COVID-19 spreads primarily from one person to another through respiratory droplets. When an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks, yells, or sings, respiratory droplets travel into the air and could land in the mouth, eyes, or nose of the people near them. That is why one crucial strategy for preventing the spread of COVID-19 is wearing a face mask. This piece of fabric catches most of the respiratory droplets that would otherwise get dispersed in the air from an infected individual.
Essentially, whenever you put on a mask, you are protecting the people around you, in case you are infected but not showing any symptoms (i.e. asymptomatic). You are also increasing your own protection against the disease at the same time. However, it is worth pointing out that you and other people will only experience the protective benefits of wearing a mesh mask if you wear it right. Get the maximum protection for yourself and others by considering the following mask-wearing tips:
Ensure Proper Material and Fit
Unless you are a healthcare provider, you are most likely wearing a cloth mask when you go out in public, which is acceptable for as long as you choose the correct fabric and fit. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the most effective cloth face masks are made with two or three layers of tightly woven and breathable fabrics like cotton and cotton blends and you can easily get these type of face mask at contourmd.com.
Besides taking into account the type of material and number of layers, proper mask fitting is also key to realizing the benefits of wearing a mask. As such, make it a point that your face mask fits snugly around your nose and chin. There should be no large openings or gaps around the sides of your face as well.
For the ideal fit, you may want to opt for a mask that goes around the neck instead of one with ear loops. This is to ensure that your nose, mouth, and chin are fully covered. As you may have noticed, proper fit can be an issue when wearing surgical or cloth face masks with ear loops as they often create gaps on the sides of your face.
Practice Good Habits When Putting a Mask On
Do you wear your mask carelessly? If so, you are probably negating the protective effects of wearing a face mask. For instance, you may think that you are protected, but if your hands come into contact with a contaminated object or surface and you did not wash your hands before putting your mask on, then you might be putting yourself at risk unnecessarily. Avoid committing mistakes that may actually increase your risk of getting exposed to the virus by adhering to the following guidelines when putting on a mask:
- Clean your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based sanitizer before touching your face mask.
- Pick up the face mask by the ear loop or by the part that will not come in contact with your face.
- Adjust your mask to ensure that it fits snugly against your face, covering your nose and mouth. Make sure your good day face mask fits snugly against your face and covers your mouth and nose.
Observe the Right Routine for Removing a Face Mask
In the same way that you must observe specific steps when you put a mask on, you should also follow the right routine when removing your face mask. Below are the things you need to remember:
- Before taking off your face mask, make sure that your hands are clean by washing them with soap and water or by using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Remove the mask by pulling the ear loop or any part of the mask that does not touch your face.
- If you are wearing a disposable mask, fold the mask with the part that touches your face on the inside, put it in a clean paper or plastic bag, and discard it in the trash bin right away. For reusable cloth masks, fold it in the same manner and then throw in the washer for cleaning.
- Wash your hands thoroughly after removing the mask.
Avoid Foggy Glasses
If you wear glasses, you’ll understand how troublesome it can be when your specs get foggy whenever you wear a mask. However, foggy glasses are not only inconvenient but also dangerous. You can easily get into serious accidents if you cannot see clearly where you are driving or walking.
To prevent your glasses from misting up, you may want to adopt a simple method shared by two UK physicians in the medical journal Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. The technique is pretty straightforward. Before wearing your mask, wash your eyeglasses with soapy water, shake off excess water, then pat the lenses dry before putting them on. The soapy water creates a surfactant effect, which prevents misting of the lenses. By following this simple strategy, you won’t have to worry about foggy glasses when wearing your face mask anymore.
Remember the Mask-Wearing Don’ts
Part of knowing the correct way of wearing masks is avoiding common mask-wearing mistakes. Here are some of the don’ts you should keep in mind when wearing a face mask that will help you better protect yourself and other people:
- Don’t use bandanas, handkerchiefs, masks with exhalation valves, or neck gaiters as they can be tricky to wear properly or offer little protection for yourself and other people.
- Don’t touch your face mask while you are wearing it. If you do, clean your hands with sanitizer or soap and water.
- Don’t wear the face mask under your chin, around your neck, or on your forehead, leaving your nose and mouth exposed.
- Don’t remove your face mask around other people in public places.
- Don’t take off your mask when coughing or sneezing.
- Don’t take off your mask just so people can hear you more clearly when you’re speaking.
- Don’t share your face mask with others, even family members or friends.
Wearing a face mask is one of the most crucial measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. However, it is essential to note that the effectiveness of the face mask in protecting yourself, your family, and others from getting sick depends on how well you wear and use it. To get the most benefits out of it, be sure to keep the above mask-wearing tips in mind.
