Question: Does anyone have tips for making masks more effective for those who have a beard for religious reasons?

Hi Nick-

Question: are you hoping to come up with some ideas for people on the inside who are making their own masks, or are you thinking about organizing donations of masks/materials (this is obviously much more challenging, but may not be impossible).

My understanding (I've been fitted for respirators in the past, though that was a loooong time ago) is that the issue with facial hair is that it prevents a respirator-style mask from sealing properly on a user's face (you get suction when it's on right), allowing unfiltered air into the mix, but cloth/surgical/paper style masks aren't designed to seal on the face-- they just provide a barrier-- the molded/cup style masks have a closer fit and therefore a better barrier, but that's about it. I'm guessing even a slightly larger version of the deaconess mask-- maybe one with the bands running lengthwise that could scoop under a wearer's chin and be tied off with a little tension (not containing abeard, but pushing it back a bit) would at least be on par with most of the fabric masks that are out there (which sadly, is still a very limited amount of protection).

It might be a little moot given the overall shortage of PPE and the obstacles that exist to getting anything into the hands of incarcerated individuals, but for folks with beards who require respirators, there are versions that are more like a hood than a mask (look up "bardas"-- that's one of the styles out there, and there are some interesting Q&As here: : https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/1996-10-03 and here: https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2003-03-07-0

Oh, this group might be helpful too: https://freethemall4publichealth.org/

Thanks, Bronwen! I think its also for the filtering masks too, no? like this CDC facial hair mask from the CDC has been circulating and not related to respirator types https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/pdfs/FacialHairWmask11282017-508.pdf

I think either people donating masks that accommodate beards--Muslim men have achieved freedom of religion victories in prisons in recent years to allow religious specific items to be donated and homemade masks have also been cleared in some states if they go through the right groups. So either handmade outside or potentially made inside.

I think guys on the inside just want the best barrier they can get as they can basically control zero aspects of their exposure other than their mask and their own hand washing when they have soap. Like I've spoken to people that have a cell mates that refuse to wash hands or wear a mask and who have jobs that put them into contact w/ hundreds of people so really any level of improvement would be great. Its so strange to me that there is no resources on this (that I've been able to find)!

Hmm maybe that link was more for the respirator type you are talking about. but the risk reduction part still holds :)

PublicLab 1. It should be bigger than usual size. 2. Big elastic thread , so that it can be tied over the turban easily.

PublicLab Not the best of my pencil sketch, but something like this might help. Increase the thread size, so that it can be tied across the back of turban than ears. https://t.co/uAUYGHITXI

Shared this on Twitter and received some replies. The reply-by-tweet function didn't share the images properly in the comments above.

Not the best of my pencil sketch, but something like this might help. Increase the thread size, so that it can be tied across the back of turban than ears. pic.twitter.com/uAUYGHITXI

— Sairam ([@weloveourlungs](/profile/weloveourlungs)) April 23, 2020

Thanks everyone for your help! Here is the letter I wrote back in May. It was helpful for getting N95s in. Also circulated it to organizers with ties to the religions associated with this issue. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mfxAspBIWzInWoyEWMH0GKSvCXTF9vVdY4MCu0ZFZ_w/edit?usp=sharing