The Prepping Thread - A Newer Beginning ;)

Grumpelstiltskin

Many shops have masks in stock now. Aldi and B & M Bargains have them just inside the entrance.

euronorris

Lots of places are selling them, but watch out for those that are only single layer and considered more of a fashion mask. There are many local people making them, with double layer and a filter pocket, often selling on Facebook. But, if you don't have a Facebook account, Etsy is the place for independent makes.
Do you know anyone who can sew, who might make some for you in exchange for a few £?

pavlovs_dog

I've been impressed by the ones I have bought on etsy from a seller called ciansfacemasks.  Double layered 'surgical' shaped masks with filter pockets.  Available in a choice of fabric patterns/colours if that type of thing bothers you.  2 different adult sizes (seller advises that men will need a large and this was definitely true for my DH).  The smaller adult ones come with a nose wire for improved fit.  They're washable too

pavlovs_dog

elaine241 said:

On another note eldest son went back to school today. Que nervous mother who managed to give herself a stress headache for most of the day! He had sanitiser and a mask so I hoped for the best. When I picked him up I asked him about social distancing and it seems its virtually non existent and many of the pupils don't seem to care!!  He did say some took it seriously but not many! This was one year group back in school today, I am now worrying what it is going to be like with all the children from 5 year groups back?

I teach in a medium sized comprehensive (1600 pupils) and, despite our best efforts as a staff, proper social distancing in our context is bordering on impossible.  You cannot have all pupils back following their full timetable and maintain the full integrity of social bubbles in a secondary setting.  It is a fallacy.  

The ruling about masks in Scotland and England is a clear example of this.  The advice is that kids aged 11+ should wear a mask in settings where social distancing can't be maintained. So they must wear them on the yard and in corridors... but not in lessons where they sit shoulder to shoulder for an hour at a time, projecting whatever they exhale towards their teacher at the front of the class, who in turn will cycle through 5 or 6 different bubbles a day?!

My intention is not to cause alarm, but I have seen first hand the situation Elaine's son describes.  If you have secondary aged children, you'd do well to instill in them how important it is to follow the rules.  I personally am also distancing myself from vulnerable relatives for fear of what I may pick up whilst mixing in the human soup that is a secondary school environment.

Si_Clist

pavlovs_dog said:

I teach in a medium sized comprehensive (1600 pupils) ...

Blimey!  If 1600 kids is a medium-sized school nowadays, how many's in a big one?

pavlovs_dog

Si_Clist said:

pavlovs_dog said:

I teach in a medium sized comprehensive (1600 pupils) ...

Blimey!  If 1600 kids is a medium-sized school nowadays, how many's in a big one?

2000 plus, 14 form entry.  800 students or fewer is considered small.

euronorris

Found this bounty earlier today with DD and MIL:

euronorris

https://www.boobalou.co.uk/toothpaste-tablets.html toothpaste tablets, for anyone interested. An inexpensive, space saving way to stash a good amount in your preps. This store also does toothpaste powder, and mouthwash tablets (just add water), if anyone is wanting to fill a gap in their prep stores but doesn't have a lot of space. Eco friendly too.

DigForVictory

Frankly, hugely thankful am based on a hill in Lancashire as I read of 200,000 ordered to evacuate as Japan braces for a storm - awed at how organised Japan is, but then where they are, little choice if to survive.
<Ambles off to count packs of noodles>

3secondmemory

pavlovs_dog said:

elaine241 said:

On another note eldest son went back to school today. Que nervous mother who managed to give herself a stress headache for most of the day! He had sanitiser and a mask so I hoped for the best. When I picked him up I asked him about social distancing and it seems its virtually non existent and many of the pupils don't seem to care!!  He did say some took it seriously but not many! This was one year group back in school today, I am now worrying what it is going to be like with all the children from 5 year groups back?

I teach in a medium sized comprehensive (1600 pupils) and, despite our best efforts as a staff, proper social distancing in our context is bordering on impossible.  You cannot have all pupils back following their full timetable and maintain the full integrity of social bubbles in a secondary setting.  It is a fallacy.  

The ruling about masks in Scotland and England is a clear example of this.  The advice is that kids aged 11+ should wear a mask in settings where social distancing can't be maintained. So they must wear them on the yard and in corridors... but not in lessons where they sit shoulder to shoulder for an hour at a time, projecting whatever they exhale towards their teacher at the front of the class, who in turn will cycle through 5 or 6 different bubbles a day?!

My intention is not to cause alarm, but I have seen first hand the situation Elaine's son describes.  If you have secondary aged children, you'd do well to instill in them how important it is to follow the rules.  I personally am also distancing myself from vulnerable relatives for fear of what I may pick up whilst mixing in the human soup that is a secondary school environment.

I’m just going to leave this here. during one BBC interview, the camera panned away from the two meter spaced desks they were filming, and we saw all the rest of the pupils crammed together. 🙁