Today we’ll talk about medical face masks. We will find out what they are, how and how much they need to be worn, and also whether they are useful. Read about all this in the article below.
Medical face masks
A medical mask is an individual tool for protecting respiratory organs from viruses and bacteria that are transmitted by airborne droplets. They are disposable and reusable, but the first option is more common.
Disposable medical face masks are a bandage that is worn on the face, covering the mouth and nose. Most often, it has 3 or 4 layers. It is held on the face due to the ties at the back or due to elastic loops that are worn on the ears.
History of occurrence
Yes, a medical face mask also has its own history of occurrence. It is believed that the first such mask appeared in Europe in the Middle Ages, when an epidemic of bubonic plague was rampant in the yard. They called her at that time "the mask of the Plague Doctor." At that time, it looked rather strange, but nevertheless it was practical. The beak, that is, the front part of the mask, was filled with medicinal herbs or aromatic salts in order to protect the doctor's smell from the unpleasant odors of decaying flesh, as well as to create an antibacterial environment inside the mask. The mask was worn over the whole face, and the eye holes were covered with glass.
In the 19th century, doctors began using woolen dressings with a flap. They were replaced by frightening masks from the Middle Ages. Medical face masks in a modern form appeared only at the beginning of the last century. This happened when Schroeder proved the effectiveness of cotton filters for air purification. Evidence was based on research by Louis Pasteur on the spread of microorganisms. Masks were especially widespread when a deadly flu epidemic, the Spanish Woman, broke out. By the 20s of the last century, the use of gauze dressings by medical staff had become mandatory.
In the modern world, disposable dressings that are made of nonwoven materials are most often used.
Kinds
There are several types of medical face masks. Their main classification relates to purpose. There are procedural (everyday) and specialized (surgical) masks. Procedural masks have 3 layers, are made of non-woven material for single use. They have a filter in the middle and 2 outer layers. Depending on the size, there are medical children's face masks and adults. They are used in clinics, hospitals and public places.
Specialized masks are those that consist of 4 layers, and in addition to 2 outer layers and a filter, they have an anti-liquid layer. It protects the face from biological fluids that are involved during the operation. Such masks can be with or without a screen. They are used only for operations.
More masks are divided into sterile and non-sterile. The latter are most often used in everyday life. Since the material is in contact with the outer layer of the skin, additional disinfection is not necessary. Sterile masks are applicable in laboratories, operating rooms, etc. Under normal conditions, using sterile masks is impractical, since they instantly lose their properties.
Material
In the Middle Ages, masks were not made of anything. Then it was time for wool. But masks from this material did not last long. To date, masks are made from non-woven materials, which consist of polymer fibers.
What does it consist of?
Medical face masks have 2 outer layers, which are their skeleton. There is also a filter that is located between the layers. Then comes the anti-fluid layer, but it is only in surgical masks. There is a nasal retainer, an ear loop or an elastic band, a retainer for the nose and an anti-liquid screen, which is only in specialized masks.
How much to wear?
Wearing a mask lasts 2-6 hours. In many ways, the time span depends on environmental conditions. Experts recommend wearing masks for no more than 2 hours during epidemics or health facilities. Masks that are used to protect against industrial environmental factors can be worn for 3-6 hours.
Many are wondering which side to face to wear a medical mask. So, they must be worn with a white side to face. You can navigate through the ear loops or earrings: they are on the side that should touch the face.
Efficiency
Want to know what a medical face mask is called? That's what it is called. If you thought the right thing with her name was “respirator,” then you were wrong. Medical masks are often confused with those used to protect against air pollution. By the way, many studies have shown that masks are effective only when they fit snugly around the face and do not allow air to pass through. If air leaks, the desired effect will not be achieved. Even through a small gap, up to 50% of all the air that a person inhales can leak out. That is why for serious protection against microorganisms, it is better to use RPE - a technical means of respiratory protection.
The effectiveness of the masks was questioned after it was proved that surgical masks and respirators do not protect the doctor from harmful substances in the eyes. Experts in this case also strongly recommend the use of RPD.
At the same time, the studies of scientists have not yet found a big difference between health workers who wore respiratory masks and those who wore surgical masks. Their incidence rate was the same. The fluctuations were very small, although the characteristics of the protective elements varied greatly.
Surgical masks are considered unsuitable for protecting respiratory organs from air pollution. But at the same time, they can reduce the risk of harmful substances getting into the air from a sick person, therefore they should be used to protect the health of people around.
In Russia, there are no clear and scientifically sound recommendations on the use and selection of personal protective equipment. Respirators were almost equal to ordinary masks, which even in their design are not designed to protect the human respiratory system from contaminated air (it is impossible to get a snug fit to the face, there is no verification of the material used for filtration).
Summing up the article, I want to say that medical face masks are inexpensive personal protective equipment that is always best to carry with you. Such a mask cannot guarantee absolute protection, but the risk of contracting something will decrease many times. It is not so important whether or not research was conducted on this subject, because the health of each person is in his own hands. The main thing to remember is that if there is an opportunity to protect yourself, then it is better to do it than to regret it later. Security measures - first of all.