Today we will talk about medical face masks. We find out what they are, how and how much they need to be worn, and whether there is any benefit from them. Read all about this in the article below.
Medical face masks
A medical mask is an individual remedy.to protect the respiratory system 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 Masksconstitute a bandage that is put on the face, covering the mouth and nose. Most often it has 3 or 4 layers. Keeps on the face due to the ties at the back or due to elastic loops that are put on the ears.
History of occurrence
Yes, the medical face shield also hasits history of occurrence. It is believed that the first such mask appeared in Europe in the Middle Ages, when an epidemic of bubonic plague raged in the courtyard. They called her at that time the "mask of the Plague Doctor." At the time, it looked rather strange, but despite the fact it was still 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 sense of smell from the nasty smells of rotting flesh, as well as to create an antibacterial environment inside the mask. The mask was worn over the entire face, and the holes for the eyes were covered with glass.
In the XIX century, doctors began to use woolenbandages with flap. They were replaced by awesome masks from the Middle Ages. Medical facials in their present form appeared only at the beginning of the last century. This happened when Schroeder proved the effectiveness of cotton filters for air purification. The evidence was based on Louis Pasteur’s research on the spread of microorganisms. The masks were especially popular when the deadly flu epidemic, the Spanish flu, broke out. Already by the 20s of the last century, the use of gauze dressings by medical staff became mandatory.
In the modern world, disposable dressings, which are made of nonwoven materials, are most often used.
Kinds
There are several types of medical face masks.Their main classification concerns the destination. There are procedural (everyday) and specialized (surgical) masks. Procedural masks have 3 layers, made of nonwoven 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 thatconsist of 4 layers, and besides 2 external layers and the filter, 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.
Еще маски делят на стерильные и нестерильные.The latter are most often used in everyday life. Since the material is in contact with the outer layer of skin, additional disinfection is not necessary. Sterile masks are applicable in laboratories, operating rooms, etc. Under normal conditions, the use of sterile masks is impractical because they instantly lose their properties.
Material
In the Middle Ages, masks from which only notmade. Then it is time to wool. But the mask of this material did not last long. Today, masks are made of nonwoven materials, which consist of polymer fibers.
What does it consist of?
Medical face masks have 2 outer layers,which are their frame. 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 fixer, an ear loop or a rubber band, a fixator for the nose, and an anti-fluid screen, which is only in specialized masks.
How much to wear?
Ношение маски длится 2-6 часов.In many respects, the time interval depends on the environmental conditions. Experts recommend wearing masks for no more than 2 hours during epidemics or hospitals. Masks that are used to protect against man-made environmental factors can be worn for 3-6 hours.
Many are wondering which side toface wearing a medical mask. So, you must wear them with a white side to face. You can navigate through the ear loops or strings: they are on the side that should touch the face.
Efficiency
Want to know what's called a medical mask onface? It is called that. If you thought the name “respirator” was correct, then you were wrong. Medical masks are often confused with those used to protect against airborne contaminants. By the way, many studies have shown that masks are effective only when they are tight to the face around the perimeter and do not let the air through. If air leaks, the desired effect will not be achieved. Even through a small gap, up to 50% of the air that a person inhales can leak. 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 has been questioned afterIt was proved that surgical masks and respirators do not protect the doctor from harmful substances in the eyes. Experts in this case, strongly recommend the use of RPE.
In this study, scientists have not yet foundthe big difference between health care workers who wore respiratory masks and those who wore surgical masks. Their incidence was the same. The oscillations were quite insignificant, although the characteristics of the protective elements varied greatly.
It is believed that surgical masks are not suitablefor protection of respiratory organs from air pollution. But at the same time they can reduce the risk of harmful substances in the air from a sick person, and therefore should be used to protect the health of people around them.
In Russia, there are no clear and reasonableFrom a scientific point of view, recommendations on the use and selection of personal protective equipment. Respirators were almost aligned with ordinary masks, which even by their design are not designed to protect the human respiratory system from polluted air (it is impossible to achieve a snug fit to the face, there is no verification of the material used for filtration).
Summing up the article, I want to say thatMedical face masks are inexpensive personal protective equipment that you should always have with you. Such a mask cannot guarantee absolute protection, but the risk of being infected with something will decrease many times. It is not so important whether studies were conducted on this subject or not, 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 oneself, then it is better to do it than to regret it. Security measures - first of all.
