![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Single Use Plastics
I've used two disposable masks in this pandemic. No gloves, no takeout containers, two filters that fit inside a mask--to keep my boss from worrying. I began washing my hands at the beginning of the pandemic and have seen no reason to stop. As a deckhand, I used to have to touch all manner of unsavory things. I learned long ago to keep my hands out of my mouth and my hair, and to wash after dirty jobs. The only rubber gloves I ever wore were when I was handling toxics that were absorbed through the skin, mostly oil based paints and solvents. That worked then, I saw no reason to make special exception for viruses.
I have quite a collection of cloth masks, many still in the packaging. They are given out quite regularly, mostly promotional " gimmes." I even have two replica 1918 gauze masks. I made them for work, as an accompaniment to a blog post to prove that I was working during shelter in place.
I made hundreds of cloth masks during lockdown. Most of them were given away during the early days of the pandemic. I needed to do something to feel useful besides staying inside and hospitals, grocery stores, businesses were desperate for them. There were whole Facebook groups coordinating distribution.
I wore my own products, and cooked my own food. As things got better, again, I saw no reason to stop. As a friend said, masks are like underwear. Change them often and throw the dirty ones in the wash.
Watching this segment, and the masks and gloves I see strewn all over our beach at work make me even more sure I'm making the right choice.
I've used two disposable masks in this pandemic. No gloves, no takeout containers, two filters that fit inside a mask--to keep my boss from worrying. I began washing my hands at the beginning of the pandemic and have seen no reason to stop. As a deckhand, I used to have to touch all manner of unsavory things. I learned long ago to keep my hands out of my mouth and my hair, and to wash after dirty jobs. The only rubber gloves I ever wore were when I was handling toxics that were absorbed through the skin, mostly oil based paints and solvents. That worked then, I saw no reason to make special exception for viruses.
I have quite a collection of cloth masks, many still in the packaging. They are given out quite regularly, mostly promotional " gimmes." I even have two replica 1918 gauze masks. I made them for work, as an accompaniment to a blog post to prove that I was working during shelter in place.
I made hundreds of cloth masks during lockdown. Most of them were given away during the early days of the pandemic. I needed to do something to feel useful besides staying inside and hospitals, grocery stores, businesses were desperate for them. There were whole Facebook groups coordinating distribution.
I wore my own products, and cooked my own food. As things got better, again, I saw no reason to stop. As a friend said, masks are like underwear. Change them often and throw the dirty ones in the wash.
Watching this segment, and the masks and gloves I see strewn all over our beach at work make me even more sure I'm making the right choice.
