The proper use of personal protective equipment for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has raised numerous questions as the current pandemic affects our nation. Different guidelines issued by different agencies has caused a great deal of confusion among individuals, prompting scientific studies to focus on the importance of wearing a mask and providing how to properly wear them, to ultimately curb the spread of COVID-19.
Inevitably, how much protection a mask provides — both to the wearers and to the people around them — depends on the type of mask and whether the individual is wearing it accordingly.
Betty Long, Founder and CEO of Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates, highlights why wearing a mask the right way, combined with proactive measures like social distancing, can help contain the spread of the virus.
The Do’s and Do Not’s of Wearing a Mask
- Do — Wear your mask so it comes all the way up, close to the bridge of your nose and all the way down under your chin. Do your best to tighten the loops or ties, so it is snug around your face without any gaps.
- Don’t — Wear the mask below your nose or leave your chin exposed.
- Don’t — Wear your mask loosely with gaps on the sides.
- Don’t — Wear your mask so it only covers the tip of your nose.
- Don’t — Push your mask under your chin to rest on your neck.
Once you have figured out the correct position for wearing your mask, Long suggests the following tips:
- Always wash your hands before and after wearing a mask.
- Use the ties or loops to put your mask on and pull it off.
- Don’t touch the front of the mask when you take it off.
- For apartment dwellers, put the mask on and remove it while inside your home. Elevators and stairwells can be high-contamination areas.
- Wash and dry your cloth mask daily and keep it in a clean, dry place.
Scientists are working overtime to understand COVID-19, and since it is a new virus, there remains a multitude of questions. That is why it is up to every individual to do their part during this pandemic to keep themselves, and those around them, safe and healthy.
If you find yourself exercising outside, you can find helpful tips here, to keep your risk — and the risk to others — as minimal as possible.
About Guardian Nurses
Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates is committed to improving their patients’ experiences with today’s healthcare system by providing advocacy services for people of all ages with acute injuries, chronic illnesses, and ongoing health-related needs. Guardian Nurses aims to make it easier for their clients to find their way safely and effectively through the healthcare maze.
Information provided by Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates.