Pollution Mask | Customisable | Totobobo

There has been a lot of media attention to the swine flu vaccine lately. A third of parents oppose the idea of flu jab for their kids, according to a poll early this month. Parents are concerned about potential side effects. If many parents with healthy kids are concerned, one can imagine the stress on parents having kids with a medical condition. They certainly don’t want to take any chances.

In order to provide some protection while avoiding the vaccine, some parents found Totobobo mask when they are searching for a small fitting mask for their children. Some of these children are going through cancer treatments and therefore are vulnerable to airborne viruses or other pathogens. I notice one of these parents, Debbie Witter, actually put up a website called Free Help For Cancer to share her experience, including the frustration, learning and joys, of their journey searching for a better cure for Kayla, her 7 years old girl.

Let Debbie’s own words to explain her intend:

Our 7-year-old daughter, Kayla, was diagnosed with Leukemia on the 4th of January 2008. Suffice it to say that our lives were turned upside down by this devastating news. To make matters worse it soon became evident that there was no simple path to follow and no easy answers.

It is my hope that the information and discoveries I share on this website will lighten the burden for others who may be going through similar experiences. Please join us in our ongoing journey in dealing with this dreaded disease.

Love,
Debbie, Bill, and Kayla

Visit Free Help for Cancer Blog
The page that caught my attention: Flu Conclusions

Disclaimer: Consult your doctor before letting your children to use a fitting mask. Totobobo mask is not NIOSH certified.

No children visited the show, hence we don’t have any picture of the mask with children. But we do have a few pictures from interested visitors trying out Totobobo mask.

Come visit us at the Medical Fair in Thailand.

We will be showcasing the world’s first customizable respirator for children.

Venue:Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC), Bangkok, Thailand
Date :16 to 18 September 2009
Opening Hours:10.00am to 6.00pm
Admission:Open to trade visitors and professionals only.

“My girlfriend Sarah and I have been using and very much enjoying the anti-pollution Totobobo masks in New Delhi – India. I want to say thanks… The radio taxis here have gone wacko and so we are spending a lot more time in rickshaws. I used to have a very bad cough and had to take allergy medicine but it seems to have resolved itself! no more medicine – no more coughs. ” – Sam

Personal experience is critical for the development of innovative technology. I cycle to work daily, and this allows me opportunity to test a number of different safety masks. These provide me with first hand evaluation of products from a cyclist’s perspective. Gathering input from other cyclists and working with their feedback helps take into account alternative climates and riding issues. All in all, I have found that the demands of a cyclist are many and, at times, contradictory. Here are a few:

Breathing versus Protection:
Cyclists need to breathe heavily, but the resistance through a protective filter can uncomfortable and increase strain. A filter with low air resistance would be better, but would be less effective in filtering. Most filters with high protection levels are difficult to breathe through, making finding the goldilocks zone of filtration and “breatheability” critical.

Heat Dissipation:
In a cycling workout blood is pumped vigorously through the body and heat is generated. A mask that traps heat is a major problem, because it reduces the intake of oxygen and makes breathing more difficult. Unfortunately, most masks on the market are heat-traps.

Easy on, easy off:
If only part of one’s commute involves heavy traffic and wearing a mask, why not wear it as needed? A well-designed mask should take this into account. The user should be able to remove and replace the mask with ease while cycling.

Portability:
Additional weight to carry while riding is a nuisance. Protective masks should be compact and lightweight. This makes bringing the mask and using the mask more likely and easier to do.

But rather than drone on further, let me cut to the chase and explain TOTOBOBO’s 12 features relevant to cyclists:

1) Powerful filter: Breathe as easily as not wearing a mask. With the TOTOBOBO filter, air moves freely while still capturing at least 94% of pollutants.

2) Fold flat: Compact and portable, the TOTOBOBO mask is no burden to carry around when not in use. Just fold it up and stick in your pocket.

3) Lightweight: Only 20g, unparalleled among reusable facial protection.

4) Low profile: The mask itself is only .5mm thick, like a second skin over your nose and mouth. It is nonintrusive, and can be worn with glasses or a helmet with no problems.

5) Comfortable strap: Less tension, more comfort. The unique, flexible strap may look flimsy but is surprisingly strong. The mask requires little tension to keep firmly in place with this plastic strap.

6) One hand on/off: With one hand you can take the mask off or put it back on while never stopping the bike.

7) Active valve: The mask acts as a one-way valve; as you breathe, so does the mask.

8) Raised structure: The mask’s design keeps the filter fibers away from your mouth and nose.

9) Customized fit: One mask fits all. The mask adapts to any face shape or size.

10) Anti-viral: A silver ion anti-viral agent stops any virus from growing on the mask, and lasts as long as the mask does.

11) Washable and reusable: Washable with soap and water. Easy and safe.

12) Transparent: The clear masks allows easy adjustment and checking of an optimal seal.

TOTOBOBO is the most comfortable mask on the market for cyclists, but it is by no means perfect. If you are considering using it, be aware of moisture trapping and potential fogging of your glasses. These can be mitigated by tightening the upper strap and loosening the lower strap, or, when exhaling, closing your mouth to break the seal below the chin, allowing the trapped moisture to escape.

Have you used a TOTOBOBO mask before? Have I missed anything?

Related:

Protect your lungs when riding in the city

How to choose a pollution mask for cyclist?

How to clean TOTOBOBO mask for reuse?

Beijing: dirty on the outside, clean on the inside?

The Bangalore test

Totobobo mask-Cyclist’s reviews

For the past three months, Monocle editors, writers and photographers have been shuttling in and out of Singapore to interview CEOs, check out on the rise neighbourhoods, meet the country’s cinema sirens and even visit the odd oil refinery for their second national survey (1st was Mexico). The Monocle Singapore National Survey is compact and concise, and it covers many significant grounds like business, culture and media with perspective from both inside and out.

We are excited to learn that Totobobo was spotted and mentioned as one of five high potential Singapore brands that can make it globally. We are indeed working in that direction- providing high quality products from Singapore to the world. The other four brands being mentioned are: Central Provident Fund, Osim iEcologi (innovative Vacuum/Steamer/Air purifier), Stikfas (Action figures) and Singapore’s Civil Service. From hip toys to government service, the combination seems funny but you would not be too surprised if you are familiar with the unorthodox Monocle approach and have heard that Singapore government run the country like a well organised company.

Monocle is a magazine and Web site founded by Tyler Brûlé, a Canadian journalist and entrepreneur. Described by CBC News reporter Harry Forestell as a “meeting between Foreign Policy and Vanity Fair”, the magazine purports to provide a globalist perspective on international affairs, culture and design to wealthy, cosmopolitan readers. This issue’s Monocle published a Singapore National Survey in association of Economic Development Board.
Downland the full Monocle Singapore National Survey.

—————————————
Totobobo reusable respirator mask
Fitting type: tight fitting
Fit-factor: 100+
Source of discomfort: moisture built up
Weight: 20g

—————————————
3M 6200 reusable respirator mask
Fitting type: tight fitting
Fit-factor: 100+
Source of discomfort: weight, strap, bulk
Weight: respirator=80g, P95 filters=30g

—————————————
3M 7500 reusable respirator mask
Fitting type: tight fitting
Fit-factor: 100+
Source of discomfort: weight, strap, bulk
Weight: respirator=135g, P100 filters=20g

—————————————
3M 8200 disposable respirator mask
Fitting type: tight fitting
Fit-factor: 100+
Source of discomfort: heat from exhalation, strap
Weight: respirator=10g

—————————————
3M 9211 disposable respirator mask
Fitting type: tight fitting
Fit-factor: 100+
Source of discomfort: strap
Weight: respirator=13g

—————————————
3M 9210 disposable respirator mask
Fitting type: tight fitting
Fit-factor: 100+
Source of discomfort: heat from exhalation, strap
Weight: respirator=10g

—————————————
Surgical mask
Fitting type: lose fitting
Fit-factor: 2-10
Source of discomfort: mask touching mouth and nose
Weight: respirator=3g

—————————————

Tour de Timor, – an initiative of Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta – is a five-day, 450-kilometre mountain bike race across nine of the country’s 13 districts. But the Tour is much more than a sporting challenge. It is a means to showcase to the world, the beauty behind the scars that remain in Asia’s poorest nation. It is also symbolic of the struggle for positive change.

Through my friend Kenneth of Adventure Nomad, we have the opportunity to sponsor the Singapore teams. They will be using Totobobo mask for resistant training (before the race), for flu prevention and moisture regulation during the fly and perhaps to protect them from heavy dust in some part of Timor.

We are excited that this local innovation is making a small contribute to our local teams riding outside.

Cheers! to all the Singapore teams!

Visitors from India keep coming in, there is no sign of slowing down. How do they come to us? A significant proportion of them is coming from the search engines (Google, Yahoo or Bing).
The search terms reflect what they are looking for. Quite a number of visitors are searching for a reusable N95 mask.
For example:
– How to keep N95 mask clean
– N95 mask washable
– is N95 mask reusable or not
– for how long N95 mask be used
– N95 washable mask

Clearly, there is a market looking for a reusable N95 mask, unfortunately, such a product does not exist. In fact, a 3 months study in 2006 concluded that it is not possible to decontaminate used N95 mask and allows it to be reused safely.

On the contrary Totobobo mask is easily clean and reusable. The anti-virus property makes reuse safer. There are two types of filters available: 94% and 96%. The high quality reusable mask combine with economic replaceable filter refill is probably the most advanced protection you can get now. Thanks to Google/ Yahoo and Bing for doing a good job in guiding our visitors.

We’ve got tips from our India connection 3 days ago about the Swine flu (H1N1) outbreak in Pune.
“The swine flu made its entry India in Pune. Its only a matter of time before it surfaces in rest of the country. I foresee a huge need for Totobobo masks in India.” Our connection mentioned in one of his email.

This statement is also confirmed by visitor’s comments and the spike of demand from India over the last couple of days. We want to make it easy for India customers to obtain Totobobo mask for their protection, especially for children. We geared up our offer. The special offer at the end of this post is only available to customers ordering from India.

Note:
Totobobo mask now comes with 96% filter for better protection

AUG 11: H1N1 flu spread quickly in Inida