The 5 Mistakes of Wearing A Face Mask
The Centers of Disease Control (CDC) recommends wearing a face mask in public. However, most of us have witnessed individuals who might as well not be wearing anything at all.
There are five (5) commons mistakes people make when wearing a face mask which could be contributing to the spread of COVID-19:
1. Mask doesn't cover the mouth, nose and chin
If the mask only covers the mouth, you’re wearing it wrong. A mask worn only over the mouth won’t prevent droplets from entering the nose. The mask should completely cover the mouth, nose and chin.
2. Mask is too loose
If the mask is hanging and doesn't fit snuggly against the sides of the face then you're wearing it all wrong. In order to protect yourself, make sure the mask forms a complete seal around the mouth, nose and chin.
3. Contaminating the mask by touching it
The only time you should touch the mask is to put it on or take it off. Because our hands are constantly in contact with germs, anytime you touch the mask you are contaminating it and hence yourself. If you have to keep adjusting the mask then it's probably not the right fit.
4. Mask made from wrong material
So many people have jumped head first into the mask making business. However, 99% of those individuals making make are using the wrong type of fabrics. The majority of people have not idea what fabrics are breathable, or they type of synthetic materials the fabric is made of. Since we don't have research on the effects of wearing cloth over our faces for long periods of time, it's best to stick with disposable masks like the BlacTec N95.
5. Masks are not cleaned regularly
One of the biggest mistakes people make is not washing the mask regularly. If you wear a cloth mask, you should wash it every night with warm soap and water. This is a very important step in making sure you're not transferring the virus which could have landed on the "outside" of the mask.
The best option is a disposable "reusable" face mask like the BlacTec N95. You can literally wear it 14 days before disposing of. Simply spray with alcohol to disinfect.