Wearing face masks is the need of time. The surgical masks, respirators, and fabric masks have become a symbol of protection today for people suffering from the deadly, Coronavirus or Covid-19.
The question is: How much protection do face covers provide to their wearers? Can they be used time and again? Are there any limits for using the face mask like the Bella Canvas ST323 face mask? Is there more people could be doing? These are the questions for which we need the right answers.
How Do the Novel Corona Virus Spread?
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When human beings cough, sneeze or talk; then they emit small drops of moisture (droplets) from the upper respiratory system of different sizes, and these droplets may carry the virus, such as Coronavirus. The large droplets of greater than 5 mm (micrometres) settle quickly, so it is recommended to the public to stay 6 feet (ft) away from the people around them.
For the same reason, it is advised to people to clean dirty surfaces and wash their hands after touching contaminated surfaces. The small droplets come out from mouth and nose and travel farther than 6 ft. These droplets may stay in the air for an hour or a longer period of time contingent on the ventilation in the room. People spending time in close proximity to these small droplets can be exposed to these small drops of moisture.
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How Do Different Types of Masks Protect People from the Viruses?
N95 respirators, the surgical masks, and the fabric masks mainly protect people from Covid-19 viruses. Let us see how:
- N95 Respirators: N95 respirators, as the name indicates remove at least 95% of the droplets from the air. They are factory-made to fit with a close-fitting seal around the nose & mouth so that the air or viral particles are unable to penetrate them.
- Surgical Masks: Surgical masks are made up of special material, and they do not protect the nose and mouth, so smaller droplets can be inhaled by their wearers. However, it does not mean that these masks do not work. The surgical masks protect the wearers’ nose and mouth from larger droplets that may be emitted when a person coughs or sneezes.
- Fabric Masks: The fabric masks just like the surgical masks may remove large droplets and not the small ones. However, the fabric masks are very breathable; for this reason, many people prefer to wear fabric masks. The fabric masks are a perfect replacement for surgical masks.
Of course, face masks need to be worn correctly for them to make a difference. They need to cover your nose and mouth. Placing the mask underneath your nose or under your chin won’t provide you with the protection you are expecting from the mask. If you are out and about wearing a mask, don’t remove the mask when other people surround you.
You should never share masks with others either — the reason why is simple. If a person comes into contact with someone with Covid-19 without them knowing at the time, and the mask provides protection by the droplets landing on the mask instead, you could be putting yourself at risk by handling the mask after them even if you didn’t come into contact with the infected person.
Who Need to Wear Masks?
Healthcare professionals need to wear N95 respirators if they are taking care of patients with infections that can be propagated in tiny airborne droplets. Sick people do not need to wear N95 respirators. Surgical masks come in handy to avert the spread of droplets from infected people. Research also proves that surgical masks are as effective as N95 respirators for reducing influenza infection or Covid-19 among healthcare professionals. The fabric masks protect the nose and mouth of people from large droplets from infected people; however, these masks are not very effective for medical staff. People should go for fabric masks only if they are unable to acquire N95 respirators or surgical masks.
Can Face Covers be Reused?
If face covers are stored in a separate breathable paper bag at room temperature, then you can use them again and again. The fabric mask should be washed time and time again if you desperately want to use it by making sure that it remains sterile. Make sure to wash them after every use, and avoid touching the mask with your fingers.
When Should Face Masks be Discarded?
You must discard a face mask if it becomes filthy with blood or bodily fluids, and when it does not completely protect your nose and mouth or when it is damaged or dirty and becomes hard to breathe through. You should always discard surgical face masks after one use, as these cannot be washed. Don’t make the mistake of assuming they are like fabric masks. If you don’t like the idea of throwing away a mask after every use, then opting for fabric masks is your best bet.
The Face Masks and Coronavirus:
A face mask is the very first thing that comes to the minds of people these days to deal with the novel, Coronavirus. Most of the governments in the world have imposed regulations for the public to wear face masks when they are outside. In addition to face masks, people are also advised to wear gloves and use hand sanitisers to make sure they remain protected from germs.
Of course, this isn’t the only action that people can take. Ensuring that you keep your distance and that you keep an eye on your health is also crucial. While you don’t want to stop doing the things you love, you need to also be sensible. If you notice that you have one or more of the symptoms, you need to self-isolate and seek out a test that can confirm whether you have the virus or not.
Taking Bigger Action
You may feel that you could be doing more than just wear a mask and keep an eye on your symptoms. For those that feel this way, then there are options out there for you. For instance, if you want to make a direct impact right now, then volunteer to help with the vaccination centres, help those in your community if they cannot get out, or provide support for those in keyworker roles.
If you are thinking more long-term action, then why not think about taking a keyworker job role? Supermarkets and delivery drivers could always do with additional help, but so could the healthcare industry. Whether you want to work in a care home, in an administration role in a hospital, or become a nurse, if you feel passionate about doing more to fight against Covid-19, this is a great option.
How to start your career in healthcare
Before you start looking into how to get started, you first need to decide how you want to help. Once you have decided on the role that you would like to take on, you can then figure out how you can get started as quickly as possible.
If you don’t have any formal education in healthcare, then this is the first step that you will need to take. Although you might be concerned about how long this will take you to achieve, given that you want to do your bit in fighting against Covid-19, remember there will still be people recovering long into the future from Covid, even if it isn’t such a big threat.
Remember, due to Covid-19, many people were unable to seek the medical care they needed during this time, and as a result, there is a huge backlog. Therefore, you will be able to help in the fight against Covid-19, just in a slightly different way. If in the unfortunate circumstance, there is ever another similar pandemic or virus, you will be ready to face it head-on.
If you do want to get into the healthcare industry as a nurse as quickly as possible, there are quicker routes if you know where to look. For instance, you could opt for an accelerated course that sees you using a non-nursing degree as a stepping stone. In a year, you could be a registered nurse.
Developing Your Skill Set to Provide Top Healthcare Services
As registered nurses, it is instinct to want to protect people from Covid-19 and similar viruses. So if you are currently a nurse but feel like you could be doing more for your patients in times like this, then use the current situation as the perfect reason to enhance your skills and knowledge. If you do this, you are ensuring that you are able to offer even better care to your patients.
You don’t have to worry about quitting your job to do this. You can apply to enrol in an online course. At Wilkes University, you can take an accelerated nursing degree if you are a non-nurse, and if you are a registered nurse already looking to enhance their skills, then you can apply for the Wilkes RN to MSN degree.
The latter course will enable you to become a nurse practitioner and provide you with advanced clinical skills – that not many people have – making you an in-demand professional. With the ability to choose your specific career goals, you can easily direct your career and ensure you are doing everything you want to in the fight against Covid-19.
Face Mask and Healthcare professionals
Working in the healthcare industry means you will need to be responsible for the care of others, so the importance of wearing face masks cannot be disputed. You should encourage your friends, family, and those that come into your care to wear face masks.
It is a small act that everyone can do that can slow down the spread and keep everyone as safe as possible. If people don’t understand the importance of wearing masks, tell them. Although most should be aware of it, there may be some people still that don’t fully understand the difference that they can make.
As you will be wearing a mask and PPE every week for extended periods of time, you should try to do what you can to reduce the risk of damage it could cause to your face. In the winter, this can be even worse, especially when the handwashing and alcohol gel can leave your skin feeling sore as it is.
There are ways that you can keep yourself from experiencing this damage. For instance, you need to get correctly fitting PPE and take extra care in the winter. You should also try to get as much sleep as possible and drink plenty of water. If you prioritise your own health and skin when you are not at work, you should be able to keep wearing the masks and PPE as comfortably as possible.
Conclusion:
A face cover or face mask is the need of time. A face mask can protect human beings from the virus, such as Coronavirus or Covid-19. The three common types of face covers are N95 respirators, surgical masks, and fabric masks. The N95 respirators are the best face masks, as they can take care of 95% of the germs. The surgical masks are also very handy face covers, but they do not protect the wearers’ bodies from small droplets that may contain germs.
The fabric masks are breathable face masks. Healthcare professionals and infected people need to wear face masks. The face masks are reusable face covers, and they can also be discarded. Lastly, the face covers have become a need of time to remain protected from the deadly, Coronavirus.
If people are able to do their part by wearing a face mask and continue to look after themselves, they will be helping millions around the world. If you want to do more to help in the battle against Covid and be ready if the world ever finds itself facing a similar pandemic, then earning your healthcare degree is the action you need to take. Take the advice laid out in the article above, and you will be on your way to doing more in the fight against Covid-19.