Masks for the face (medical): types and applications

Today we will talk about medical face masks. We will find out what they are, how and how much they need to be worn, and whether there is any benefit from them. Read all about this in the article below.

Medical face masks

A medical mask is an individual remedy for protecting respiratory organs from viruses and bacteria that are transmitted by airborne droplets. They are disposable and reusable, but the first option is more common.

Disposable medical face masks are a bandage that is worn on the face, covering the mouth and nose. Most often it has 3 or 4 layers. Keeps on the face thanks to the tie at the back or at the expense of elastic loops, which are worn on the ears.

History of occurrence

Yes, a medical face mask also has a history of its origin. It is believed that the first such mask appeared in Europe in the Middle Ages, when the epidemic of bubonic plague was rampant in the yard. Called her at that time "The plague doctor's mask." At that time, it looked rather strange, but despite all that it was still practical. The beak, that is, the front part of the mask, was filled with medicinal herbs or aromatic salts in order to protect the smell of the doctor from the pungent smells of rotting flesh, and also to create an antibacterial environment inside the mask. The mask was put on the whole face, and the eye holes were covered with glass.

In the XIX century, doctors began using woolen dressings with a valve. They were replaced by awesome masks from the Middle Ages. Medical face masks in the modern form appeared only at the beginning of the last century. This happened when Schroeder proved the effectiveness of cotton filters for air purification. The evidence was based on Louis Pasteur's research on the spread of microorganisms. A special spread of the mask was obtained when a deadly epidemic of influenza broke out - "Spaniards". Already by the 20s of the last century, the use of gauze bandages by medical personnel became mandatory.

In the modern world, disposable dressings are most often used, which are made of non-woven materials.

Kinds

There are several types of medical masks for the face. Their main classification concerns the purpose. There are procedural (everyday) and specialized (surgical) masks. Procedural masks have 3 layers, are made of non-woven fabric for one-time use. They have a filter in the middle and 2 outer layers. Depending on the size, there are medical children's face masks and adults. They are used in polyclinics, hospitals and public places.

Specialized masks are those that consist of 4 layers, and in addition to 2 outer layers and a filter, they have an anti-fluid layer. It protects the face from the biological fluids that are involved during the operation. Such masks can be with or without a screen. They are used only for conducting operations.

Another mask is divided into sterile and non-sterile. The latter are most often used in everyday life. Since the material is in contact with the outer layer of the skin, additional disinfection is not necessary. Sterile masks are applicable in laboratories, operating rooms, etc. Under normal conditions, it is not advisable to use sterile masks, since they instantly lose their properties.

Material

In the Middle Ages, masks from which only they were not made. Then it was time for the wool. But the masks of this material did not last long. To date, masks are made of non-woven materials, which consist of polymer fibers.

What does it consist of?

Medical facial masks have 2 outer layers, which are their skeleton. Also there is a filter that is located between the layers. Then comes the anti-fluid layer, but it is only in surgical masks. There is a nasal fixator, a breech loop or an elastic band, a nose clip and an anti-fluid shield, which is only available in specialized masks.

How much to wear?

Wearing the mask lasts 2-6 hours. In many ways, the time interval depends on the conditions of the external environment. Experts recommend wearing masks for no more than 2 hours during epidemics or health facilities. Masks that are used to protect against anthropogenic environmental factors can be worn for 3-6 hours.

Many are wondering about which side of the face to wear a medical mask. So, you need to wear them white side to face. You can orient on the ear loop or eyeballs: they are on the side that should touch the face.

Efficiency

Want to know what is called a face mask? This is what is called. If you thought that the correct name was "respirator", then you were wrong. Medical masks are often confused with those used to protect against air pollution. By the way, many studies have shown that masks are effective only when they fit tightly to the face along the entire perimeter and do not allow air to pass through. If air is leaking, then the desired effect will not be achieved. Even through a small gap, up to 50% of all air that a person inhales can seep. That's why for a serious protection against microorganisms it is better to use RPD - a technical means of respiratory protection.

The effectiveness of masks was questioned after it was proven that surgical masks and respirators do not protect the doctor from getting harmful substances into the eyes. Specialists, in this case also strongly recommend the use of RPE.

At the same time, research scientists have not yet discovered a big difference between health workers who wore respiratory masks and those who wore surgical masks. The level of their morbidity was the same. The fluctuations were quite insignificant, although the characteristics of the protective elements differed greatly.

It is believed that surgical masks are not suitable for protecting respiratory organs from air pollution. But at the same time they can reduce the risk of harmful substances entering the air from a sick person, therefore they should be used to protect the health of the surrounding people.

In Russia there are no clear and scientifically grounded recommendations on the use and selection of personal protective equipment. Respirators were practically aligned with ordinary masks, which even in their design are not designed to protect the human respiratory system from contaminated air (it is impossible to achieve a close fit to the face, there is no verification of the material used for filtration).

Summing up the article, I would like to say that medical face masks are inexpensive personal protective equipment, which is better to have with you always. Absolute protection such a mask can not guarantee, but the risk of contracting something will decrease many times. It is not so important whether there have been any studies on this or not, because the health of every person is in his own hands. The main thing to remember is that if there is an opportunity to protect yourself, it is better to do it than to regret it later. Security measures - first of all.