This post is by Bernie Carr, apartmentprepper.com
Now that flu and cold season is here, I try to protect myself by frequent hand washing, not touching my eyes and face and other precautions. But have you ever been stuck next to someone who is coughing and sneezing? You silently turn the other way and hope you somehow avoid breathing their germs. You could wear a face mask but you may feel uncomfortable wearing one. Wearing a regular N95 mask really would not look appropriate in many situations such as the office, in church etc. Now there is a solution – a scarf that functions like a mask: the BioScarf.
What is the BioScarf?
It looks like a normal scarf, but it has an N-95 filter built in to the material. According to results from lab tests conducted by an accredited testing laboratory, the BioScarf can filter our an average of 99.75% of airborne particles with a size of 0.1 microns and larger. A micron is a metric unit of measure that is used to describe particles and contaminants (one micron is one-millionth of a meter) . A human eye can typically see particles that larger than 40 microns. Here is a sampling of micron sizes:
mold: 10-30 microns
bacteria: .3-60 microns
auto exhaust: 2.5 and smaller
common house dust: .05-100
sneeze particles: 10-100
pet dander: .5-100
This means the BioScarf can protect from:
- allergens such as pollen, animal dander, dust and mold
- air pollution – smog, smoke
- cold and flu germs
- pneumonia, tuberculosis, strep
Flu particles from coughs can remain airborne for a while, and can be transmitted. Fortunately, using a mask or a barrier such as the BioScarf, can help you avoid breathing them in. According a doctor from the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, the BioScarf will “remove virtually any infectious organism you can imagine.”
What does the BioScarf it look like?
When I first got an invitation to review the BioScarf, I was a little skeptical on how it would look and feel. But when I received it, I was pleasantly surprised.
The BioScarf looks like a normal scarf, made with polyester material that is made from recycled PET water bottles and recycled PVC. It measures around 84 inches long, 9 inches wide. I put it on and it also feels soft and warm, perfect for fall and winter. It actually looks, nice, certainly a lot more attractive than wearing a mask.
Is it worth it?
I did a quick test to see if the BioScarf would keep me from coughing and sneezing from exposure to capsaicin, contained by hot chili pepper fumes. I ground up two whole chilis with seeds in the blender. I then covered by nose and mouth with the BioScarf, placed my face close to the ground chilis and inhaled deeply. Normally, inhaling capsaicin fumes make me cough and sneeze. This time I did not feel any ill effects. I took off the BioScarf and tried it again. Without the scarf, I immediately started coughing. I also tried a hand towel to see if this would work. I cut down the fumes somewhat but the BioScarf provided the most protection.
For an allergy sufferer like me, who gets a bout of sneezing when walking by someone cutting grass, or who gets an immediate headache when exposed to cigarette smoke, it is certainly worth having. I especially like that I can use it to protect myself against germs during cold and flu season.
Reusable
The N95 filter built into the scarf is reusable, as long as you hand-wash the scarf.
Multiple uses
It would be a good idea to keep a BioScarf in a bug out bag, in case you need to protect yourself from fumes, chemical odors or health threatening germs and bacteria. You can use it for travel whether you commute by bus, train or plane to avoid being exposed to germs or while visiting an area that has air pollution. Finally, you can use it to stay warm and protect your head and face.
The BioScarf would make a great gift for preppers or non-preppers alike. Check out the Amazon link here.
In conclusion, I am quite impressed with the BioScarf and can see a lot of uses for it. It is both attractive and functional.
Update 12/16/2018:
A lot of readers wanted to see what the scarf looks like when it’s worn. I made a YouTube video to illustrate. Check it out! https://youtu.be/0ZRJZc67Oj8
About the author:
Bernie Carr is the founder of Apartment Prepper. She has written several books including the best-selling Prepper’s Pocket Guide, Jake and Miller’s Big Adventure, The Penny-Pinching Prepper and How to Prepare for Most Emergencies on a $50 a Month Budget. Her work appears in sites such as the Allstate Blog and Clark.com, as well as print magazines such as Backwoods Survival Guide and Prepper Survival Guide. She has been featured in national publications such as Fox Business and Popular Mechanics. Learn more about Bernie here.