Masks have very quickly gone from being something rarely needed, to something essential
that needs to be worn every day. The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted for us just how
important our respiratory health is, and what we need to do to protect it.
At Totobobo, we designed our masks years ago to provide protection against airborne pollutants and
particles, including viral infections like Covid-19. But what makes Totobobo so different
from any normal, cloth mask you could buy in a supermarket?
What Inspired The Totobobo Mask?
When Francis Chu invented the Totobobo mask, he wanted to create a mask that would
protect families against not only the threat of air pollution but other natural emergencies
like forest fires, volcanic eruptions, or even viral outbreaks. Something that could be
customizable, that could fit the whole family, and be kept in storage in case of any
emergencies. Something that was comfortable, and would provide maximum protection
without sacrificing accessibility or fit.
Spurred by the SARS outbreak in 2003, Francis decided to create his own mask that could
solve all of these problems. He was looking for masks for his young children, just 5 and 7 at
the time, but couldn’t find anything that was suitable for them. But children require just as
much, if not more protection from airborne pollutants and viruses, and so Totobobo was born.
Why is the Totobobo Mask Different?
Transparency: Finding a transparent mask on the market right now is quite difficult. Most of
them are made of thick, dark materials designed to completely obscure the wearer’s face
during wear. But the Totobobo mask is completely transparent. This is so that you can check
the face seal of the mask while you are wearing it. Because without an adequate face seal,
the protection the masks give is significantly reduced. So you need to make sure you have a
good seal on the mask, and for that, you need to be able to actually see it.
Comfort: One of the things we noticed during the design and testing of various masks is that
comfort does play a key role, and if a mask was not comfortable for long-term wear, then
people would stop using it and open themselves up to health risks. And so comfort was one
of the key factors we considered during design. For example, the strap is very flexible, so
that it wouldn’t hurt the ears even with prolonged wear, and the mask itself is very
lightweight – only 20g – to avoid causing neck pain and headaches.
Effective Filtration: Many mask manufacturers out there will shy away from providing real
data about the effectiveness of their masks, particularly when it comes to filtration.
This is usually because they haven’t been tested, and so can’t prove their effectiveness. But at
Totobobo, we can. Our mask filters have been thoroughly and independently tested, and we
are happy to share the results. Against all particle types, our filters achieved a 99.6-99.9%
efficiency rating, meaning they can keep out 99.9% of foreign particles. If you want to see
the full results of the tests, you can click here.
Re-Shapeability: Part of creating that tight seal we talked about earlier is ensuring the edges
of the mask can be in contact with your skin at all times, and not shift around too much. But
most masks come in a pre-set number of sizes and shapes, designed to fit OK on most faces.
But the problem is, everyone’s face shape is different, and no two faces are the same.
So in order to get that tight seal, you need to be able to mold the mask to fit your face. But with
the Totobobo mask, you can mold the mask to fit your exact face shape, and re-mold it
again if your face shape should change. And so, it provides a much higher standard of
protection than any other mask on the market.
Covid-19 Effectiveness
Of course, the thing on everyone’s minds right now is Coronavirus. Covid-19 has made mask
wearing a common practice, and it’s one of the most effective ways of stopping the spread
of the virus. But if you are vulnerable, or just want to reduce your risk as much as possible,
then you need a mask that can protect you against viruses coming in as well as going out.
The Totobobo masks can do this. The mask body is embedded with BioCote®, which is a
silver-based antimicrobial agent. BioCote® technology is proven to work against bacteria,
mold, fungi, and the influenza A H1N1 virus. And recently it’s also been tested independently
and proven to be effective against a virus from the same family as the Coronavirus (the feline
coronavirus strain Munich).
This means the Totobobo, thanks to the BioCote® and the unique
seal system is safe to use in Covid-19 conditions.
If you would like to find out more about the Totobobo mask, we would love to hear from
you. Just get in touch with the team today, and we would be happy to answer any
questions.
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