Why are people wearing surgical masks to ';protect'; against swine flu when they don't protect against aerosols?

Well, surgical masks are not designed to protect the person who is wearing the mask. Surgeons and doctors wear a mask to protect the patient. If the doctor sneezes or coughs, the mask blocks the spittle from flying onto the patient.





Similarly in this situation, the mask is completely useless if you are trying to stay away from the virus. But, if one has the flu, he coughs into the mask, so that decreases the chance that others will get the flu.





A virus is so small that it will go right through the mask. Many people don't know this. And for this reason, handing out masks offers a false sense of security to these people.Why are people wearing surgical masks to ';protect'; against swine flu when they don't protect against aerosols?
The Swine Flu will give you the full effect of a very bad flu with nausea, diarrhea, fever, chills, body aches %26amp; pains and could possibly kill a lot more people than other flu's have in a long time. Most flu's kill very young and very old, but this one is killing teens %26amp; middle aged people as well. Also it will spread around the globe quick. Most aerosols will not kill you, but if exposed to toxic aerosols on a regular basis, you could develop health problems years down the line. People should wear masks anytime they are exposed to an unclean atmosphere. I'm wearing one now. Check my picture.Also, surgical masks are effective against the flu, but would provide better protection by using a respirator mask which can block particles sized less that .5 microns.Why are people wearing surgical masks to ';protect'; against swine flu when they don't protect against aerosols?
The desire to do something in an uncontrollable situation, I suppose.





There is one benefit to wearing surgical masks, though. If you do have swine flu, wearing one will decrease your chances of passing it to someone else.
well theres always the peace of mind factor


or maybe the masks really do protect against germs and bacteria
They protect against someone coughing on you.
because aerosols are different than airbourne flu viruses