Wearing a mask is an important protective thing. The "droplets" produced in the process of talking, coughing and sneezing are the main vectors of acute respiratory viruses, and viruses such as novel coronavirus are mainly transmitted through droplets.
There are many kinds of masks. For an ordinary person, whether it is a medical surgical mask or a medical nursing mask, or a medical protective mask or an industrial particulate protective mask (such as N95), it can be used.
Of course, it is recommended that you give priority to "medical protective masks" and "medical surgical masks", and it is not recommended that you be overly superstitious about medical protective masks, which are expensive and out of stock.
Special people need special treatment. For people with weak lung function and difficulty breathing, it is even more necessary to avoid using industrial particulate matter protective masks and medical protective masks, and not to add trouble to the body because of high respiratory resistance.
In addition to these masks, activated carbon masks, cotton masks and sponge masks are also common masks on the market, mainly made of cotton cloth, canvas and gauze. Relatively speaking, the materials used are not fine enough, and the gap between them is large. In the face of severe novel coronavirus, it is not recommended to use them (of course, if you only have these masks at this time, it is better to wear them than not to wear them).
"Taking off a mask" is a technical activity: wearing a mask requires safety and rigor; Taking off a mask is also a "technical job". In the process of removing the mask, please don't touch the inner and outer surfaces of the mask with your hands, just remove the "ear hook"; In the process of taking off the mask, please pay attention to the space, do not take it off in the polluted area, and choose a safe area (such as home); Avoid touching masks used by others and leave no chance for "cross-contamination"; For used masks, please don't put them directly in pockets, bags and other places to avoid increasing the risk of infection. It is suggested to "fold back from the inside out" and put it in a self-sealed bag for preservation.
Masks can be used many times. What should I do after I put it on? From a scientific and protective point of view, whether it is a "medical mask" or a "protective mask", the mask itself is a "disposable" item and cannot be reused. However, considering the actual situation now, masks themselves are scarce. For a healthy ordinary person, if there is no fever or catarrh symptoms, it can be used repeatedly, but it is not recommended to use it more than five times.
Please take off the mask you have worn, put it in a dry place, and then put it in a sanitary and airtight "airtight bag".
For "used masks", if you are in a hospital or medical institution, please throw them into the medical garbage bin; For individuals with fever and cough at home, please put the mask into a sealed bag after disinfection (84 disinfectant 1: 99 spray) and throw it away; For ordinary people who have no problem, you can also put the mask directly into a sealed bag and throw it away.
Is the thicker the mask safer? This question is not like this. The "medical surgical mask" feels very thin, but the filtering effect is very good. Water-blocking layer, filtering layer and moisture-absorbing layer can effectively prevent virus invasion. Although "cotton mask" is super thick, it will not prevent infectious diseases.
So the thickness does not mean the safety of the mask. Please choose according to scientific principles.
Mask, an important defensive item at this special stage, should be worn by everyone; Care for health, care for the body and prevent diseases. Please choose and wear a mask correctly.
The shortage of masks is no longer a day or two. With the continuous development of the epidemic in novel coronavirus, the number of infected people is also increasing, and people's awareness of protection is also increasing. Basically, 9 people in 10 wear masks.
Therefore, the demand for masks is increasing, and even many people can't buy masks. Even pharmacies and online stores are out of stock. In this case, many people try their best to get masks. For people who don't have enough masks, even a mask can be used for several days.
So how many days can I wear a mask?
As we all know, medical masks are disposable products and cannot be reused. If used repeatedly, it is easy to cause infection. However, in view of the recent shortage of masks, it is undoubtedly a waste to use them once according to the standard. We can see whether the mask can be reused according to the environment in which it is used.
Under what circumstances can I reuse the mask? Jin Xiangyu, a researcher at the Textile College of Donghua University, said that under normal circumstances, it is no problem to use disposable masks that meet the standards for two or three times. This situation mainly means that in most life scenes such as non-medical institutions and non-epidemic areas, such masks can be used two or three times, "but it is not recommended to use N times".
For example, under the conditions of walking inside and outside the community, going out to buy food, taking out garbage and so on. When I get home, I can take off the mask and put it in a ventilated environment to dry or dry the water naturally to prevent the accumulation of flora on the surface, so that I can use it again.
Under what circumstances can't I reuse the mask? When we go to a medical institution to see a doctor or visit patients, or in epidemic areas and crowded places, such as stations and other places, the masks used in these environments cannot be reused, but should be used once according to the use standards. Because these places are places with more viruses, masks are easy to carry viruses, and repeated use is easy to cause infection.
What about the used masks? How to dispose of used masks is also a problem that we should pay attention to. After all, masks are also dangerous to potential viruses, and improper handling is particularly prone to virus infection. There are also some ways to dispose of used masks online, but some methods are not desirable, such as scalding them with boiling water, cutting them open with scissors and throwing them away. This method is easy to make hands touch the surface of the mask and easily cause infection.
The correct treatment method is to take off the mask without touching the surface of the mask, put the mask in a sealed bag and put it in a special recycling box for centralized treatment by the relevant departments. Generally speaking, masks can help us effectively prevent virus infection. At this tense moment, you must remember to wear a mask and wash your hands after handling the mask to further avoid virus infection.
A mask won't last for a few days. After being used once, it should be disposed of and thrown away. It is best not to reuse it.
Masks have become a hot commodity recently. It is something we should do consciously when traveling, not only for ourselves, but also for the health of others.
Can I use the mask all the time or wear it for a few more days before throwing it away? The answer is yes and no.
Some people think that ordinary masks can only be used once, but medical masks are special masks, which have good effects and can be worn several times. This understanding is wrong. The difference between medical masks and ordinary masks refers to the difference of use effect, not the difference of use time and frequency. Even the N95 mask should not be used repeatedly, let alone worn for several days.
Why is it not recommended to reuse masks?
Because there are many bacteria and germs left on the mask after use, it is difficult for us to thoroughly clean these residual bacteria and germs by simple methods. Most germs need continuous high temperature to be completely solved, and we ordinary people do not have the conditions to create continuous high temperature. Simple boiling water, soaking and other short-term high temperatures can only drive away some germs, and it is impossible to completely disinfect masks. It is not safe to wear it after such a simple treatment.
Some people think that it is not cheap to buy masks now, because of economic considerations. It is a pity to throw it only once, and it is also a waste of money. So they are reluctant to throw it and want to use it several times. This idea is absolutely unacceptable. The purpose of wearing masks is to isolate germs and ensure our health. This is a necessary investment, and we should not feel sad. We should have a correct and clear choice between money and health.
So, what should I do with the used masks?
First of all, in order to prevent some people from recycling and selling the masks discarded by everyone, we should deliberately destroy the masks before discarding them, so that they can't be used again.
Secondly, masks used by different people have different treatment methods.
1, a mask for ordinary people
We usually use masks, just fold them from the inside out, then put them in plastic bags to seal them, tie them tightly, throw them into garbage bags, and then throw them into harmful garbage bins. The garbage collector will treat the classified garbage in a centralized and professional way.
2. Masks used by patients with respiratory diseases
The masks used by such people should be placed in the trash can covered with garbage bags, covered, sprayed or drenched with 75% medical alcohol or 5% 84 disinfectant until they are completely wet, and then the mouth of the garbage bag is tied tightly and thrown into the harmful trash can.
3. Use masks in hospitals and accompanying or visiting people.
The masks used by all people who appear in medical institutions are relatively simple to handle, because medical institutions are equipped with garbage bins or garbage bags to hold medical waste. All you have to do is throw your used masks into these exclusive trash cans or garbage bags, and the medical institutions will handle them uniformly.
In short, any mask is not suitable for repeated use, and it must be disposed of once. But don't throw it away at will, and treat it according to the correct mask treatment method.
If surgical masks are used in hospitals, they need to be replaced every 2 to 4 hours.
We ordinary people can't guarantee that there are pathogens or saliva pollution, and it doesn't matter after a long time.
If it is a n95 mask, it can still be worn for a few days when it is dried in a ventilated place.
Since the appearance of novel coronavirus, the supply of masks has been in short supply. If you want to buy masks, you need to make an appointment in advance. Some merchants only sell 1 10,000 masks every day, but the number of people who make an appointment has reached 2 million. It stands to reason that disposable masks can only be used once, but under the present circumstances, masks can also be reused. How many times can I use the mask? How to deal with used masks is more hygienic?
There are two modes of transmission in COVID-19: droplet transmission and close contact transmission, among which droplet transmission is more important. Wearing a mask can cut off the route of droplet transmission. It is common sense to wear a mask when going out. Among these common masks, N90 masks are in short supply and are mainly provided for medical staff. Ordinary people can wear disposable masks in public places where crowds are not particularly dense.
Disposable masks, according to the previous method, are only used once. Now some people don't have extra masks and try their best to keep them. Disposable masks are a prerequisite for reuse. For example, the mask can be used for a short time, only one hour after going out, or the inside of the mask is relatively clean, so the mask can be reused, and the number of times of reuse is limited, and it cannot exceed four times.
When you take off the mask, you should take it off with your hands and put it in a ventilated place to dry. Try not to use disinfectant. The disposal method of discarded masks is relatively simple. Wrap the discarded mask in a clean plastic bag and put it in the trash can. The trash can at home should be disinfected every day, and the garbage should be cleaned every day. Don't let these rubbish stay at home for the night, so as not to breed bacteria.
1, a mask can't be worn for a whole day. Medical surgical masks can only be worn for four hours. Once the N95 mask is found to be damaged, the resistance increases and it is obviously wet and dirty, so it should be replaced in time. Contact with confirmed patients should also be replaced after leaving the polluted environment.
2. In addition, it is not necessary to wear several layers of masks at a time, as long as you wear medical masks or N95 masks correctly. For virus prevention, it is mainly to see the tightness of the mask and whether it is worn correctly. As long as you wear a mask correctly, you can achieve the expected protective effect. On the contrary, the superposition of multiple masks can not only increase the protective effect, but may aggravate the poor breathing, reduce the tightness of the masks, and ultimately fail to achieve the protective effect. Three masks that I usually use,
3. Used masks are also very important in handling. Pay attention to handling used masks: used masks are covered with bacteria and viruses. Don't throw them away at will! Don't touch the outer surface of the mask when you take it off, because you may infect yourself. If you are a patient, don't touch the inner surface of the mask when you take it off, because it may infect others. Don't touch the inner surface of masks used by others, because cross infection may occur. Don't put the mask directly in your bag or pocket after you take it off, because there may be a risk of persistent infection. It is not recommended for individuals to burn used masks, because it may pollute the environment and cause potential safety hazards. It is not recommended to cut off the used masks and throw them away, because there may be a great risk of infection. How to properly dispose of discarded masks? Only four steps are needed:
First, folding: distinguish the front and back, fold the short side in half to avoid touching the contaminated surface with your hands.
Second, fold again: fold the long side in half again;
Third, binding: binding and shaping with ear hooks;
4. Packaging: put it into sealed garbage bags or fresh-keeping bags and put it into hazardous wastes.
Special reminder: People with fever, cough, expectoration and sneezing symptoms, or those who have come into contact with such people, please use 5% 84 disinfectant according to the ratio of 1:99, sprinkle it on the mask, and then dispose of it. Remember to wash your hands after taking the mask.
How many days do you wear a mask? What should I do after use?
There are many kinds of masks, which are generally divided into three categories:
1, ordinary cotton mask, 2, medical surgical mask, 3, anti-particle mask, cotton mask can be used repeatedly by ordinary people after cleaning. Disposable masks are usually discarded once every 4-6 hours or replaced once a day. After use, it is recommended to wrap it in a plastic bag and throw it into a covered trash can. It's best to chop it up and throw it into the trash can to prevent it from being picked up and reused by black-hearted people [wit]
If it is not the current epidemic, then many people may not wear masks at ordinary times. Due to the sudden outbreak of the epidemic, all localities often take temporary emergency measures according to local actual conditions. As far as my city is concerned, about 30 years ago, people began to pay more attention to the epidemic. Prior to this, some people had a general understanding of the epidemic through some channels and made protection in advance. My girlfriend went to the drugstore to buy a bunch of masks around the 27th of the twelfth lunar month. At that time, the drugstore owner was still wondering how to buy so many masks at once. However, after only two or three days, masks became a tight commodity. At present, with the development of the epidemic, the shortage of masks can be said to be not a day or two.
Masks can isolate bacteria, viruses, smog and dust floating in the air from the human respiratory tract. Judging from the use of masks, there are two main aspects: antibacterial and antivirus; Anti-smog dust. Therefore, there are two kinds of special masks: medical masks to prevent bacteria and viruses and industrial masks to prevent smoke and dust. Of course, general masks will have this function at the same time, but medical masks will emphasize the functions of anti-bacteria and anti-virus, and industrial masks will emphasize the functions of anti-fog and dust prevention. Therefore, if you are interested in donating masks to medical staff who are fighting the epidemic, please remember that the N95 and KN95 models only indicate that the products can reach the standard of "effectively filtering 95% of particles" in American or national standards. As for the specific industrial or medical use, you need to look at the certification number printed on the mask.
Medical surgical masks usually need to be replaced every 2 to 4 hours, which is basically disposable. This is because there are relatively many viruses in the hospital environment, especially when the epidemic situation is serious, the masks of the first-line medical staff who directly contact the confirmed patients must not be reused. At present, some policies issued by various localities have called on leading cadres in party member not to wear medical N95 masks, but to give priority to the distribution of special medical masks to front-line medical personnel. This is because the working environment of front-line medical staff is very strict with masks. So is it necessary for us ordinary people to wear medical masks? In fact, we ordinary people live in a fundamentally different environment from the medical staff who are fighting in the front line of the epidemic.
Now there is a slogan "I am proud of my home, I am a national mask". This slogan may not be absolutely correct, but masks are not a necessity at home. The protective effect of medical masks is indeed better than that of ordinary masks, but in fact, the viruses we face in our daily life environment are not as many as those of frontline medical staff. We have a preconceived idea that the ones with good protective effect are the most suitable for us. However, it is obviously unrealistic to ensure that 654.38+04 billion compatriots in China wear medical masks. At present, the "Technical Guide for the Selection and Use of Masks" officially issued by the state lists the scope of low-risk exposed personnel: indoor activities at home, scattered residence; Outdoor activists, including children and students in open places/venues; Workers in a well-ventilated workplace. If we meet these characteristics, then we can actually save masks.
Specifically: in fact, you don't have to wear a mask at home, but you must wear a mask when you go out in the current epidemic. So how can we save the mask at this time? In fact, for most of us, used masks can actually be reused. Under normal circumstances, it is no problem to use disposable masks that meet the standards for two or three times, but it is not recommended to use them more than five times. Take off your mask after going home under the conditions of walking around inside and outside the community, going out to buy food, taking out garbage and so on. And put it in a ventilated environment to dry naturally or dry the water in it, and at the same time prevent the accumulation of flora on the surface, so that the treated mask can be used again. It is best to put the mask into a sanitary and airtight "closed bag" for storage. Strictly speaking, every reuse of a mask will weaken its protective function. However, in the current state of scarce masks, a healthy person can reuse them in a low-risk environment, but it is not recommended to reuse them more than five times.
What about masks that can no longer be used? Generally speaking, just fold it from the inside out and put it in a plastic bag, then seal the plastic bag tightly and throw it into the trash can for centralized treatment by the relevant garbage disposal institutions. If the mask has been used by patients with respiratory diseases, it is best to put it in a garbage can covered with garbage bags. It is best to spray or pour it with 75% medical alcohol or 5% 84 disinfectant until it is completely wet, then tie the mouth of the garbage bag and throw it into a harmful garbage can. It should be noted that the above treatment methods are aimed at ordinary people in low-risk environment, but if you have been to a hospital where viruses may exist, it is another matter-in this case, it is not recommended to reuse masks. Medical institutions have specially classified medical trash cans, so it is best to throw masks used in hospital environment into specially designated trash cans.
In addition, we also need to pay attention to the way of wearing masks, because incorrect wearing methods will affect the protective effect of masks. The correct way to wear it is to wear the darker color outwards, wear the lighter color for yourself, and wear the part with metal strips on the nose. Let the nose and chin fit the mask. When taking off the mask, be careful not to touch the inner and outer surfaces of the mask with your hands, just take off the "ear hook". You should try to choose a relatively safe space in your home and avoid picking up masks in high-risk pollution areas. Don't put the mask directly in your pocket or bag to avoid increasing the risk of infection. It is suggested to "fold from the inside out" and put it in a self-sealing bag for storage. Everyone should wear their own masks, don't mix masks with their families, try to avoid touching masks used by others and avoid cross-infection.
The unexpected arrival of novel coronavirus has seriously threatened people's health. Without effective treatment, prevention is very important. Avoid going to crowded places, reduce the chance of infection, wash your hands frequently, put an end to contact infection and wear a mask.
The virus not only affects our oral cavity and nasal mucosa. It is spread by droplets produced by coughing, sneezing and talking loudly by patients or virus carriers. It is also the main mode of transmission in novel coronavirus. How big is the water drop? Water particles larger than 0.5um in diameter will not turn and spread in a straight line like pathogens. Then, the mask has become the most powerful weapon to stop droplets!
Not all masks can be used. Medical experts recommend medical surgical masks and N95 masks, and there is also an ordinary medical mask, which has a low level of protection and is not recommended, but it is actually used a lot. There is not much difference in appearance between medical masks and medical surgical masks, but the standards are different and the word "surgery" on the packaging is different.
The outermost layer of surgical mask is waterproof, the middle layer is a filter layer, and the innermost layer is a water-absorbing layer. They are dark outside and light inside. Some people say that sometimes it is wrong to wear it straight, and sometimes it is wrong to wear it backwards. Some people wear masks without covering their nostrils, just like not wearing them, just for decoration.
So, how long does it take to wear a mask? N95 mask is recommended to be used for 8 hours. Surgical masks are disposable. I didn't find out how long they were used and whether they were disposable. That is to say, the N95 mask can't meet the protection standard after being used for more than 8 hours, so it can't be reused once.
The epidemic was fierce and there was a sudden shortage of protective equipment. Some people say that alcohol, ultraviolet rays and high temperature should be eliminated and reused. Maybe it's better than nothing! How to deal with abandoned masks? There is also no requirement to spray disinfectant, seal it with plastic bags and discard it. If it can be damaged, it's best to cut it off to prevent someone from using it again! What other methods are there?
Under the haze, there is still a little starlight!
On the wasteland, there is still a flame of hope!
I'm Dr. @ Liu Yongyi, thank you for reading!
Faced with this imbalance between supply and demand, some people will think, "How long can a mask last? Can I stay a few more days? " Here is Dr. Liu to answer your questions:
First, medical surgical masks can only be used for 2-4 hours!
Medical surgical masks are the most commonly used masks at present, and can also be bought in some pharmacies. This mask can be used for general protection, but remember that it can only be used for 4 hours at most. Moreover, if the mask comes into contact with water or you sweat too much and get it wet, you should change it immediately. At this time, the mask will not play a protective role! A friend said I would wear it for two hours. Can I use it for another two hours when I go out tomorrow? I can't! First of all, it's dangerous for you to wear it out and take it home for safekeeping until tomorrow! ! ! Please take off your mask every time you go home, and don't wear it again. Because this mask is likely to carry a virus.
Second, N95 masks can be worn for a long time, but not more than 8 hours!
N95 mask is a must for front-line medical staff, and its protective effect is very good. But, to be honest, wearing this mask will really affect breathing. If you don't contact high-risk patients and go to crowded places, Dr. Liu suggested that you don't need to wear this mask, but wear a common medical surgical mask. Of course, in this special period, don't go out without going out. Isn't it good to stay at home with your parents or children?
Third, how to deal with the used masks?
Remember never to touch any "face" of the used mask! Grab the strap of the mask by hand, take it off slowly and throw it into the trash can! If you have alcohol or 84 disinfectant at home, please spray it on it.
I would like to remind you that you should never take off your mask and put it in your pocket, trouser pocket or even bag after you go home! ! ! Even without a mask, this behavior is unacceptable! This is too dangerous! Think about it, if the virus sticks to the outside of the mask when you go out, then you take it down and put it in your pocket and bag, and then you reach for the mask with your hand, isn't that contact with the virus? !