The term ‘medical mask’ has become one of the common words to use, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Its usage has become global and not only restricted to health care and medical facilities.
They play a
major role in reducing infectious disease transmission and protecting you from
respiratory diseases like the common cold and flu.
While all
masks seem alike, not all of them are used in the same way. Understanding
various grades of medical masks is crucial to providing adequate protection as
the situation demands.
The following
blog will help shed light on the different types and masks, helping you to make
informed choices in your time of need:
● Single
use surgical mask
Surgical
masks are fluid-resistant and act as a barrier between the nose and mouth
of the wearer to the outside environment.
They are
disposable and are only for a single time use. Usually, doctors and other
medical personnel use these masks to prevent airborne transmission during
surgery. It protects patients from infections and vice versa.
You can wear
these masks as soon as you develop infectious symptoms such as cough or
sneezing. These masks prevent fluid or droplets to get mixed with the
surrounding air.
Also,
surgical masks are graded 1,2,3 based on the level of protection they provide
and fluid resistance.
These masks have become so popular during the pandemic that everyone had to wear them when going out.
● Single use respirator
A respirator mask which is made from non-woven
polymers, is a filtering device designed very closely to seal around the nose
and mouth. It protects the wearer from exposure to large and small particles,
including airborne particles and biological particulates such as viruses and
bacteria.
They have effective particle filtration and they are tested to ensure a certain amount of solid and liquid air particles.
Though they sound complex, you have to use them for a single time and they are not fluid-resistant. You have to use them in higher-risk settings like health care, aged care, disability centres and quarantine centres.
● Single use surgical respirator
Surgical respirators are used by healthcare workers to protect themselves against microorganisms and fluids during procedures and surgeries. They provide the greatest protection from exposure to biological particles like bacteria and viruses. These respirators are effective in removing 95% of aerosols as they form a close seal around the nose and mouth. Unlike normal respirators, they are fluid-resistant as they are used by surgeons.
They are not generally available for public or community use and you can only use them for a single time.
● Antimicrobial surgical respirator
These are special kinds of respirators that can destroy pathogens. They are embedded with antimicrobial agents that can kill pathogens and other microbial particles. They are similar to surgical respirators and are used by surgeons and special medical personnel when accessing restricted or high-risk facilities. They are not reusable and for a single time use. They are also not available to the public and can only be found at medicinal facilities.
● Reusable public face mask
These are the public face masks that are loose-fitting and protect against large particles. They are made from porous fabric and are reusable. You can easily find them at medical shops and you can wear them whenever you go outside to prevent inhaling infection-causing germs.
● Single use public face mask
They are similar to utility masks but are not reusable. Doctors, nurses, and people who go to medical centres wear these masks for protection. You have to discard them after a single use and have to wear a new one if you want to use them again. They are easily available at medical shops and pharmacies and you can keep a stack of them at home to wear whenever you go outside.
By understanding different types of masks and their uses, you can wear the right kind of mask to ensure that you are protected against every kind of microorganism. If you are going to hospitals and other medical centres, make sure to wear them so that you can stay safe and return healthy to your family. Apart from masks, safety gloves are also used by medical personnel so that they stay infection-free and maintain hygiene in healthcare facilities.
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