16-Jun--2025
During the season when respiratory infectious diseases are highly prevalent, wearing masks correctly has become one of the important measures in our daily life to prevent the spread of diseases. Here, we will introduce in detail how to use masks scientifically and correctly to help patients and the general public effectively prevent the occurrence of respiratory infectious diseases. Let's take a look together with the author!
I. Understanding respiratory infectious Diseases
Respiratory infectious diseases are a category of diseases that are transmitted through the air, droplets or direct contact, such as influenza and COVID-19. The main transmission routes of this type of disease are airborne and droplet transmission. That is, the pathogen is expelled from the patient's body through coughing, sneezing and other means, suspended in the air, and inhaled by others, causing infection. Therefore, taking good personal protective measures, especially wearing masks correctly, is of vital importance for preventing respiratory infectious diseases.
II. choose the right mask
When preventing respiratory infectious diseases, choosing the right mask is crucial. Currently, the common types of masks available on the market mainly include surgical masks, N95 masks, and ordinary cloth masks, etc. Medical surgical masks: Suitable for general medical environments and daily protection for the general public, they can block most droplets and bacteria and are the basic choice for preventing respiratory infectious diseases. Medical surgical masks generally have a three-layer structure. The outer layer is a water-blocking layer, the middle layer is a filtering layer, and the inner layer is a moisture-absorbing layer. N95 mask: It offers a higher level of protection and is suitable for use by people in high-risk environments or with occupational exposure. N95 masks can filter out at least 95% of non-oily particles, including bacteria and viruses. However, it should be noted that N95 masks have relatively high breathing resistance and are not suitable for long-term wearing, especially for people with weak heart and lung functions. Ordinary cloth masks: Although they can provide a certain degree of shielding, their filtering effect is limited and they cannot effectively block tiny droplets and virus particles. Therefore, when preventing respiratory infectious diseases, it is not recommended to use ordinary cloth masks.
III. Steps for Wearing a Mask Correctly
Wearing a mask correctly not only enhances the protective effect but also ensures the comfort of wearing. Here are the detailed steps for wearing a mask: Clean your hands: Before wearing a mask, be sure to thoroughly clean your hands with running water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. The cleaning of hands is the first step to ensure the effectiveness of wearing a mask. Check the mask: Inspect the expiration date of the mask and whether the outer packaging is intact to ensure that the mask is not contaminated or damaged. At the same time, distinguish the front and back of the mask as well as the upper and lower ends. Generally speaking, the darker side is the front and should face outward. The end with the metal strip is at the top and should be close to the bridge of the nose. Wearing a mask: Unfold the mask to cover your nose, mouth and chin. Make sure the metal strip of the mask is above the bridge of the nose. Press the metal strip with your hand to make it fit tightly against the bridge of the nose. Then, hang the rubber bands on both sides of the mask behind your ears, adjust the position of the mask to ensure it fits your face tightly without any gaps. Check the fit: After wearing a mask, gently blow on it to check its fit. If you feel that gas is leaking from the edge of the mask, you should readjust the position of the mask to ensure that it fits your face completely.
IV. Precautions for Wearing Masks
Avoid touching the mask: After wearing a mask, try to avoid touching the front of the mask to prevent it from being contaminated. If touching is necessary, thoroughly clean your hands before and after touching. Regularly replace masks: It is generally recommended that disposable medical masks and surgical masks be worn for no more than 8 hours in total. For those exposed to occupational conditions, the usage time of masks should not exceed 4 hours. If masks become dirty, deformed, damaged or have an unpleasant smell, they should be replaced in a timely manner. Correct removal of masks: When removing masks, first use both hands to gently take them off from behind your ears or the edge of the mask, avoiding touching the front and inside of the mask. After removing the mask, clean your hands again. Properly store masks: Unused masks should be hung in a clean, dry and well-ventilated place, avoiding direct sunlight and damp environments. For masks with individual packaging, after taking them out, they can be put back into the original packaging bag for storage.
V. Mask-wearing Suggestions for Different Groups of People
Children: Children have smaller face shapes. Masks that suit their face shapes should be chosen to ensure that the masks fit closely to the face. Parents should teach their children the correct way to wear masks and supervise their children's mask-wearing. The elderly and patients with chronic diseases: The physical conditions of the elderly and patients with chronic diseases vary. They may feel uncomfortable when wearing masks. When choosing masks, these groups should pay special attention to the comfort and breathability of the masks. At the same time, if you experience discomfort such as feeling suffocated or short of breath while wearing a mask, you should immediately go to an open and well-ventilated area to remove the mask and seek medical help. Pregnant women: When wearing masks, pregnant women should pay special attention to the comfort of breathing and avoid choosing overly tight masks. Pregnant women should maintain a good schedule and diet to enhance their immunity and prevent the occurrence of respiratory infectious diseases.
VI. Comprehensive Preventive Measures
Wearing masks is only one aspect of preventing respiratory infectious diseases. To more effectively prevent the spread of diseases, we also need to take the following comprehensive preventive measures: Reduce gatherings: During the high-incidence period of respiratory infectious diseases, we should try to avoid going to crowded public places such as shopping malls, cinemas, and public transportation stops to reduce the chance of close contact with potential virus carriers. If it is necessary to go due to work or life requirements, be sure to wear a mask and keep an appropriate social distance in the crowd to reduce the risk of cross-infection. In addition, off-peak travel, online shopping, and remote working are also effective means to reduce gatherings. Boosting immunity: Enhance your immunity by adjusting your diet, engaging in appropriate exercise, and getting sufficient sleep. You can consume more foods rich in protein and vitamins, such as fish, chicken, fresh vegetables, and fruits. Pay attention to personal hygiene: Wash hands frequently and maintain good hand hygiene habits. After returning home from outside, clean your hands promptly with soap or alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Avoid spitting anywhere. Open Windows frequently for ventilation, wash and dry clothes and bedding often, etc. Active treatment: For patients who have already contracted respiratory infectious diseases, they should actively cooperate with doctors for treatment to prevent the disease from being transmitted to others.
VII. Epilogue
Wearing masks correctly is one of the important measures to prevent respiratory infectious diseases. By choosing the right mask, mastering the correct wearing method, paying attention to the details during the wearing process and taking comprehensive preventive measures, we can effectively reduce the risk of infection from respiratory infectious diseases. Let's start from the small things in life and jointly protect the health of ourselves and our families.
