Patients should wear masks?

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with the expected arrival of this viral pandemic, which all the hospitals are gearing up for, shouldn't the patients be obliged to don face masks to help protect us!...........a BIG oh&s issue of the not too distant future

 

Flu pandemic

There have been a lot of media reports recently on preparation for a flu pandemic:
Officials urge preparations for flu pandemic
London prepares for flu pandemic
Hospital: Preparation key in handling bird flu pandemic

BUT, we first broke the story here

 

a tad more important than the rising cost of petrol

but not up there with what the idiot Bush, cheney, rumsfeld, feith, wolfowitz, and others are up to (should listen to their military!)..........
worth a look though, it's the Australian Governments "Australian Health Management Plan for PANDEMIC INFLUENZA" (we not only play rugby and football well)
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/Publishing.nsf/Content/CD945ED3AEC9928ACA257179000E1A71/$File/ahmppi-print.pdf

it includes (my emphasis)

"Short of a vaccine, there are many simple ways people can substantially reduce their risk of being infected by or spreading the influenza virus. These include:
• MAINTAINING A PHYSICAL DISTANCE FROM PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE INFECTED
• frequent handwashing, particularly after coming into contact with people who might be infected
• COUGH AND SNEEZE ETIQUETTE
• staying home from work when unwell, and encouraging colleagues to do so
• in the event of a pandemic, WEARING A SIMPLE SURGICAL MASK OR OTHER COVERING FOR THE NOSE AND MOUTH."

It's not just the H5N1 bird flu they're referring to.

 

to quote a top poster on this forum "Goodness me, this post has inspired a deluge of responses" (unquote)
ok HANDS UP all those more than a little pertubed by what's (trying to) being discussed here
point re "physical distance", though not quantified you can bet it's more than mouth to foot.............point re 'cough and sneeze etiquette", after 19 years, no way can you guarentee granny is going to turn her head 90 degrees before she finishes exhalation of the cough/sneeze.......and "wearing a simple surgical mask" better that the patient wears them so as to hopefully catch the "large droplets" before they enter the ambient air............SO BRETHREN WHAT'S TO BE DONE?

 

even you GUN BIOMECHANISTS should take heed

re: INEVITABLE ONSET OF PANDEMIC VIRUS ........ here's a (short) VIDEO ...... parts 4 and 8 re masks ......... part 4 >> why should pts wear masks only to protect other pts why not also to protect clinicians/staff? ..... also pick the fault/omission ....... part 8 >> these are the masks we should be wearing not our ordinary surgical masks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ....... no replies from earlier entries >> does this mean every pod is prepared??