Bank robber wearing surgical mask sought San Diego Union Tribune

14.11.09

SAN DIEGO: The FBI and San Diego boys in blue are asking for the public’s help to identify a man who robbed four bank tellers yesterday while wearing a surgical mask with the letters and numbers “H1N1,” the swine-flu-virus designator.

The man entered the Bank of America at East The deep Air Drive and Carmel Mountain Road in Torrey Hills about 10:50 a.m. He walked to an island disc in the lobby before approaching a teller, FBI spokesman Darrell Foxworth said.

The robber displayed a gat in his waistband, then gave the teller a white envelope with a demand note on top. He then walked down the row of tellers, handing each a disconnected envelope in which to place cash.

He left the bank with the envelopes and was seen walking east on East Plethora Air Drive.

The robber was described as white, in his early to mid-40s, 5 feet 11 inches gangling with a medium build. He had black, curly hair with gray on the side.

In addition to the mask, he wore a black baseball cap with gray or chaste letters on the front; sunglasses; a short, black jacket; khaki; pants and plastic gloves. He was carrying a wicked briefcase. —S.S.

Source:

Which mask?

Bird flu, swine flu, seasonal flu, winter flu and more! After the SARS event of 2003, everyone has become more vigilant about self protection. The most recent swine flu or H1N1 incident has focused our attention on another potential communicable cancer in the community. Consequently one can notice more people wearing a mask in the streets. Some would wear a simple mask, some a proper surgical face mask and not seldom you see someone donning the N-95 mask. The N-95 mask was standard issue for all heath care workers during the SARS period. It offers the most protection provided it is fitted properly and worn properly. If the H1N1 swine flu becomes a pandemic, there won’t be enough N-95 masks for everyone. In a more reasonable setting, is the N-95 mask much better than a surgical mask in stopping you from picking up the flu?

Researchers from the McMaster University compared the effectiveness of the surgical mask against the N95 mask in protecting 446 nurses against influenza (JAMA 2009; 302: 1865 – 1871). These nurses were working in difficulty departments, medical and paediatric units in 8 tertiary care hospitals in Ontario, Canada. They were randomly assigned to utilization surgical mask (n=225) or N-95 mask (n=221). Influenza infection occurred in 50 nurses (23.6%) in the surgical mask group and in 48 (22.9%) in the N95 mask bracket. There was no statistical difference in the influenza infection rate between the 2 types of mask.

If you are going to wear a mask, please make sure that you attrition it properly. I have seen quite a number of people walking around with an N95 mask on their face but it was put on wrongly. In such cases the thought that you have an N95 mask on your mask will certainly make you feel more secure psychologically but in reality it will not reduce your risk of getting a flu. If you are going to burden a mask, at least make sure you learn how to wear it properly.

Read more...

Surgical Mask News

'Here's the Deal: Don't Touch Me' Howie Mandel wears a surgical mask to book ... Examiner.com - Dec 03, 2009 'Here's the Act: Don't Touch Me' Howie Mandel wears a surgical mask to book Howie Mandel was signing books, but he was wearing a surgical mask and rubber gloves to first encounter fans who waited in line so he could comfortable interact. and more »

Bank robber wearing surgical mask sought San Diego Union Tribune - Nov 14, 2009 SAN DIEGO: The FBI and San Diego the coppers are asking for the public's help to identify a man who robbed four bank tellers yesterday while wearing a surgical Man robs bank wearing a H1N1 flu maskPolice: Man wearing surgical mask robs bankSwine flu-masked sharper robs bank - -all 42 news articles »

Respirator or face mask? Best H1N1 protection still debated CNN International - Nov 09, 2009 In inside info, surgical face masks, which are cheaper and easier to wear, may be just as good as N95 respirators. At the very least, researchers can't evince that OHIO RELAXES FLU FACE MASK RECOMMENDATIONSafe Life Introduces First Comfortable, Breathable N95 Respirator with NIOSH Send for Makes Respirator Choice Easierall 17 news articles »

Surgical-mask company might soon move to North Richland Hills Fort Worth Star Telegram - Nov 07, 2009 NORTH RICHLAND HILLS — Distinction Ameritech, the largest maker of surgical masks in the US, could soon move to a former Tecnol surgical-mask Prestige Ameritech to unresolved a Global Pandemic Preparedness and Response Centerall 9 news articles »

22 million H1N1 flu Inquirer.net - Nov 30, 2009 Orb and MailRe-analysis has shown than the more expensive N95 masks are no better than ordinary surgical mask, according to the same researchers who in September What is your corporation contingency plan for the H1N1 flu?What do you do when swine flu vaccine no longer works on the mutated virus?all 3,274 talk articles »