With National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-approved N95 masks no longer in short supply, CDC guidance provides that people may choose to wear a NIOSH-approved N95 mask for personal use instead of a cloth mask. N95 masks filter up to 95% of particles in the air when approved by NIOSH and proper fit can be achieved. People should be aware, though, that about 60% of KN95 masks in the United States are counterfeit and do not meet NIOSH standards.

One of the biggest concerns about body cameras is that they can invade people’s privacy. The cameras might be running for the entire interaction between citizens and the police. They may record confidential information, people undressed, innocent bystanders, and other sensitive information. Additionally, the videos are typically owned by the police, so they could be used to create separate databases or as points in facial recognition software. Victims and witnesses may be afraid of appearing on camera and may fear for their safety. Additionally, people with mental illnesses or disabilities may have their conditions recorded without their consent.

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“We also have to recognize that wearing an N95 is not realistic for all,” said Dr. Seija. “For some people, a surgical mask or cloth mask is more sustainable—that is all they have.”

Police body cameras can help prevent violence between law enforcement and citizens. A study by the University of Cambridge cited a drop in force rate by approximately 50% after police wore body cameras.

In fact, N95 and KN95 masks were found to be 48% more effective than surgical or cloth masks, according to a CDC study. Wearing an N95 or KN95 mask reduces the odds of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 by 83%. This is compared with 66% for surgical masks and 56% for cloth masks, further pushing the need to swap out such face coverings for an N95 or KN95 mask for protection from SARS-CoV-2.

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Additionally, “to decrease the likelihood of this happening, washing the glasses with soapy water can decrease water tension and decrease the fogging,” said Dr. Edje, adding that it is also key to “wear glasses over the mask.”

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The AMA worked with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to help physicians identify counterfeit respirators. Purchasing a mask directly from a NIOSH-approved manufacturer is the best way to ensure you are not getting a counterfeit mask.

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“What we actually recommend, especially with the N95s, is that you have to make sure that you have your seal. If you don’t have a proper seal, then you’re increasing your risk of COVID exposure and potential transmission,” he said. “And you’re going to feel some sense of tightness, but you have to see what you’re willing to tolerate.”

“But we’re heading towards the direction where this is our new normal, so the most important consideration about wearing a respirator is how does it fit? Is it comfortable for you?” Dr. Seija said as he modeled a mask that caused his ears to stick out. “This is too small for me and it’s too tight. “I can use this if I need to, but it’s not going to be the right fit for me, and it is going to affect how I breathe.”

“The CDC recommends that we consider using high-filtration respirators anytime that we are going out into public,” he said. “That is what we have learned, especially with Omicron.”

“Typically, bearded individuals have to shave to be properly fit-tested,” she said. “Only 1% of an infectious dose of COVID-19 will be able to penetrate a fitted N95 mask and it will take 2,500 hours of exposure for this transmission to occur.”

Additionally, N95 masks “are made of multiple layers of a synthetic fiber called polypropylene and if they are worn as instructed, they block 95% of particles in the air from passing through,” said Dr. Edje.

“A multilayered, tightly woven cloth mask—such as cotton—is better than no mask,” said Dr. Edje, adding that N95 masks offer the best protection against infection and there has been a shift in guidance since the emergence of the Omicron variant.”

If you are stopped by police when a body camera is in use, here are some steps you can take to protect your rights and your safety:

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“I often tell patients there’s a stepwise approach to wearing N95s,” said Dr. Seija. “If you’re not comfortable, try walking around in your house or somewhere that you’re comfortable and you feel safe first.”

“Now, more than ever, we need to decrease the transmission of COVID-19,” said Dr. Edje, noting that “Omicron is the most contagious of the variants, so far. It is three times higher than that of the Delta variant and the second most contagious virus known to man, only second to measles.

With N95s, “do not twist the loops to tighten the mask as this produces gaps and decreases the effectiveness of a mask by about 60%,” she said.

Police body cameras create an objective record of video and audio that can independently verify events. Knowing that cameras are on often helps to improve police accountability and lower instances of police misconduct. After years of trends involving untampered incidents of police misconduct, body cameras can provide greater accountability and transparency, which may help repair the fractured relationship between police and citizens.

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Body cameras help keep police departments more honest. For far too long, criminal cases were decided by determining whether to believe a law enforcement officer (who was often given the benefit of the doubt) or the account of a person who is charged with a crime. It is not unheard of for law enforcement officers to lie, crime technicians to fabricate evidence, or laboratory workers to take shortcuts that affect the credibility of evidence.

“N95 masks can be specifically fit to a person’s face, fit-tested, as they are for health care workers,” said Dr. Edje. “This means there is a process whereby the wearer’s ability to smell and taste certain substances in the air is tested while they are wearing the N95.”

“When removing a used mask, be sure to only touch the ear loops or ties,” said Dr. Edje. This is so that you do “not get contaminated with virus particles from the outside of the respirator.”

Police body camera footage may prove a valuable training tool for seasoned police officers and new recruits. Some of the best training can be provided by showing such videos, analyzing them, and determining what could have improved the situation. Best of all, the videos represent real interactions and give law enforcement officers a better idea of the problems they may encounter in the field.

The unfortunate reality is counterfeit masks are widely available. That is why it is important to be mindful of what to be on the lookout for when identifying if an N95 mask might be fake.

Even when body cameras are determined to be a good idea, there is no guarantee that the department will be able to afford them. Body cameras can be expensive. There are also additional ongoing expenses, such as training, data storage, extra staff to review the data, and ancillary equipment. Many police departments, especially smaller ones, cannot afford these expenses.

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The AMA’s What Doctors Wish Patients Knew™ series provides physicians with a platform to share what they want patients to understand about today’s health care headlines, especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

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“Most people—at the beginning of the pandemic—when they started wearing masks, their glasses would get foggy,” said Dr. Seija. “While the fog is annoying, it also reflects that your seal is not good enough.

The AMA Update covers a range of health care topics affecting the lives of physicians and patients. Learn more about preventing illness this holiday season.

Sometimes when wearing a mask, there can be irritation on the face. Other times, if the mask is too tight, people can experience headaches.

“I wear a mask for my mom. I'm here in New York, but I wear a mask for my mom,” he added. “As someone who has gotten COVID twice now, she's the person that I can wear a mask for even though I'm here and she is in Texas.”

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“For health care workers, we can try to at least dispose of our N95 every day or after a one-time use,” said Dr. Seija. “But say you’re going to get three or four—meaning you’re going to get it from the government—you’re going to have to be diligent and aware of when to use or not to use them to optimize protection against COVID.”

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Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians and other health professionals have continued to stress the everyday necessity and importance of wearing masks to protect against the spread of SARS-CoV-2. While reusable cloth masks have been recommended until recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other experts acknowledge N95, KN95 or KF94 masks provide the most protection when in public indoor spaces given how transmissible the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant is.

But be mindful of “masks with valves that make them easier to breathe through,” she said. That’s because “they don’t filter the air the wearer breathes out and are not recommended.”

“And that’s where other things come in like double masking by wearing a cloth mask over a surgical mask,” he said. “Because the thing is, wearing any type and/or combination of masks is better than no mask.”

Body cameras can also help reduce the number of false accusations lodged against police officers, which can make new allegations more credible.

“You have to really take a look at the risk and benefits as well as your own personal responsibility to be wearing a mask,” said Dr. Seija. “What I ask myself and others is: Who do you wear a mask for?

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Visit the AMA COVID-19 resource center for clinical information, guides and resources, and updates on advocacy and medical ethics.

Police body cameras record interactions between police and the public. They may be activated by the officer or at certain times, depending on the camera and departmental policy. These cameras provide benefits but also come with certain drawbacks. Here is what you need to know about body cameras.

And make sure you “do not keep the respirator tucked under your chin for any reason,” she said, noting that it must be worn to cover your nose and mouth.

It is also important to note that “international brands of N95s are KN95s—certified in China—and KF94s, which are certified in South Korea,” said Dr. Edje. “The KN95 and KF94 masks block 94% of particles in the air.”

In this installment, two AMA members took time to share what patients should know about wearing N95 or KN95 masks, which are types of specialized filtering masks that doctors and others in health care call respirators. They are:

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“The biggest thing when it comes to breathing is there’s probably a sense of anxiety or suffocating that comes with it,” said Dr. Seija. “And that’s a totally natural reaction, particularly for people who are not used to it.

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Download PDFs of reports on this topic from the Council on Medical Education presented during the AMA Interim and Annual Meetings.

To perform at your best on the night shift, resident physicians should follow the evidence on what works. One tip: Drink your java at the right time.

“There’s a couple reasons why this happens and the primary one is that you’re not fitted for the right mask,” said Dr. Seija, who noted that “if I wore a small mask, I would pass out.”

“A nonfit-tested N95 will protect the wearer from an infected individual who is also wearing an N95, for 25 hours of exposure,” said Dr. Edje. “This is in contrast to two unmasked individuals—one infected and one not infected—who can only be together for 15 minutes without the uninfected becoming infected.”

“All masks should cover the face from the bridge of the nose—where glasses would sit—to under the chin,” said Dr. Edje. “The wearer should be able to turn his or her head to either side, and up and down without the mask gaping at the edges.”

“This is the reason that N95s are recommended for use by the general public,” she added, noting that “N95 masks offer the highest level of protection because they protect against both large and small particles rather than just large particles.”

Even when the police camera is activated, technical issues can render footage useless or confusing. Common problems related to body cams’ include:

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That’s why, when wearing N95s, people should “try to be relaxed and breathe as normally as possible,” said Dr. Edje, noting that it is important to “make sure it fits snuggly but does not leave gaps.”

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“If the wearer will be indoors, in an unventilated space, in a home with a person who is quarantined or isolating in an area where known exposure is likely, it is recommended to mask continuously,” said Dr. Edje. “Additionally, if one is emerging from quarantine or isolation, masks should be worn until day 10.”

“What you can do is put on your mask first with your glasses off,” he said. “Then get your seal in place firmly against your nose and cheeks, and then you’ll be good.”