How do you Wear a Mask Correctly, do you Really Know?
After the COVID-19 outbreak, many people chose to wear masks to go out during
the Spring Festival.
Wearing a mask may seem simple, but are you really wearing it right?
In fact, there is still a lot of knowledge, what kind of masks can prevent infection?
How to wear a mask correctly?
Disposable Facemask
Before you put on a mask, you should understand this knowledge:
To some extent, it can prevent respiratory infections, but not haze.
There are three layers of medical surgical masks, which are waterproof layer, filter layer and comfort layer from the outside to the inside. The comfort layer is a layer of non-woven fabric. When wearing, the white non-woven fabric faces inwards, the blue waterproof layer faces outwards, and the side with the metal sheet faces up. Don't wear it on the back. Fit the nose and smooth the cheeks so that there is no gap between the mask and the face.
For the purpose of self-protection and reducing the risk of respiratory tract infections, it is okay to wear a medical surgical mask or N95 mask.
If you are going to a general open-air public place and are not in contact with the patient, you can choose to wear a medical surgical mask without overprotection, but if you will contact patients with suspected respiratory infections, you must wear a N95 mask.
Recommendations for wearing masks:
1. Carefully cover the nose and mouth with a mask and fasten it to minimize the gap between the face and the mask;
2. Avoid touching the mask when using it-after touching the used mask, for example, when removing the mask, wash your hands with soapy water or alcohol hand sanitizer;
3. After the mask is wet or contaminated with moisture, put on a new clean and dry mask;
4. Do not reuse disposable masks. Disposable masks should be discarded after each use and disposed of immediately after removal.
In order to prevent infection, some people may wear medical masks all day long, but this will make the nasal mucosa vulnerable, lose the original physiological function of the nasal cavity, and reduce resistance. Therefore, in places with low population density and high ventilation, There is no need to wear a mask.
It should be reminded that the protection effect of any type of mask is time-sensitive and must be replaced regularly. It is recommended to replace the mask every 2 to 4 hours. If the mask is contaminated, it should be replaced as soon as possible.
Medical masks are folded and kept in ziplock bags when not in use. It is not recommended to take off the mask and stuff it directly into your pocket or bag. This can easily cause secondary contamination of the medical mask. Be sure to fold it into a clean ziplock bag and fold the side that touches your nose and mouth inward.
