The proper procedure for an N95 (or similar) is to discard it immediately when leaving the room after contact with a patient. Why? Because the materials accumulated on the exterior of the mask will disperse into the air around you AS YOU BREATH. The above rule was relaxed for medical staff ONLY because of the shortage of masks.
Think about that for a moment. Hospital staff were (and are) running around with the SAME MASK on for hours at a time. Moving from patient to patient, carrying COVID and everything else from room to room.
And you are wearing a cloth mask? A mask that does not meet medical grade specs? For hours. Even days. How often to you bleach that filthy rag on your face?
How many people have you encountered with a blue or white “paper” mask that is VISIBLY DIRTY? Visibly darkened around the mouth and nose as airborne particles settle and stick to the moisture from your exhalations.
Don’t knee-jerk. Stop and THINK. In ALL medical situations until COVID, masks were required to be SINGLE USE for a SINGLE PATIENT. Because using the same mask SPREADS INFECTIONS.
The proper procedure for an N95 (or similar) is to discard it immediately when leaving the room after contact with a patient. Why? Because the materials accumulated on the exterior of the mask will disperse into the air around you AS YOU BREATH. The above rule was relaxed for medical staff ONLY because of the shortage of masks.
Think about that for a moment. Hospital staff were (and are) running around with the SAME MASK on for hours at a time. Moving from patient to patient, carrying COVID and everything else from room to room.
And you are wearing a cloth mask? A mask that does not meet medical grade specs? For hours. Even days. How often to you bleach that filthy rag on your face?
How many people have you encountered with a blue or white “paper” mask that is VISIBLY DIRTY? Visibly darkened around the mouth and nose as airborne particles settle and stick to the moisture from your exhalations.
Don’t knee-jerk. Stop and THINK. In ALL medical situations until COVID, masks were required to be SINGLE USE for a SINGLE PATIENT. Because using the same mask SPREADS INFECTIONS.