There is hardly a topic that is currently on people's minds more than the corona pandemic (SARS-CoV-2 pandemic). All too understandable, as we are all affected by it. From toddlers to pensioners, we live with the effects every day. Exceptions: none. For over a year now, this has included the issue of masks, or rather face masks.
While their use has been part of everyday life in Asian countries for many years, this use is a novelty for us Europeans. Since the start of the pandemic, countless studies have been published on the subject, then discarded, revised and updated. Scientists disagree about which results are really true and what this means for each and every one of us.
The fact is: face masks or masks are now our daily companions and, depending on the design, offer a protective function against viruses, droplets or aerosols. Whether for shopping in the supermarket, at work, for children at nursery or school, in a care home or when jogging, there are various requirements that should and must be observed in order to minimise the possibility of infection. We would therefore like to give you a brief overview here.
How do I use masks correctly?
Putting them on correctly
- Firstly, please wash your hands thoroughly.
- Only touch the rubber or fabric straps to put on the mask.
- Place the mask on your nose and guide the loops behind your ears and fasten them there.
Wearing it correctly
- Finally, press the nose clip firmly into place. The closer the mask is to your face, the better the protection.
- The mask must cover your nose, mouth and chin and must not be open at the sides.
- Once you have put the mask on, try not to touch it.
- If the mask slips or does not fit properly, only touch it at the sides to adjust it again.
- Avoid putting the mask on and taking it off too often.
- Only touch the rubber or fabric straps.
Correct removal
- After removing the mask, please wash your hands thoroughly.
- If you need to remove the mask briefly (for example, to have a drink), please put it down in a place that is easy to clean afterwards.
- Dispose of disposable masks in a covered rubbish bin afterwards.
Which masks are available?
There are different types of masks to protect against the coronavirus, each of which offers different levels of protection against infection. We would like to briefly introduce you to the most common types here. We do not want to go into homemade fabric masks here as, depending on how they are made, they offer very limited or no protection against viruses.
Face shield, also known as a face visor or face shield
Provides splash protection from flying droplets. It is easy to clean and a mask or protective goggles can be worn underneath. The face shield is therefore often used in supermarkets or other public facilities.
Surgical mask, surgical face mask, medical face mask
This is the so-called everyday mask. It is therefore used by the majority of the population on everyday occasions. It is easy to wear and primarily prevents (potentially infectious) droplets of the wearer's saliva/mucus from entering the environment.
FFP2 masks
These masks originally come from occupational safety and filter particles as well as viruses or aerosols. They are primarily used for personal protection. Unlike surgical masks, they fit very closely to the head and are available with or without a valve. FFP2 masks filter 94% of all particles and are therefore also used in the medical sector. They have now become standard for visits to the supermarket or other public places. Unfortunately, the filter performance is reduced by moisture, so reuse is not recommended. Please ensure that they are properly certified when purchasing.
FFP3 masks
The difference to FFP2 masks is that these masks filter up to 99% of all particles and aerosols. FFP3 masks are therefore particularly suitable for use with people who are already very likely to be infected with the virus. Both types of masks are also available as filtering half masks.
How can you make them more comfortable to wear?
In many professions, it is currently not possible to work without a mask. However, wearing them for long periods of time sometimes causes an uncomfortable feeling and you are constantly tempted to move the masks. This in turn means that you touch the mask and can come into contact with the virus. Accessories are already available to prevent this and to increase comfort during long-term use. These allow the masks to adapt perfectly to the shape of your head, prevent tension behind the ears and make breathing much easier. Two very useful accessories are therefore the mask hook and the 3D spacer. Both items can be purchased for little money and make everyday life much easier, especially in areas that require prolonged use of the masks.