Bonnie M. Tompkins, M.D., wishes to make the
following clarification to the article “Personal
Protective Equipment in Pandemic/Avian Influenza/SARS:
N95 or PAPR for Intubation?,”
which appeared in the January 2008 NEWSLETTER.
 wo
different hoods are available for the PAPR. The
first covers the face, chin, and top of the head,
and has air exit holes beneath the chin. A size
small sample face cover hood, admittedly too small
for the testers, was tried by the author’s
associates. It was noticed that when inhaling deeply,
the outward airflow through the exit holes could
be interrupted, suggesting that ambient air could
be inhaled through the holes when a deep breath
is taken by the wearer. The second type of hood
covers the entire head and shoulders and has no
exit holes. It has a 100 fold higher protection
factor than the face hood. The cost of the hoods
is $20 for the face cover hood and $25 for the full
hood. The hoods are non-disposable but are intended
for a single user.
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