Can medical face masks be used many times? Are there any attentions when using?
Medical masks are used daily and popular with people today, especially when coronavirus pandemic outbreaks. So, can a medical mask be reused? How many times can it be reused? Let’s find out below.
How many times can medical face masked be reused?
There are different types of medical masks in the market, in terms of reusable criteria, which includes 2 types: reusable and disposable (single use). Disposable mask is cheap, widely sold and comfortable so it is more commonly used.
The disposable medical face masks usually have 1-3 layers, recommended by the manufacturer to be used only once, if reusing this type of mask, its effectiveness will be greatly reduced.
In addition, the removed mask put in a bag, on the table, … will increase the bacteria, if worn on the face, it will cause the face dirtier, increase the risk of harmful bacteria entering the body.
Medical face masks also contain activated carbon produced by advanced technology of the United States, Japan, Korea or imported from these countries.
This mask has activated carbon fibers that prevent dirt, toxic gases, flu bacteria, … can be used 1-2 times but need to be carefully preserved to limit dirt.
2. Types of medical face masks should be purchased
N95 respirator mask
Rated as the best protective mask with almost 100% protection, it can prevent viruses over 95% of microparticles from 0.3 microns or less and prevent bacteria 100%
Besides, N95 can also prevent dust and pollen 100%. However, for the user, this mask will be more difficult to breathe (if easily breathe when wearing, it may be worn in the wrong way or bought a fake).
This type is mostly recommended because of the 98% high protection and breathing easier, wearing easier than the N95 mask. It has multiple layers, including a liquid membrane that retains respirable drops from the user’s breath, and waterproof.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent more than 95% of viruses and more than 80% of bacteria in the environment. Additionally, the ability to prevent dust and pollen is also in medical masks with more than 80%.
FFP1 face mask
This respirator has a high level of protection about 99%, is used in a low-dust environment, can prevent viruses and bacteria by more than 95%, and filter at least 80% of particles up to the size of 0.6 microns and workplace exposure limits not to exceed 4 times (OEL).
In addition, it also has more than 80% resistance to dust and pollen. Thus, FFP1 respirators are suitable for the medical, agricultural, construction and food industries.
This type is rated for intermediate protection (more than 70%), of which only 10% against viruses and bacteria.
Besides, masks can also prevent dust and pollen from the air more than 50%. According to this parameter, carbon mask is less commonly used in the prevention of Coronavirus than the above types.
3. Attentions when using medical face masks
For medical masks, the manufacturer recommends using only 1 time, you should use it only once, should not be reused many times to ensure safety for your health, protect the respiratory system, better your skin.
When using activated carbon medical mask, if you reuse it, you should restrain to touch with the surface of the mask and preserve carefully for the next use to avoid dirt on the mask and harm once wearing.
Medical face masks usually only avoid dust, harmful bacteria, but cannot protect against the sun, can be used with cloth masks, which can be reused many times, until the cloth is torn or old, you should discard it. .
The disadvantage of fabric mask is that it cannot against micro-size bacteria, dirt, so people need to use it in combination with medical masks.
For fabric mask, people have to wash them often, once every 1-2 days, need to be washed regularly with soap, sun-dry to kill bacteria, remove dirt.
