anyway). 

I"m at an advantage since I only get each group of kids for 3 hrs/week. (3 hrs/day, once a week; I teach a total of 2 days/9 hrs). So really my time with each group of kids is minimal and well within CDC guidelines. 

[Wheres Toto]

30 minutes ago, TheReader said:

Oh, that makes sense about the videos! Duh. Yes, I could certainly do/use something like that. 

And thank you; yes, it's mostly small children, with healthy/low risk families at that. I will certainly mask or social distance when doing drop off/pick up, and by the nature of my class, I have almost zero contact with the other teachers already anyway, so I will maintain that level of social distancing there as well.  

I really *feel* like I pose a very low risk to the kids.....but again, numbers in our area are skyrocketing, so....just in case. But also, yes, the kids themselves are really not at risk (and most who are ending up at our place this year are those who feel the precautions are very over-the-top....:sigh:....they all think I'm doing too much already). 

That actually looks really good; I'll look into that, thank you.  

I'd love a link/info on what you are using; something like that would be ideal, honestly, and I can probably splurge for it. 

I'm already planning spacing as much as possible, no sharing, and frequent hand washing, and extra cleaning/disinfecting between students. Plus then either the face shield &/or mask, assuming, like I've said, that I find something that works.  And staying at a high social distancing/isolating level at home as well (which we're already doing anyway). 

I"m at an advantage since I only get each group of kids for 3 hrs/week. (3 hrs/day, once a week; I teach a total of 2 days/9 hrs). So really my time with each group of kids is minimal and well within CDC guidelines. 

We're getting this one.   We bought one for home to try it out first.  This was based on reading a bunch of reviews.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073WJL99W/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Edited July 9, 2020 by Where's Toto?

[Pippen]

On 7/8/2020 at 8:47 AM, TheReader said:

As the start of school approaches, it's looking more and more like I am going to need to mask at least part of the time while teaching. (I teach K-2 at a homeschool co-op setting). 

Because I teach K-2, I teach phonics, reading, etc. and mouth formation is an important part of that. 

I can sew, but not sure what level plastic/vinyl to purchase to use for the clear panel. And not sure I want to hassle with going into a store to find it, honestly. (we are still, in my house, really limiting our outings to essential things only, and while this is, that store is likely to be crowded and I'd rather not). 

But there are so many ads for these -- and some sites are sketchier than others. 

Anyone bought this style already, received it, and can recommend the source?  Thanks in advance!

I've ordered a box of The Clear Mask to try. I probably won't use it all of the time, but I want to have it at least for the start of the year if it fits.

https://www.theclearmask.com/product

 

[Pen]

2 hours ago, Pippen said:

I've ordered a box of The Clear Mask to try. I probably won't use it all of the time, but I want to have it at least for the start of the year if it fits.

https://www.theclearmask.com/product

 

 

That looks really good!

[TheReader]

4 hours ago, Pippen said:

I've ordered a box of The Clear Mask to try. I probably won't use it all of the time, but I want to have it at least for the start of the year if it fits.

https://www.theclearmask.com/product

 

That looks like a good option, thanks! 

I think I'll end up with either that, or the face shield that was linked upthread somewhere (by a book binding company...). Most of my students' parents fall in the "oh, you don't need to wear a mask" category but....I just keep thinking what a hypocrite I would be if I don't wear one. I mean, good grief, I'm wearing them to the store to protect total strangers that I will only cross paths with briefly. Why on earth would I NOT wear one around these precious young children I will come to care for by the end of the year, as if they're my own? When I'm going to be around these kids for 3 hrs/week, in close proximity...? 

The parents will just have to understand.