Making The Most Out Of Face Masks In The Age Of COVID 19

By: Rue Wei – Quality and Regulatory and Beth Putnam – Commercial Operations, Tricol Biomedical

“Do what you can, with what you’ve got, where you are.” - Squire Bill Widener of Widener’s Valley, Virginia in Theodore Roosevelt: An Autobiography. As Theodore Roosevelt shared, this sums up one’s duty in life. Now that wearing face masks in public is the new normal, how do we apply these principles effectively?

Do What You Can

This is an extremely important tenet. Do what you can, not necessarily what you want to do. Check your reluctance at your own front door and remember that you may be the source of spread without knowing it and source control is the first step in prevention.

Respiratory droplets are considered the primary mode of transmission and those are expired from both your mouth AND your nose. Make sure your mask covers both and when covering your nose make sure more than just the tip is included with no gaps at the sides. Avoid pulling your mask down around your neck and up to your forehead.

Always wash hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer prior to donning your mask and after removing and appropriately discarding it.

With What You’ve Got

Wow who knew that masks could be such a challenge to shop for. There are a plethora of choices, styles and sassy statements that can be made. The CDC recommends that for general public use we focus on cloth masks or non-medical grade filtering disposable masks. The availability of all have improved dramatically since March and choosing wisely is important.

If you choose to wear a cloth mask check the CDC guidelines (link to website) to ensure the types and materials that offer the best protection. These are usually high thread count cotton masks that are constructed with at least two layers of cloth. If you choose to use a disposable mask ensure that your supplier provides instructions for use and a description of the construction. It should include outer and inner layers made from non-woven fabric with a middle layer made of melt blown fabric as the filter.

A big no-no are the high-tech looking masks with a valve. They are most often found with versions of the N95 filtering respirator and on some cloth masks. They were designed to make exhalation for the wearer easier but DO NOT protect those around you. In fact, they can send virus outward in a very effective manner from an unwitting wearer.

Follow these guidelines for donning and removing your mask.

• Wash your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer before putting on your face mask.
• Hold the mask by the ear loops. Place a loop around each ear.
• Make sure your nose and mouth are covered. If your face mask has pleats, they should be open downward to cover your chin.
• If a nose piece is there, mold or pinch it to the shape of your nose.
• Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face.

Where you are 

You are wearing a mask because you need to go out and take care of business, whether that is going to work, filling up your car with gas or going grocery shopping. Be mindful of the circumstances.

You should take off your face mask when you return home. Remember that the front of the mask may be contaminated. Again, wash your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer before correctly removing the mask. Cloth masks go into the washing machine or a special laundry bag to hold until you wash your household’s supply of masks. Disposable masks go directly into the trash. Repeat washing your hands.

If you need to remove your mask while out in public, perhaps to eat or while in your car between errands, wash or sanitize hands and remove the mask to a clean surface or container. Place the side of the mask not in contact with your face on the surface. Rewash your hands and enjoy your food or quiet solace peacefully!

Whew this seems like a lot, but with everything in life it is about building habits. As a child you had to learn to routinely brush your teeth, as a society we had to make wearing a seat belt second nature. We are all capable of building habits that improve our public health. 

Our mission is to continually educate and update what we learn. This is a NOVEL virus and as such there will be adjustments and changes as we learn more. We are committed to keeping good information flowing.