17/08/2022
Viral infections are mainly transmitted by contact and airborne droplets. Protective medical masks are designed to keep infectious diseases from spreading through the air. Statistics show that they are an effective means of preventing epidemics - they help healthy people to avoid infection, and those who are sick - not to infect others. But for protection to be as effective as possible, you need to know how to properly wear a mask, and follow the rules of its operation.
Rules for wearing a mask: when does it make sense to wear it?
A protective medical mask should be worn
When you are sick yourself, so as not to expose others to the risk of illness;
When caring for a person who has an airborne infection;
In cases of unfavorable epidemiological situation (influenza epidemic, pandemic).
For people who are sick, a mask is a must-have accessory. As prevention, it is especially necessary for people with weakened immunity (against the background of chronic diseases, cancer, etc.) and children.
How to wear a mask?
Viruses and bacteria are transmitted from person to person. The highest probability of infection is in public places (crowded or actively visited places), as well as in direct contact with those who are ill in the hospital, at home, when one of the household members is sick. Outdoors, the likelihood of infection is minimal, but if you move in public transport, visiting a sick relative, you need to wear a medical mask.
Rules for putting on a protective mask:
Before putting on the accessory, you should wash your hands well with soap and water or disinfect them with an antiseptic;
Take the mask so that the fastening loops are on the outside;
place the product on the face, ensuring that the mask covers the chin, nose and mouth well;
secure the mask over the nose using the flexible metal insert on the top edge of the mask and check that it is secure and not uncomfortable to do so;
straighten the mask around the chin area;
secure the product to the head.
The disposable mask on elastic loops is fastened simply - depending on how the elastic loops are attached, they are put on the ears or put through the head, leaving one loop on the neck and the other on the top of the back of the head. A gauze mask on ties is also fixed at the neck and back of the head. Tie the gauze tapes tightly enough, but make sure that the tension of the material is not strong, otherwise the ties will chafe.
Which side of the mask should I put on - the white or the blue one?
Three-layer disposable masks can be made of different colors of material. Does it make a difference which side of the mask to wear? A mask that is white on both sides can be worn on either side. This will not affect how long or comfortable you wear it, since both top layers are made of the same material.
If the accessory is white on one side and blue or green on the other, in this case it is fundamentally important which side to wear the mask. It should be worn with the white layer toward the face and the blue (colored) side out. Why is the right side of the medical mask so important? The reason is that each layer has different characteristics that affect the comfort and duration of wearing the product. The white layer absorbs moisture and protects against the buildup of fumes under the mask. The colored layer, on the contrary, has hydrophobic properties (water repellent), which prevents the entry of external biological and other liquids that can be harmful to the face.
How often should a disposable mask be changed? Disposables are advised to be changed every hour (maximum wear time is two hours). The same time is set for gauze bandages. However, if the product gets wet from coughing, from vapors, the effectiveness of protection decreases sharply and the mask must be replaced immediately.
Special medical masks of a higher level of protection are designed for a longer period of wear - 6-8 hours, and even after the specified time they continue to protect. Medical mask respirators with a valve can be worn for several days, but it is important to change the filter on time.
What is the right way to remove a protective mask so as not to get infected?
The main rule for removing a protective mask is never to touch the fabric of the product, so as not to inadvertently transfer germs from the fabric to your hands and face. The mask is removed by the fastening loops (ties).
After removing the mask, you should wash your hands thoroughly or treat them with an antiseptic. Only after disinfecting your hands can you put on a clean mask, which by itself is powerless against viruses and bacteria, if you do not follow other safety rules. Stay healthy!
