“The idea for Flo Mask came about during the Northern California Camp Fire wildfire in 2018. My kids were coming home from school feeling sick from the toxic smoke that blanketed the Bay Area. It was then that I learned N95 grade masks for kids didn’t exist. Then COVID-19 hit and I knew the world needed Flo Mask more than ever.”
Having spent over 15 years of his career developing consumer products, Ngo was confident he had the right skill set to design the best mask in the world. He identified three key pillars to a great mask: tailored fit, comfort (physical and respiratory), and effectiveness.
To achieve a tailored fit, Ngo acquired an industrial-grade 3D scanner to scan the faces of elementary-aged kids across multiple ethnicities. Layering each 3D scan on top of one another, Ngo proved that there was in fact a unique one size fits all shape for kids 4-12.
Addressing comfort, Ngo used the latest advancements in manufacturing. He designed Flo Mask with an LSR (liquid silicone rubber) process to create a soft gasket that perfectly contours to a kid’s face while keeping the mask from touching their lips. The adjustable straps clear the ears and feature a rubber backing on the top strap to prevent it from slipping off the head.
In parallel with the development, Ngo spent months solving for his most challenging pillar, an effective, yet breathable filter. Nearly giving up due to the difficulties for young kids to breathe through traditional filters, Ngo finally discovered ventilator filters can filter at a sub-micron level, while maintaining a high volume of airflow. He then partnered with a medical filter manufacturer here in the USA to build these filters, what he considers to be the heart of Flo Mask. Ngo had the filters independently tested by Nelson Labs, validating that they block over 99.8% of viruses while maintaining a breathability rate 600% higher than FDA standards.
From the start, Ngo shared this project with his children’s pediatrician. Dr. James Cisco, a Stanford trained pediatrician and former clinical faculty member of the Stanford School of Medicine, had followed along in Ngo’s journey and gave Flo Mask his endorsement after reviewing all the test data. He even measured Ngo’s 4-year-old daughter’s blood oxygen level while wearing Flo Mask and was convinced once it read 100%. Dr. Cisco says, “Flo Mask is raising the standard for kids’ masks. The unique silicone gasket, filtration efficiency, and ability to be washed is unlike anything I’ve seen.”
This new standard set by Flo Mask ensures only filtered air passes to the user, and filtered air passes back out. It is the ideal mask for any child returning to school or stepping foot on an airplane.
Flo Mask is now available at www.flomask.com and on Amazon. Flo Mask retails for $49.99 while a pack of 25 replacement filters costs $24.99. Filter placement subscriptions and multi-unit discounts are also available.
Media Contact
Company Name: Air Flo Labs
Contact Person: Anthony Guidry
Email: Send Email
Phone: (415) 548-5156
Country: United States
Website: https://www.flomask.com/