The mask-wearing becomes compulsory from Monday, may 11, in the transport, but it may also be required in many places confined. This new requirement should not however be taken lightly, at the risk of making the mask useless, or even dangerous.
Whether they are surgical or " general public ", the rules are strictly the same, and we will have to adopt new habits to get the most benefit. As everyone knows, a mask is a filter used to retain particles to the outside, that is to say, viruses, bacteria and some pollutants.
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If you have a surgical mask, you will notice that one side is colored – blue or green – it is the outer part of the mask. This colored area will be the one that will pick up any viruses, or bacteria, thus they should never manipulate this area with the hands. For the masks for the " general public ", the reasoning is identical, it is always necessary to manipulate the mask by its elastic, as well to put that to remove it. As soon as this principle of the manipulation of the mask is acquired, it remains only to observe a number of rules to ensure that its efficiency is maximum.
Here are the 10 essential things to know about wearing a mask :
Wash your hands before putting on a mask and after having it removed. At the time of the set up, if your hands are dirty, even if they carry the virus, you run the risk of soiling the inside of the mask and to find you in direct contact with the virus.Wash your hands after removing the mask, if you have cross-infected persons asymptomatic of the virus, it is quite possible that the outer part of the mask is contaminated, and at any moment you might hit the virus with your fingers.Do not wear the same mask more than 4 hours straight. Beyond this period, the mask loses its power of filtration because of moisture generated by the respiration. Any fabric mask worn in excess of 4 hours must be washed, and surgical masks should be discarded.Do not reuse a mask already worn, even for a few minutes. The surgical masks should be discarded as soon as they have been used once, and the masks in the fabric must be washed. Some models sold in the trade are designed to undergo a limited number of washings, be thorough on the point, once this number is exceeded, the mask loses its effectiveness.Do not touch your mask once it is in place. If to eat or to drink, you set it on the chin, on an ear or on the nose, it becomes ineffective, or even dangerous.Do not wear the mask in the car if you are alone, there is no need to protect you in an environment devoid of viruses and spoil the masks so difficult to find.Do not put your mask under the chin. It is a cliché to become very common, drivers up to certain physicians to the tv. In effect, if the virus gets on your chin when you are wearing it correctly the mask, you run the risk of soiling the inside of the mask in the down under the chin, and then inhale the virus when you return the mask in place.Do not place the mask under the nose, if you are faced with a sick person, you will not be protected. The mask must cover the nose, mouth, and down under the menton.De many masks are equipped with a tongue rigid on the edges, this strip must be fitted on the nose to make the mask the more air-tight as possible.If you are sick and you cough a lot, change your mask more often. The cough repeated will cause a moistening faster the mask will lose all the more quickly its power filter and protector.If the port mask is essential in the fight that we are fighting against the Covid-19, it does not exempt to comply with social distancing and gestures barriers. In addition, it is desirable, as long as the virus is active in your department, wearing the mask not only in confined spaces, but also in the street when the human traffic is intense and in stores, including those who do not impose.
* Stéphane Demorand is a masseur-physiotherapist.
