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[ACT] Free P2 Masks (for Smoke Sensitive People) at Selected Pharmacies

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[ACT] Free P2 Masks (for Smoke Sensitive People) at Selected Pharmacies
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Taegukgi on 08/01/2020 - 21:47 health.act.gov.au (1374 clicks)
Last edited 08/01/2020 - 22:22 by 1 other user

Quote from ACT Gov Page

On 6 January 2020 it was announced that P2/N95 masks are being delivered to pharmacies and will be available for people who are most at risk of the health impacts of exposure to the smoke from tomorrow 7 January 2020. Masks will also be available through the Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service for their clients.

This is the small supply of P2/N95 masks provided by the Commonwealth Government for the ACT.

The groups of particularly sensitive individuals who will be able to access these masks, if they choose, include:

  1. people with existing chronic lung and heart conditions, such as asthma, chronic bronchitis or emphysema, and heart disease
  2. all pregnant women, and
  3. people over 65 years of age.

Each eligible person will receive two masks at the pharmacy.

ACT Health recommends that people with lung condition, such as chronic obstructive airways disease, asthma or emphysema, and people with chronic heart conditions, should seek advice from their medical practitioner prior to using these masks.

In regards to retail sales of masks, some are available at Canberra pharmacies and hardware stores.

Canberra Times Article

List of retailers with stock of P2 Masks for purchase:

As of 2.30pm, here's where masks were available to buy:

The Pharmacy On Petrie (Canberra Centre)
The Pharmacy On Northbourne (Canberra City)
The Pharmacy on Franklin (Manuka)
Develin's City Chemist
Priceline Pharmacy Canberra Centre
Capital Chemist Lyneham
Capital Chemist Calwell
Capital Chemist Palmerston
Capital Chemist Southlands
Project Lighting (Phillip)
Hip Pocket (Phillip)
Inspirations (Belconnen)
Haymes Paint (Mitchell)
Eyecentric Optometrist (Manuka)

Please note this list may be incomplete or out of date.

A Capital Chemists spokeswoman said they got 300 on Monday afternoon, with more to arrive on Tuesday morning.

Health & Beauty Bushfire Relief Respirator

Related Stores

ACT Government
ACT Government

closed Comments

  • ozizoy on 08/01/2020 - 21:47
    +12

    What about NSW????

  • D-Train on 08/01/2020 - 21:51
    +2

    Free? "As of 2.30pm, here's where masks were available to buy:"

    • WoodYouLikeSomeCash on 08/01/2020 - 22:16

      Free?

      I don’t think so:

      were available to buy:

      • havefull on 08/01/2020 - 22:24

        it's very difficult to find P2 mask in melb.
        most of bunnings and officeworks run out stock

        • WoodYouLikeSomeCash on 08/01/2020 - 22:27

          Do you need a mask?

          • havefull on 08/01/2020 - 22:31
            +1

            @WoodYouLikeSomeCash: I'm good, thanks for offering tho.
            I managed to bought some last week

            • WoodYouLikeSomeCash on 08/01/2020 - 22:35
              +15

              @havefull: Great to hear you got one.

              Also some advice for people who do need to buy one:

              • Everyone is hyperfocused on the P2 aspect because they don't know about safety equipment. You can go higher. P2 is the MINIMUM filtration. P3, p10, p100, etc, all will work, they're a bit more expensive but that's because they tend to not be disposable at that point, so you have something you can keep for next year + use to paint your loungeroom, fix your insulation and spray for bugs. If the P2's are out, look for the higher models. At that point they also tend to be called Respirators, not masks.

              • PPE stores. (Personal Protection Equipment). People aren't thinking of these because they don't work with PPE regularly. These have them in the SHITLOAD. It's literally their entire schtick. If you're bayside, rsea in moorabbin has a full stock or you can use their online store

              Source: Reddit - Where to get a p2 mask in Melbourne?

              • kiteo on 08/01/2020 - 23:23

                @WoodYouLikeSomeCash: P3 + are correspondingly harder to breathe in - yes?

                • WoodYouLikeSomeCash on 08/01/2020 - 23:29

                  @kiteo:

                  P3 + are correspondingly harder to breathe in - yes?

                  That’s a good question:
                  I’m not too sure but I would assume so as the higher the rating the more that is being filtered out.

                  • kiteo on 08/01/2020 - 23:34
                    +1

                    @WoodYouLikeSomeCash: That's what I heard. I got some new P2 filters for my respirator, which I've never tried jogging in before but will when the wind blows the smoke back. Not looking forward to it but it's cheaper than a gym membership.

                    • WoodYouLikeSomeCash on 08/01/2020 - 23:35

                      @kiteo: I would recommend that you get a P3 one as it does a better job.

                      • kiteo on 08/01/2020 - 23:41

                        @WoodYouLikeSomeCash: Cheers of course it is but nah mate I'm not jogging in an asbestos mask, my lung capacity is reduced enough & like I said I'm povvo.

                        • WoodYouLikeSomeCash on 08/01/2020 - 23:43
                          +2

                          @kiteo: If you say so but if you need a mask I’m more than happy to do some searching online for a P3 mask nearby to you.

              • sanmigueelbeer on 09/01/2020 - 11:45
                +1

                @WoodYouLikeSomeCash: Got a 3M 6200 & P100 filter cartidges (60926) from WorkSafeGear. (All the 3M P100 cartridges have the same price.)

                So far so good.

      • [Deactivated] on 09/01/2020 - 10:44

        As the deal mentions, some are free (P2), with priority given to seniors and those with health issues (but also available to others on request according to Andrew Barr). Some chemists have stocks of better P2V masks (little filtered vent in middle) available for purchase.

  • King Steuart on 08/01/2020 - 21:58
    +17

    It's weird that jv fits all 3 of those categories.

  • Nousernamehere on 08/01/2020 - 22:00
    -1

    only be distributed to people "sensitive" to smoke, such as pregnant women, people with chronic lung and heart conditions, and people older than 65

    So based on the ACT's population being a bit over 400k, are they trying to say that nearly 1/4 of the population are in that category? Or has Barnaby just been busy again with women who work under for him?

    • Shoocat on 08/01/2020 - 22:02
      +5

      The filters in these masks don't last very long and so the masks need changing regularly. 100,000 masks doesn't equal one per person for the entire bushfire season.

      • Nousernamehere on 08/01/2020 - 22:08
        -1

        Well where in the article (the entire basis of this 'deal') does it say that people can get more than one, or how often they can get it if they can get multiples?

        There either needs to be a more 'official' link or more information from the link provided as at the moment it's next to useless.

        • dan76n on 08/01/2020 - 22:13
          +2

          It was on the Canberra news last night and a pharmacist was explaining they need to give out a few to each person as they only last a few hours in this smoke. Also don’t get them wet as apparently that ruins them as well.

          • Nousernamehere on 08/01/2020 - 22:14
            -4

            @dan76n: A few hours?! So this is just a token gesture to try and get some more publicity about how much they're doing for people. Wow.

            • dufflover on 08/01/2020 - 22:19

              @Nousernamehere: A packet of an old dust mask I have says 8 hours usage. And I imagine for legal purposes that's a very conservative number.

              Be a shame if people were wasting them if just for a few hours usage.

              • Nousernamehere on 08/01/2020 - 22:29

                @dufflover: Still wouldn't last more than a day though for people with severe repository issues though.

                This really is just a token gesture which gives them some great publicity but that's about it.

                • dufflover on 08/01/2020 - 23:10

                  @Nousernamehere: If you are wearing it for that duration and/or have severe respiratory issues then you have other problems.

                  People in those groups shouldn't even be relying on a mask in that case.

                  • Nousernamehere on 08/01/2020 - 23:17

                    @dufflover: Well no shit, but what exactly else are they meant to do? There's plenty of people who can't just up and leave to go elsewhere or clog up the hospital system during this time either.

                    Totally just realised my phone autocorrected to 'repository' instead of 'respiratory'. Gotta love Apple.

                    • dufflover on 09/01/2020 - 06:10

                      @Nousernamehere: I dunno but you're the one asserting it is a token gesture ignoring everyone else inbetween who can benefit from having a mask.

                      • Nousernamehere on 09/01/2020 - 11:27

                        @dufflover:

                        I dunno but you're the one asserting it is a token gesture ignoring everyone else inbetween who can benefit from having a mask.

                        Because supplying 2 masks per person is just a token gesture. Make it unlimited for the people who really need them and they should have done this weeks ago.

                        It’s just the government patting themselves on the back and getting a good headline for it until you go into the actual details and realise that 2 masks will last then barely any time.

                    • [Deactivated] on 09/01/2020 - 10:57

                      @Nousernamehere: Daughter's neighbours - both retired and both asthmatic - have been holed up in their house for two weeks. Even a relatively light concentration of smoke is bad for some people unfortunately.

                      • Nousernamehere on 09/01/2020 - 11:36

                        @[Deactivated]: So if they’re holed up in their house, how are they meant to go and get this ‘deal’ of 2 masks each from a few selected places that could be a long way from their home?

        • f4te on 08/01/2020 - 22:14
          +2

          From https://health.act.gov.au/public-health-alert/heavy-smoke-an…

          Each eligible person will receive two masks at the pharmacy.

          • Nousernamehere on 08/01/2020 - 22:28

            @f4te: Surprising based on that link though it says for children under 14, yet in the PDF it says:

            P2/ N95masksare only available in adult sizes and will not fit most children aged less than 12 years. Making modifications to adult masks to fit them to children is not recommended

            So if you're aged 12 - 14 you're sweet, under that you're on your own.

            • kiteo on 08/01/2020 - 23:27

              @Nousernamehere: My young kids started crying when I said I couldn't find masks to fit them. They found it so hard to believe. I tried to explain they were designed for adults to do safety work in but with so much smoke around it's not just about that so maybe what's available will change. Yes, they "shouldn't even be relying on a mask" but also "shouldn't even be in this apocalyptic situation".

              • Bargainbeth on 09/01/2020 - 01:26

                @kiteo: I do this crazy thing with mine and masking tape round the nose area, to make it seal. Can't guarantee they won't cry when the tape gets ripped off, but at least it would fit? XD

              • Silvere on 09/01/2020 - 09:18

                @kiteo: If it helps, Vogmask make kid sized masks. I got some from theallergyahop.com

    • sss333 on 08/01/2020 - 22:10

      Greg Hunt's website actually says 400,000 for ACT (also every eligible person can get 2)

      The Government is providing more than 1 million masks to NSW, 455,400 to Victoria, approximately 400,000 to the ACT, 19,200 to Australia Post, and 3000 to the Australian Federal Police. More will be made available should they be requested.
      https://www.greghunt.com.au/number-of-p2-masks-for-bushfires…

      • Nousernamehere on 08/01/2020 - 22:13

        That's what the deal link should be to then, as it gives a different number to what this deal is (plus also includes they're for children under 14 as well).

      • kiteo on 08/01/2020 - 23:31

        They're breaking out the pandemic stockpile, aren't they?

  • aussieprepper on 08/01/2020 - 22:48

    Good gesture i guess but a bit late, I was down there last week and the smoke was already horrid. Couldn't see the parliament from Mt Ainslie it was so bad.

    • mr fox on 08/01/2020 - 23:11
      +2

      Silver lining.

      • ProfessorBargain on 08/01/2020 - 23:14

        Ah nuts, that wasn't there when I commented.

    • ProfessorBargain on 08/01/2020 - 23:13
      +1

      Couldn't see the parliament

      Well, at least there's a silver lining.

  • Turd on 08/01/2020 - 22:59

    If kids protest with these on to climate change will the police arrest them for illegal assembly?

  • dufflover on 08/01/2020 - 23:16
    +1

    Just like an eBay deal … I'm not targeted.

    (j/k ofcourse)

  • virhlpool on 08/01/2020 - 23:19

    Why aren’t Chemist Warehouse and Priceline part of this one?

  • UberIsCool on 09/01/2020 - 06:33

    Be nice if these were handed out in Sydney at train stations for free

    • TogTogTogTog on 09/01/2020 - 08:17
      +2

      So you could get a free smoke mask at the expense of others?

      Canberra is like 5x more toxic than any other AUS city ATM and everywhere is sold out. Hell at Myer yesterday they were ripping Dyson air purifiers out of the stands to sell to people. (Apparently Dyson have custom enclosures/locks to prevent that… lol)

      It'd be nice if every city could get free masks, but let's be honest, Canberra needs them a lot more right now.

      • MikeWhitneysHair on 09/01/2020 - 08:44

        It's not zero sum and the air quality in Sydney is also bad independent of other areas. NSW Government could also source some and hand them out for free assuming wholesalers have stock

        • TogTogTogTog on 09/01/2020 - 09:48

          It'd be great if everyone didn't have to pay for their health. Smoke levels are equivalent to a pack of cigarettes a day; health wise that's a larger drain on our economy than the cost of free masks.

          Unfortunately in times of crisis we have to make do. Distributing masks to the most affected regions to support the greatest number of people in need. Canberra has a small population, high wealth, a toxic atmosphere and is sheltering a large number of fire-affected Australians.

  • GG57 on 09/01/2020 - 09:19

    Obviously the country-wide allocation now is a good thing, but it does highlight how under-prepared we were to arrive at this point.

  • Stevesie76 on 09/01/2020 - 10:34

    If you need to wear one of these for any extended period it's worth paying for the type with an exhalation valve. So much easier to breathe.

  • StealaDeal on 09/01/2020 - 11:12

    Of course only in ACT. What about the rest of the country? Bloody government… Have they only just realised that the country is on fire because it's smoky in Canberra?

  • sanmigueelbeer on 18/01/2020 - 11:39

    My in-laws (both >70 years of age) were charged by a Capital Chemist branch for these masks.

    About four days later, they went back to get the some more and the chemist/owner wanted to charge them. When they questioned if these were the same masks that the ACT Government were handing out for free, the chemist/owner backed off and gave the masks to them for free. He also handed back the money he charged them the first time.

    I'm just saying.

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