Sep 29, 2020 12:20:33 PM / by Freya Stevenson

Face Masks

As we are making our way through fall and into winter, many of us are getting worn down by all the talk, and sad news, about COVID-19.  And we completely understand! It’s an exhausting, and sometimes upsetting, topic that has lasted for months. We, like you, just want everything to go back to normal.

As a safety company, we want to remind everyone to stay strong and that we are here to help make your lives safer.  Not only are we here to help keep you, your employees, and/or visitors safe, but we care about your personal health as well. This is why we believe in providing our employees with masks and the proper PPE to help prevent the spread of this virus!

The virus can be spread even before symptoms, such as coughing, sneezing, or even speaking within a close range of one another, appear. However, wearing a mask can significantly help reduce the spread of this virus. For example, if you are sick, wearing a mask can help keep your germs from infecting others. If you’re healthy, a mask can help keep germs from others who might be sick from infecting you. This, combined with social distancing and frequent handwashing or use of hand sanitizer, will be important in limiting the spread of this virus as we continue to return to our regular lives.

According to the CDC, masks are recommended as a simple barrier to help prevent respiratory droplets from traveling into the air and onto other people. This barrier is helpful when the person wearing the mask coughs, sneezes, or even talks. This is called source control. This recommendation is based on what we know about the role respiratory droplets play in the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, paired with emerging evidence from clinical and laboratory studies which show masks reduce the spray of droplets when worn over the nose and mouth. The virus spreads mainly among people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet), so the use of masks is particularly important in settings where people are unable to social distance from each other properly.

To help make sure you are properly protected, here are a few things you should know when it comes to wearing a mask or cloth face covering:

  • Choose a mask that doesn’t have a valve or other openings in it.
  • Make sure it covers your face from the bridge of your nose down to your chin.
  • Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face, making sure there are no gaps.
  • Make sure you can breathe easily through it.
  • Wash it regularly using water and a mild detergent; dry it completely in a hot dryer; store it in a clean container or bag.

Those, per the CDC, who are exempt from wearing a masks include:

  • Children younger than 2 years old
  • Anyone who has trouble breathing
  • Anyone who is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance

Wearing a mask may not completely keep you from catching the virus, but it will help lower the odds. Masks are most essential in times when social distancing is difficult. If masks cannot be used, make sure to take other measures to reduce the risk of spread, including social distancing, frequent hand washing (for at least 20 seconds), and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces. For more information about the proper use of masks, you can visit the CDC website.

Freya Stevenson

Written by Freya Stevenson

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