COVID-19 is known to spread human-to-human transmission through close contact respiratory droplets. Anyone who has close contact (within 1 meter) of someone who has respiratory symptoms (eg sneezing, coughing, etc.) is at risk of infection. Wearing a face mask is an effective preventive method to limit the spread of several respiratory diseases, including COVID -19.
Improperly wearing fitted medical mask can cause unnecessary waste, scarcity in health facilities (especial Surgical Face mask) and create a false sense of safety and may lead to the omission of other essential measures such as wash your hands with soap or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer of 60% alcohol. Moreover, improperly use of masks may affect effectiveness in preventing the risk of transmission. Below are instructions from a healthcare professional on the proper use of face masks
How to wear a face mask properly:
- Step 1: Wash your hands properly with soap or antibacterial hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol before wearing a mask.
- Step 2: Identify the upper and lower parts of the mask.
- Step 3: Identify the inside and outside by seam or the darker side on the outside.
- Step 4: Wear and adjust to cover the nose and mouth to ensure that there is no gap between the face and the mask. Note: Do not touch the outside of the respirator during use. If touched, wash hands properly with soap or an antiseptic hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
What should not do when wearing a face mask
- Touch the face mask mask, because it might carry pathogens on it
- Dangle the mask from one ear as you will expose your nose to the air without the protection of the face mask
- Hang the face mask around your neck
- Crisscross the ties
- Reuse single-use face masks
If you have to touch the face mask while you’re wearing it, wash your hands first. Be sure to also wash your hands afterward, or use hand sanitizer.
Dispose of the mask:
- Step 1: When removing the mask, only hold the strap behind the ear (do not touch the outside of the mask).
- Step 2: Put the mask in a sealed bag (if any) and / or put in the dustbin with a tight lid for a disposable mask.
- Step 3: Wash your hands properly with soap or antiseptic hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. Note: Change or discard the following mask: each use or when soiled. Absolutely no reuse for disposable masks.
Do you need to wear a face mask properly?
Wearing a face mask correctly can prevent more dangerous bacteria, dirt or viruses from causing illness. With the complex epidemic situation around the world, wearing a medical face mask properly will help you limit the risk of infection.
How many times can face masks be used?
In terms of reuse criteria, there are 2 types of reusable and disposable medical masks. One-time use is cheap, more popular, handy, so it is more widely used.
For more information about reused face mask, please check this blogMoreover, masks removed in the bag, on the table, … will increase the contamination and the risk of harmful bacteria entering the body. With medical masks, the manufacturer and medical professional has recommended to use only once time and do not reuse many times to ensure safety for health, protect respiratory system, skin of yourself better.
With the above useful information, Ecommed hopes that you will know how to use face masks correctly to help protect your health and your family’s health before COVID – 19
Source: Picture from: https://www.straitstimes.com/askst/wuhan-virus-who-needs-to-wear-a-mask-and-whats-the-proper-way-to-wear-it
