Today’s Topics: Doodles | BOGO FREE Hand Sanitizer | What are KN95 Masks? | News to Start Your Day
Happy Tuesday!
February 16th is National do a Grouch a Favor Day and also National Almond Day! I think this calls for the perfect scenario to turn the grouches upside down! Go and grab your favorite pack of almonds and give it to them as a snack. I’m sure giving them the most heart-healthy snack on the market is sure to make their day better…don’t ya think?
I was recently reminded of a fun CK memory – and maybe the beginning of version 2.0 of that memory. I forget how this particular thing was started, maybe just a random request. A customer placed an order and put in the comments that they wanted a drawing on the box. Remember how I told you we like to do things that are memorable? We like to bring an unexpected online shopping experience and have fun doing it. Our creative guy in marketing at the time (we miss you, J!) was pretty good with freehand drawings, so we filled the customer request. It was shared with customers and others started asking for the same. It wasn’t often but enough to be a fun memory for us.
Yesterday one of our managed account reps, Mandy, shared a picture her son had drawn. It was a picture of Switch – have you met Switch yet? He’s our mascot of sorts. I’ll tell you more about him sometime. For now, he makes an appearance on stickers and in some small places on the website and marketing materials. Here’s our stickerand also Mac’s version of Switch. Great job, buddy!
So now version 2.0 of this is on the table – a Doodle Day for all the CK kids (and big kids) to come draw on some of the boxes we send out that week? Emailed artwork from CK kids and grownups alike? We are considering it. For now, I think Mac is willing to fill a few requests 😉
Until tomorrow,
Christin
Product Spotlights & Updates:
Just a reminder! We are still running BOGO FREE deals on some of our safety supplies and have just added our hand sanitizers to the list. Buy a 5 pack of either the 3.38oz or 8oz hand sanitizer and get another 5 pack for free!
It is always good to stock up on hand sanitizers and continue to wash/sanitize your hands. These hand sanitizers adhere to the guidelines provided by the FDA and kill harmful germs in just seconds.
The 3.38oz gel tube hand sanitizer contains 75% Ethyl Alcohol and contains an alcohol-based formula which is quick-drying and effective. The 100mL tube also contains moisturizer and Vitamin E to keep your hands smooth and healthy.
The 8oz gel flip-top antiseptic hand sanitizer contains 70% Ethyl Alcohol and is fragrance free. This bottle also contains aloe vera which has antibacterial properties and ensures your skin to stay hydrated. Both hand sanitizers are small and perfect to carry with your everyday belongings and/or during travel!
What are KN95 Masks? – CK Learning Center
Choosing the right face mask for your safety (and the safety of those around you) can be confusing. What do all those different numbers and letters mean? And which type of masks do you really need? One of the most common masks available is the KN95, which you can find in our Safety Supplies section. Here’s some information about what a KN95 mask is, how it’s different from other types of masks, and a few recommendations on how to choose the best mask for your needs.
What is a KN95 Mask?
“KN95” is a designation for Chinese-made filtering facepiece respirators that meet China GB2626-2006 performance standards. Filtering facepiece respirators (FFR) are disposable face masks that are subject to a variety of regulatory standards, with different countries and regions having their own specific designations. The standards that KN95 masks are subject to include physical and performance characteristics that they are required to meet.
According to a 3M technical bulletin (PDF) from January 2020, KN95 respirators must meet the following performance standards:
- ≥ 95% efficiency
- Flow rate of 85 L/min
- ≤ 8% total inward leakage
- ≤ 350 Pa inhalation resistance
- ≤ 250 Pa exhalation resistance
This is not an exhaustive list but provides some of the key standards that masks must meet under GB2626-2006.
How is a KN95 Mask Different from an N95 Mask?
In the United States, FFRs are regulated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The N95 respirator is the most common of seven types of FFRs approved for use in the U.S., and specific types of N95 masks are cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as “surgical N95 respirators.” This means that they are approved for use in a healthcare setting. Note that not all N95 masks are cleared for surgical use.
The underlying difference between a KN95 mask and an N95 mask of any type is the performance standards that they were designed to meet. While KN95 masks meet Chinese standards, N95 masks are required to meet United States NIOSH-42CFR84 performance standards, which are closely comparable. Both, for example, are required to have filter performance that is at least ≥ 95% efficient. The FFP2 (Europe EN 149-2001) respirator meets similar European standards.
Due to shortages of N95 face masks in the U.S., the FDA authorized the use of non-NIOSH-approved N95 respirators, including (as of April 3, 2020) KN95 respirators from China, when needed.
Why are people concerned about KN95 masks?
The greatest concern surrounding KN95 masks is whether they are suitable for hospitals and health care settings. Due to the potential for close contact exposure to those who are ill, it’s critical that these masks meet all performance standards to protect those who use them. A mask that meets KN95 standards should perform very similarly to an N95 mask, blocking 95% of particles, including bacteria and viruses. These masks should be tight and well-fitted, creating a seal around the nose and mouth to minimize leakage as much as possible.
What is a Medical Mask?
Medical or surgical masks differ significantly from filtering facepiece respirators. These disposable masks are designed to be loose-fitting, unlike FFRs, and while they are fluid-resistant and effective at filtering out some airborne particles, they do not provide the full protection that an FFR offers. The FDA offers a useful comparison between surgical masks and N95 respirators at https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/personal-protective-equipment-infection-control/n95-respirators-and-surgical-masks-face-masks.
Surgical masks are regulated by the FDA under 21 CFR 878.4040. They are designed to block large particles and spray or splatter, preventing them from reaching the nose or mouth.
Should I Wear a KN95 Mask?
The CDC does not recommend that the general public wear N95 masks; due to the limited supply, these FFRs should be reserved for healthcare workers and first responders.
In everyday situations, including going to a non-medical work environment or store, other types of face coverings – including KN95 masks, 3-layer protective masks, and cloth face masks – are recommended. Wearing a mask that fits closely to the face can help reduce the spread of viruses to others, particularly when other social distancing practices are followed as well.
KN95 masks that meet all regulator standards provide more protection than homemade cloth masks, but they should be used correctly. Use caution when donning or removing a mask; touching the outer surface after the mask has been worn could transfer germs from the mask to your hands. Always wash your hands before putting a mask on or taking it off so that you do not spread any germs from your hands to your face; wash your hands again after removing the mask. A KN95 respirator is designed for a single use and should, ideally, be discarded after use or if it becomes soiled.
This article is from the CK Learning Center.
Today’s News to Start Your Day:
- As of this morning, in the US, there are 9,461,762 active COVID cases, 18,359,110 have recovered and there have been 498,209 deaths.
- In a year without parades, Mardi Gras in New Orleans is all about house floats. The house floats movement was born on November 17, 2020, the same day the city announced there would be no parades during the upcoming Carnival season due to Covid-19. The house float movement has given birth to a mini economy, putting laid-off musicians and artists back to work, saving businesses, and fundraising for New Orleanians in need.
- More than 3.8 million households in Texas were in the dark Tuesday morning, as record-low temperatures boosted demand for power and heat that pushed the state’s electric grid to its limits. Rolling blackouts, typically seen on 100-degree summer days, were imposed in Texas. The frigid weather was part of the massive winter blast that brought snow, sleet, and freezing rain to the southern Plains, across parts of the Ohio Valley and the Northeast.
- Parler, popular with American right-wing users but which virtually vanished after the U.S. Capitol riot, re-launched its social media platform on Monday and said its new platform is built on “sustainable, independent technology.” In a statement announcing the relaunch, Parler also said it had appointed Mark Meckler as its interim chief executive, replacing John Matze who was fired by the board this month.
- A proposal for 73 townhomes and 26,400 square feet of retail space at a key entrance to Flowery Branch, Georgia is set to go before City Council Thursday, Feb. 18. The 11-acre development would be at 5519 McEver Road at the Gainesville Street/G.C. Crow Road intersection. The commercial part would face the intersection, with the homes behind it. “This property is a gateway to our downtown and adding a mixed-use project to this corner will help the continued development of downtown while providing services to the McEver Road corridor,” a city staff report says. 5519 McEver Road LLC is seeking to rezone the land from agricultural to highway business and residential.
- Elementary students in Los Angeles may return to their public school classrooms as early as this week as the number of new coronavirus infections in the county continues to drop. In a statement, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said it told the school district – the second largest in the country – that the county’s case rate would meet the state’s requirement of 25 per 100,000 on Tuesday, allowing for reopening of elementary schools.