Knowledge of surgical masks and N95 respirator masks

<p><a href="https://www.hongyuapparel.com/mask" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Surgical masks</strong></a> are used every day by medical professionals to provide protection against the risk of infection, but consumer demand for them spikes at various times, such as when news surfaces about the spread of viruses such as the coronavirus. However, it is important to note that not all masks are created equal, and some do not provide protection at all.</p><p><br></p><p>What are the Safest Surgical Masks to Use?</p><p>Certain masks are designed for higher risk environments than others. It’s important to remember, however, that a mask alone will not provide protection from COVID-19. Masks, gloves, and other PPE are needed in combination to protect the wearer, as well as basic practices such as hand washing and not touching the face. It’s also important to reserve the most protective masks for healthcare workers, who spend long periods of time in the highest risk areas for contagion.</p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://www.hongyuapparel.com/mask" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>N95 respirator masks</strong></a> are designed for the highest-risk environments, such as surgery or other situations where sprays and aerosols carrying the virus are commonly emitted. N95s consequently provide the strongest protection against illness as they stop viruses and bacteria from reaching the wearer. These masks seal the area around the face completely when properly fitted, but they make breathing more of an effort. They also require the use of annual training and fit tests to ensure that the wearer is still using them safely. Untrained users may not be able to fit them properly to their faces, or may compromise the seal by adjusting it incorrectly. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommends N95 or P100 filters (which block 99.9% of .3 micron+ particles) for first responders potentially dealing with the disease.</p><p><br></p><p>Surgical masks are made for lower risk medical situations, and are designed to stop the spread of germs from the wearer. Because of their loose fit to the face, matter can get around the edges of the mask and still enter the nose and mouth, so they do not provide the same level of protection as an N95. Additionally, the filtering pores in the mask aren’t small enough to stop viruses. However, these masks do protect against spray, large droplets, and splashes, and they keep the wearer’s germs from spreading to other people. There is also one study by Raina MacIntyre, a professor of global biosecurity at the University of New South Wales, that shows they may have some effect against viral spread. Her study showed that people who wore these masks in the same room as a sick family member reduced their risk of infection, but only if they wore them constantly while in the same room. Additionally, a separate trial by Dr. McIntyre showed that <strong>disposable masks </strong>carry lower risks for infection.</p><p><a href="https://www.hongyuapparel.com/mask" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Cloth masks</strong></a>, appropriate for lower risk environments outside of medical facilities, are recommended for consumer use by the C.D.C. These masks do not have fine enough weave to filter out viruses, but they can stop the spread of spray from coughs or sneezing. They can also be used over surgical masks or respirators to help preserve the mask underneath. Consumers are recommended to wear these masks while in places where it’s difficult to remain six feet apart, like grocery stores. However, it’s important to wash cloth masks regularly in a washing machine since the moisture from a person’s breath can breed germs in the cloth over time. It’s also important to try to fit the mask as much as possible to the face without large gaps.</p><p><br></p><p>Other masks such as painter’s or <strong>dust masks</strong> are designed to block larger particles than viruses from entering the nose and mouth, so they do not provide the same level of protection as an N95 medical respirator. However, they, like cloth masks, can help keep spray and droplets from potentially infected people contained.</p><p>It is worth noting that both masks and respirators have specific shelf lives depending on the conditions and climate in which they are stored, so it's important to ensure the masks are stored properly and in good condition. Since respirators come in different sizes, it's also important to ensure you have enough of them in each size, since respirators of the wrong size cannot create a proper seal and therefore will compromise their users.&nbsp;</p>