Since Covid-19 outspread masks have become an integral part of our lives. It has already been 2 years since the world is fighting this Pandemic and it continues. By now you must have worn and seen plenty of face masks. And probably you won’t risk your precious lives and wear masks always while going outside your home. Wearing a mask could protect you from pollution and certain allergens as well so it is better to wear a mask rather inviting diseases.

To understand which mask is best for you or even whether wearing masks could make any difference or not we have mentioned things that you must know about face masks. Although learning never stops and you must be learning something new about Covid’19 and safety measures that you should consider for your health. So to add to it, learn more about face masks and reconsider certain practices if done incorrectly.

Things you should know about face masks:-

The N95 mask is the most effective.

The N95 mask is made to exclude 95% of very minute particles. Whereas fabric masks and N95 masks serve different goals, they both aim to reduce COVID-19 transmission. Depending on the fabric mask, up to 50% of small particles can be filtered out. As a result, wearing a fabric mask shields you and people around you from harm. And logic dictates that some safety is preferable to none at all. Using a cloth face mask, however, should always be done in conjunction with frequent washing of hands and social isolation. Wearing a fabric mask over a throwaway mask improves protection even further.

Disposable masks are not required for the ordinary individual.

“Wearing surgical masks is not only bad for the environment, but it’s also needless.” Fabric masks are much more acceptable to wear in a public situation. When a person talks, coughs, or sneezes, a fabric mask is designed to catch the particles that are emitted. If everybody wears a cotton mask, it may assist to decrease the spread of COVID-19 among asymptomatic persons. Caution must be made while utilizing textile face coverings and masks to choose intricately knit fabrics that will efficiently catch droplets.”

Other individuals are protected when you wear a face mask.

Other people are protected from your germs by wearing a face mask. Wearing a face mask is an extra precaution that may help reduce the chances of an infected individual spreading the sickness to others. The data supporting the use of face coverings to protect people from infection is growing all the time. Face masks are essential for preventing the virus from spreading among healthy people who don’t show any symptoms.

Purpose of a surgical Face Mask.

If worn correctly, surgical masks are designed to protect the wearer from any type of harmful bodily fluid. The masks are also designed to form a barrier between the person and particulates such as bacteria, viruses, or fluid containing bacteria or viruses.

Surgical masks may lessen the danger of other individuals being exposed to contamination, saliva, and secretions, as well as the risk of you subjecting others to the same toxicants and bodily fluids.

Put your medical mask in the trash.

Surgical masks used alone in a medical environment could be considered hazardous waste in high-risk workplaces, together with other personal protective equipment (PPE). Members of the public are not required to wear surgical masks, and if they do, tossing the mask in the trash is a legitimate way to dispose of it. We’d emphasize that it must be dumped into the bin cleanly and correctly, ideally wrapped up, and not left to hang from the bin’s rim so that somebody else has to touch it, and it should never be dropped on the floor.

To work properly, cover your nose and mouth.

People that wear face masks and shields over their lips, but not their noses, are likely to be seen – this doesn’t provide much safety. You must cover your nose and mouth since you can discharge virus-carrying droplets from both of them. It’s critical to have a face mask that fits snugly if you want to keep your bugs at bay. The front range of your breath – which can spread the virus – can be reduced by placing a face mask or other protection over your mouth and nose. However, having openings at the back and sides of your mask can be troublesome because ill-fitting masks could allow strong jets of air to escape, so wearers must be cautious.

Surgical masks do have an expiration date.

Those who have amassed a hundred masks ought to be aware that they cannot keep them indefinitely. The stated expiration date is normally about 3 years from the date of production when stored properly in dry and cool surroundings. Of course, this is only a suggestion; tests could always be repeated at the end of the expiry date to recertify the material’s functioning.

Social distancing is necessary even after wearing masks.

The best defence against coronavirus is to combine wearing a mask with social separation and frequent handwashing. Masks are not a one-size-fits-all option for protecting against the new coronavirus, and they may give the wearer a false sense of security. “Rather than considering it as the single means of preventing infection, it should be viewed as a component of a bigger anti-infection strategy.” It is also preferable to stay at home when going out is not necessary to avoid unnecessary coronavirus.

Thicker Masks are not superior.

Fairly thick layers don’t necessarily imply additional security. The existence of the following layers in a 3-ply surgical mask is a critical feature: an exterior water repellent layer, a middle melt is blown lais blown hat helps to trap respiratory droplets, and an inside soft absorbent layer.” Thickness is irrelevant as long as the three layers are present.

Don’t wear a mask if you have breathing issues and avoid going outside.

Face masks should not be worn by anyone with breathing problems or who is unable to manage them safely. This includes children under the age of two, as there is a risk of asphyxia.