All You Need To Know About Face Mask Protection

Ever since the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, the CDC has made certain recommendations of wearing masks as general protection against the spread of the virus. In addition to this, CDC also recommends social distancing as an imperative part of containing the spread of COVID-19 disease. However, as people are getting vaccinated, there is rising confusion and distrust in using face masks as a form of primary protection. In response to this, CDC still continues to monitor the spread and asserts the initial recommendation of wearing face masks as primary protection.

How important is it to wear face masks?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the chances of the virus transmitting to others are high even if the person shows no signs and symptoms of COVID-19. Therefore, wearing masks has proven to be an effective way to control the spread of the virus. Although face masks may or may not meet any fluid barrier or filtration efficiency levels, it is still important that the face should be covered, especially the nose and the mouth. 

Among all the types of face masks and protection available in the market, cloth masks are a mild protective gear in terms of fluid barriers, whereas the N95 respirator provides higher respiratory protection to the wearer than cloth masks. Hence, even with the limited evidence supporting the effectiveness of the cloth masks, these items provide significant protection from germs, fluid exchange, and even the virus. Therefore, the CDC and WHO share a unanimous opinion that the widespread use of face masks might help to slow the spread of Covid-19.

What are different types of masks and their effectiveness?

• Medical masks, also known as surgical masks are loose-fitting disposable face protection. Originally designed to protect the wearer from the contact of germs and droplets, a medical mask should only be worn for a short period of time as they are loose in form-fitting and may not provide long-term protection or in highly contagious environments.

• Cloth Masks. These masks are intended to trap respiratory droplets when the wearer talks, coughs or sneezes. Therefore, it is only effective if made of multiple layers and a tightly woven fabric such as cotton. Cloth masks are safe to be worn by healthy and fully vaccinated individuals in non-congested environments. 

• N95 Respirators. These offer the highest form of protection than medical and cloth masks and covers the contours of the face, Its full-coverage filters out both large and small particles as the wearer inhales. Initially, these masks were in short supply, so the CDC recommended that these should be reserved for healthcare professionals only. However, now that these masks are abundant in supply, they are advised to be worn by people showing mild symptoms of flu or COVID-19.

Evidently, there are a number of benefits that face mask protection can provide to the wearer and to those around them. Hence, it’s essential to practice proper care in wearing and removing face masks to ensure proper protection. 

Elite Medical Accessories offers industry-grade face protection accessories in the form of surgical masks, 3 ply masks for children, and N95 respirators. Visit our website or reach out to our team to buy the highest-quality face protection accessories for your medical facility.

What to consider when choosing disposable sleeves for medical professionals?

Healthcare workers are often at risk of exposure to biological fluids that are capable of transmitting diseases. As they often treat patients with various diseases, extra precautions need to be taken when treating patients with high-risk conditions such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Ebola Virus, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). It can pose significant risks to the lives and health of healthcare workers. Thus, healthcare institutes regularly need to stock up on face masks, gloves, polypropylene sleeves, and other PPE gear as required to ensure the protection of medical professionals.

The disposable arm sleeves play a critical role in protecting the medical professionals against contaminants by acting as a layer of protective barrier for the forearm. Therefore, most healthcare organizations need to buy polypropylene sleeves in bulk to ensure sufficient supply. Protective sleeves can be either worn over bare skin or over the clothing. They are most frequently used when medical professionals need to work in an environment where there is an increased risk of contaminant fluids spraying or spurting accidentally, which could compromise their safety. Therefore, they must be made from cut-resistant material to avoid abrasions and cuts and provide an extra layer of protection. But at the same time, it is crucial to buy breathable disposable sleeves, which is why polypropylene is a popular choice.

Polyethylene sleeves are highly effective in protecting against water-based liquids and significantly reduce particulate release. The particulate release is a significant threat in the medical setting as it puts the health of healthcare workers at great risk. Thus, these sleeves are commonly used by cleaning professionals, surgical teams, and labs where splash protection is necessary. Extra-thick Vinyl protective sleeves are also a popular choice for medical professionals who require more protection against body fluids, chemicals, and abrasions. 

Following are a few things to consider when choosing disposable sleeves for medical professionals:

1. The risk exposure must be estimated accurately to select the right protective sleeves for different medical professionals working in various medical settings as there are no one-size-fits-all. 

2. The sleeves must be well fitted, and the size selection should be accurate as loose-fitting or tight-fitting sleeves may increase the risk of exposure or make it hard for them to operate with full mobility.

3. The ease or difficulty with which polypropylene sleeves are put on and removed should also be considered as medical professionals often have to get ready fast for medical procedures.

4. The fabric strength and durability need to be assessed.

5. Healthcare organizations must source FDA-approved gloves and sleeves from reputed suppliers for the use of medical professionals.

All of the available information, including potential limitations, needs to be carefully reviewed when selecting the most appropriate protective sleeves. If you are looking to buy a bulk supply of high-quality, medical-grade, breathable disposable sleeves, get in touch with our team for expert assistance.