What is a face mask?
Mask is customized to act as a barrier for transmission of infective agents and pollutants in the atmosphere. It is designed to cover the nose, mouth and chin tightly.
There are different types of masks designed to serve different medical situations. The purpose of the masks is to filter out various harmful agents in the air.
For public use a simple mask is adequate to ensure reasonable protection. However, in specific circumstances, simple surgical mask may not provide adequate protection ( Persons in contact with patients infected with Covid-19 or active TB)
Loosely fitted mask do not provide adequate protection, therefore, masks should always be worn following the specific instruction provided.
What is the difference between surgical mask and N95?
Different face mask are designed to provide protection from different type and sizes of harmful agents.
A surgical mask also refer to as simple face mask is adequate to provide protection from large droplets and particles.
K95 is designed to give more the 95% protection against airborne particles of even smaller size against which surgical mask doesn’t give protection. This mask creates a much tighter seal around the nose, mouth and chin.
How to wear the face mask in correct way?
All mask surgical, KN95/ N95, should be worn covering your nose, mouth and chin.
Do not place your mask just over your mouth, leaving your nose uncovered, as this will not give any protection to you and others around you.
Does the surgical face protect me from Covid-19 and other viral air borne infections?
During this course of the current Covid-19 pandemic, it has been studied that wearing a surgical mask provides some level of protection in the spread of the virus. However, it stays an important adjunct in the control of the spread of the Covid virus.
Despite the fact that wearing mask does gives protection and prevent in spread of certain diseases. It is still very important to practice other preventive methods including frequent hand washing, using chlorhexidine-based sanitizers, social distancing and avoiding attending crowded place as much as possible.
How often should I change my mask?
Face masks are considered as a disposable product; hence they should not be worn after one use. The mask should be change early if it’s damaged or soiled with liquid or nasal or respiratory secretions. N95 or KN95 are also for single use and should be discarded after each use. However, in circumstances where supply of masks is limited, they can be kept in a clean paper bag and reused for a limited time provided they are not soaked or torn.
Does the cloth face mask provide adequate protection to me?
Cloth masks only act as a barrier to prevent an infected person from spreading infection through respiratory droplets. Although they are not as effective as surgical or N95 masks and do not provide any protection from the virus for the person who is wearing them.
But if one can’t practise physical distance while being in crowded place, this, mask gives some protection then wearing no mask at all. During the pandemic of Covid-19, CDC and WHO both recommended to wear cloth mask for the public.
Does wearing a face mask increases carbon dioxide in my body?
This is not true, one can easily inhale and exhale the air through the mask. It causes no interference in oxygen delivery to the lungs and expulsion of carbon dioxide with expiration.
I have allergies, does wearing a face mask help to cure my allergies?
A Simple surgical mask is not enough to provide protection. N95 is the mask that can provide better protection but this mask isn’t practical for public use. So a surgical mask or even a cloth mask may be used for those who have severe allergies. Some protection is better than none.
Can family member share each other’s mask?
No, face masks shouldn’t be share. Maybe in certain instances cloth mask can be share but that too after being properly washed.