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Posts Tagged ‘Surgical masks’

Mask Up, Ohio. By Our Student Pharmacist, Prutha Patel.

As of July 23, 2020, Governor Dewine has issued a statewide mask order.

This means that all individuals in Ohio must wear facial coverings in public at all times when:

  • At an indoor location that is not a residence.
  • Outdoors, but unable to maintain six-foot social distance from people who are not household members.
  • Waiting for, riding, driving, or operating public transportation, such as a taxi, a car service, or a private car used for ride-sharing.

The order only requires those 10-years-old or older to wear a mask. Additional exclusions include:

  • Those with a medical condition or a disability or those communicating with someone with a disability;
  • Those who are actively exercising or playing sports;
  • Those who are officiants at religious services;
  • Those who are actively involved in public safety; or
  • Those who are actively eating or drinking.

mask transmission probability

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also stated that wearing cloth masks or face coverings while out in public can help slow the spread of COVID-19 especially because the virus can be spread by people who do not have any symptoms.

An editorial published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) mentioned a report from Missouri where two symptomatic hair stylists wore face masks while seeing clients, who also wore masks, before being diagnosed with COVID-19. After public health contact tracing and a two-week follow-up, none of the clients displayed symptoms of COVID-19.

What are the different types of masks?

surgical mask N95

N95

N95 is a type of respirator that can filter out both large and small particles when the wearer breathes in. N95 masks are designed to block around 95% of very small particles. Additionally, some N95 masks come with valves; however, these are not recommended because the valves only work one way and release unfiltered air when the wearer exhales. N95 masks should generally be reserved for healthcare workers and those working on the frontlines.

Surgical masks

Surgical masks are disposable. They cover the mouth and nose to protect the wearer from droplets, splashes, and sprays that may contain germs. A surgical mask filters out larger particles and protects others from respiratory droplets and saliva.

cloth masks

Cloth masks

Cloth masks are meant to protect others by trapping droplets that can be released when the wearer coughs, sneezes, or speaks. Cloth masks are the recommended mask to wear on a daily basis as N95 and surgical masks are in short supply and should be reserved for those working on the frontlines such as healthcare workers and first responders. Cloth masks work best when everyone wears them as people can spread COVID-19 without showing any symptoms.

Is there a risk of CO2 poisoning with masks?

While wearing face masks for long periods of time can be uncomfortable, they do not cause carbon dioxide (CO2) intoxication or oxygen deprivation. If you feel uncomfortable in your mask, try to limit talking and breathe through your nose rather than your mouth. This will also help reduce humidity in the mask. For some people with chronic lung conditions, masks may make breathing more difficult, but will not cause a buildup of CO2 in the mask.

Tips and Tricks for making masks more comfortable:

Ear savers: Sometimes, wearing masks can cause friction on the ears that can be uncomfortable and painful. Ear savers can help by keeping the loops of the mask off your ears (see photos below of two types of ear savers).

Ear Saver 1

Ear saver 2

Foggy glasses: To help avoid foggy glasses while wearing a mask, it’s important to make sure the top of the mask fits snugly around the nose so warm air doesn’t escape up to fog glasses.

Additionally, one study from a surgeon suggests washing glasses with soapy water and letting them air dry before wearing your mask to help provide a temporary fix for foggy glasses.

Lastly, wearing masks, in addition to frequent hand washing and social distancing, can help slow the spread of the virus.

ohio masks

References:

Brooks JT, Butler JC, Redfield RR. Universal Masking to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Transmission—The Time Is Now. JAMA. Published online July 14, 2020. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.13107

Malik SS, Malik SS. A simple method to prevent spectacle lenses misting up on wearing a face mask. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2011;93(2):168. doi:10.1308/003588411x12851639107313b

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters

https://governor.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/governor/media/news-and-media/covid19-update-07222020#:~:text=Governor%20DeWine%20announced%20that%20beginning,in%20all%2088%20Ohio%20counties.&text=All%20individuals%20in%20Ohio%20must,that%20is%20not%20a%20residence

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2020/p0714-americans-to-wear-masks.html

https://www.eamc.org/news-and-media/why-is-wearing-a-mask-important

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-mask/art-20485449

https://www.lung.org/blog/covid-masks

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/no-face-masks-cant-cause-co2-poisoning