What Is the Proper Way to Wear Face Mask?

Lateet November 3, 2020

After the CDC recommended wearing facemasks to prevent the spread of COVID-19, about 3 in 4 people complied with the suggestion.

Some states have imposed mandates for people to wear masks, and if you live in one of those states, you should learn about the proper way to wear a face mask.

Learning how to wear it properly is important, but there are some other things you should know, like why you need to wear it and also how to take it off.

Why You Need It

Many people have debated if wearing a mask is actually helpful and if face mask safety is even a thing.

The short answer is yes. A face mask will help to stop everyone from spreading their germs as much. Whenever you cough, sneeze, breathe or talk, you’re expelling germs into the air. Others around you can then breathe in those germs and get sick themselves.

But if you’re wearing a mask, a lot of those germs will be trapped closer to your face and won’t be floating as much in the air. This is why you should wear it over your nose and mouth.

People can still be sick with COVID-19 and not show any symptoms, which is why it’s important to wear a mask to protect the people around you.

Masks are important in helping to stop the spread, but they are even more effective when paired with measures like social distancing, washing hands, and frequently cleaning or disinfecting surfaces.

When Should You Wear It?

You should wear a mask any time that you’re in public or around people that aren’t in your household.

You have to wear it on airplanes as well, and some stores also won’t let you in unless you have one.

Even if you don’t have symptoms, it’s important to wear one because you can still spread the germs even if you’re not aware of it. If you have symptoms of coughing or a fever, you should really make sure that you wear a mask.

The Different Types of Masks

There are a few different types of masks that you can wear.

They’re all effective, but you should choose one that works best for you.

Surgical Masks

These are also sometimes called medical masks. They don’t fit tightly, but they will protect your mouth and nose from any other droplets. It will also keep your droplets close to you.

It will filter out larger particles from the air, which can help reduce your exposure to other things like allergies as well.

While this type of mask hasn’t officially been approved to stop coronavirus, it’s still better than not wearing anything.

N95 Masks

These are a special type of masks because they act like a respirator. This mask will offer the most protection and filters out large and small particles.

The 95 in the name actually comes from the fact that it blocks out 95% of small particles. They have valves on the outside that will make it easy for you to breathe as well.

However, these masks should also be left for healthcare professionals. Since they are the ones who are exposed to coronavirus all day every day, they really need them to ensure that they can stay healthy and safe.

Cloth Masks

A cloth mask might be one of the most common masks, and they’re also great because you can reuse them.

They may not block all of the particles in the air, but it’s also still better than not wearing anything. These masks can be made from all kinds of materials to something like a sheet or tight cotton.

You can find these masks normally at some local stores near you, but you can also find instructions online on how to make them yourself.

How to Put the Mask On

Once you’ve decided on the type of mask you want to wear, you should follow these simple instructions to put your mask on and make sure that you’re staying safe while doing so.

The first thing you need to do is to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before touching your mask. After that, make sure that you clean your mask before you put it on. It shouldn’t have any holes or tears in it before you put it on.

If your mask has a piece of wire in it, that should go at the top and over your nose. This will let you bend it to fit your nose so that it feels comfortable.

For face masks with ear loops, make sure that you hold it by the loops (not the fabric) and put them around each ear.

There are also some face masks with ties, and you can put these on by putting the mask level with your nose. Tie the ties behind the crown of your head, and you can make it even more secure with a bow.

Lastly, you can adjust the mask to make sure that it covers both your nose and mouth comfortably. There shouldn’t be any large open areas on the sides either. If there are, you may need to get a bigger mask.