Masks are going to be with us for a while so it’s a good idea to figure out ways to make them as comfortable as possible-no more sore ears or foggy glasses. Remember a mask is only effective when it covers both your nose and mouth.
Yeah, but do masks make a difference? The science is very clear at this point-masks save lives….with recent studies suggesting that they could save lives in different ways: research shows that they cut down the chances of both transmitting and catching the coronavirus, and some studies hint that masks might reduce the severity of infection if people do contract the disease. Need more convincing? Read Face masks: what the data say from Oct. 6, 2020 journal Nature.
How Masks Should fit: For ultimate benefit, it should be worn from the bridge of your nose to under your chin. The sides should sit flat against your cheeks with no gaps that will allow air to enter.
What Mask Should I Buy?: It depends. If you work in a health care setting, are a first responder or any place where there is a strong risk, the best protection is an N95 that you have had fit tested. However, for activities like grocery shopping and other lower risk activities, disposable masks and cloth masks are fine. While I love my cloth face masks when it’s cold outside, particularly if I’m walking, if I need to wear a mask for an extended period of time, I use a surgical mask one I’ve adjusted to fit my face. Directions are below.
Check out the following:
• Just updated by the CDC - “How to Select, Wear and Clean Your Mask,” which is very helpful in understanding what to look for in a mask.
• If you are interested in cloth masks, check out “The Fabric Face Masks Doctors, Dentists,and other Health-Care Workers Buy Themselves.”
Protect your Ears using Mask Extenders: These are also helpful tips if you wear hearing aids. Some good videos on making a simple mask extenders to protect ears. My favorite is the suction cup. 11 Surgical Masks Hacks to Save your Ears.
6 simple Ear Savers
If you prefer to purchase one, The 6 Best Face Mask Extenders to Make Your Face Covering MoreComfortable
Prevent glass fogging: As warm breath escapes through the top of the mask, it hits the cooler lenses of the glasses causing them to fog up. A well fitted mask with a nose bride will keep warm air from exiting up to your glasses.
- Place glasses right on top of the material that’s over your nose
- Tape down the top of your mask with sports or surgical tape. Don’t use duct tape or tape not meant to be used on the skin.
Create Form fitted Surgical mask from Nurse Minder
Good tip for getting a disposable face mask to fit properly particularly if you have a small face, or you need one for a child. The other benefit is that it’s a good seal and reduces the chance of glasses fogging.
• If your cloth mask doesn’t have a metal nose piece: Make your own nose piece by joining several wire twist ties. Then cut a small slit on top of the band of your cloth mask and insert the ties through the small hole. When you put on your mask, adjust the wire ties so they bend to the contours of your nose.
Care of your mask
- Cloth masks should be washed daily in hot water and detergent. Bleach can destroy fabric so go easy on it. If your mask becomes wet, change it and wash before reuse. If you don’t have a dryer, ironing your mask will kill any remaining virus if it happens to be there.
- Don’t put masks (cloth or disposable) in the microwave. The metal in the disposable one can start a fire and it does nothing for a cloth mask.
- No studies have been done on cleaning surgical masks for reuse. Ideally they shouldn’t be reused, yet, if you can’t replace your mask between each use, be sure to inspect it for dirt, tears or moisture saturation. If it appears to be clean and intact, store it in a clean paper bag between uses.
- Store masks in a brown paper bag making it safe from any other germs in your home
- If you have an N95 with a valve, it’s the least protective against Covid. You can tape over the valve to stop droplets from coming in or out.
Mask Disposal: If you are wearing N95s follow the procedures put in place by your employer. For surgical masks, do not discard them and leave in shopping carts and other places that require someone to pick it up. Instead, cut the strings off -this protects wildlife from becoming entangled-and deposit in a trash can. Do not recycle masks. Wash hands with soap and water, or use hand sanitizer after disposing of your mask.
Test mask effectiveness: For cloth masks you make yourself, hold the mask up to a light. If the light shines through, particles can pass through.
No comments:
Post a Comment