Medical mask: information and advice
Currently, due to the spread of the new Coronavirus, the use of masks has spread widely. What is a medical mask? What is the difference between them and cloth masks?
Wearing masks has become mandatory to prevent infection with the emerging coronavirus and reduce its chances, so masks have become spread of various types.
And here we will focus on the medical mask or known as the surgical mask:
What are medical masks?
Medical masks are covers that a person can dispose of at any time, and are usually worn by medical professionals to protect themselves during surgeries, visiting patients, or other medical procedures.
In the following, the advantages and specifications of the medical mask are mentioned:
- Medical masks are usually made of a mixture of paper and plastic, and their color is light blue.
- It is worth noting that this type of mask is a one-time use, that is, it is not washed, but must be disposed of after each time you use it.
- Medical masks are designed to protect against large respiratory droplets, but they do not protect against small droplets and are very effective to protect others if a person is a carrier of the virus, which limits its spread.
- Medical masks are characterized by being fluid-resistant and loose, meaning that they create a barrier between the mouth and nose of the person who wears them and the surrounding environment around them, but unfortunately, they do not provide complete protection from inhaling airborne pathogens, such as viruses.
The difference between medical masks and cloth masks
Many people wonder about the difference between a medical mask and a cloth mask. Here is what you should know about the difference between medical masks and cloth masks in the following:
1. Medical masks
As we mentioned, medical masks are distinguished by their resistance to liquids, and they are:
- It provides some protection from large droplets caused by coughing, sneezing, and droplets while talking, for example.
- The use of medical masks helps prevent the wearer from spreading infectious droplets to others, but they are for one use only.
2. Cloth masks
We mention the most prominent characteristics of the cloth mask in the following:
- Cloth masks are suitable for the face because you can control their size easier compared to a medical mask.
- The multiple layers of fabric create a barrier between your nose and mouth and the outside environment, thus helping to contain any respiratory droplets you may breathe in. The thicker the mask, the greater the barrier between your nose, mouth, and the outside environment.
- These masks are characterized by the fact that they can be easily made at home, using a variety of fabrics.
- It should be noted that it is recommended to use tightly woven fabrics, such as thick cotton and woven with dense materials, and it is also suitable when wearing it in the heat, or when exercising.
When should a medical mask be worn?
It is recommended that a medical mask be used in the following cases:
- Persons over 60 years old.
- If you suffer from any health problem.
- The spread of infectious or epidemic diseases, which are transmitted through respiratory droplets.
- If you feel symptoms of infection with the emerging coronavirus.
How to wear medical masks
There are basic steps for wearing medical masks, which we include in the following:
- Then clean your hands well before and after placing Gag.
- Determine the upper part of the lower, the part that is bendable is the upper, which aims to form the nose and define the front part of the muzzle, as it is usually colored.
- Follow the directions to find out what type of mask you are using.
- Make sure to put the mask loops behind the ear, and be sure to put the mask with the straps.
- Press on the hard edge so that the muzzle takes the shape of the nose.
- Make sure the mask covers the mouth, nose, and chin.