Mask Wearing This Winter
By Adelaide Keller
By Adelaide Keller
Mask wearing isn’t very fun, especially in the winter, but it is still important. Here are a few tips on mask wearing, especially during the winter.
Change It When It Gets Moist
Often our masks get moist, sometimes from talking, playing in the snow, or just breathing! If this happens, it is important to change your mask. According to the CDC wet masks are, “harder to breathe through”, “less efficient at filtering”, and “vents more around the edges”. When your mask gets wet, you need to change it. Always carry a few dry ones with you - you’ll never know when you need them! When you change, be careful to only touch the elastic loops or strings behind your head, NOT the fabric part covering your mouth and nose, or your face. Put your old mask in a sealed plastic bag, so you can wash it when you get home. If possible, try to wash your hands before taking the old mask off and before putting the new mask on. When you change, make sure you are very far away from people that are not in your household, and are careful not to touch your face. Masks will get wet this winter, it is important to change them when they do.
DON’T Wear Balaclavas, Scarves, Or Ski Masks By Themselves
DO NOT wear balaclavas, scarves, or ski masks as your masks, instead you should wear your mask UNDER them. The CDC says that those three garments “are usually made of loosely knit fabrics not suitable for use as masks.” Balaclavas, scarves, and ski masks can’t protect you, it is important that you wear a mask along with them, not by themselves.
Wear Double Masks (Or Don’t)
There has been a lot of controversy about double masks. They do provide more protection, (somewhat mimicking very effective N95s) but can also be hard to breathe through. If you choose to wear double masks try to wear a surgical mask underneath, and then a snug, multi-layer fabric one on top. The surgical mask is “engineered to repulse the virus” says “How to properly wear a double mask”, a video from the Washington Post. “The cloth mask provides a physical barrier…” according to the video, and should be placed on top. It is up to you if you want to wear double masks, they probably are not a good idea to wear while exercising, but can work well if you are doing light activities.
During the winter some people don’t social distance or wear masks. It is important that you do BOTH of those things, in order to keep yourself and others safe. The pandemic hasn’t ended, but if we stay social distanced and masked while waiting to get our vaccine it can.
Sources Used
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - How to Wear Masks: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-wear-cloth-face-coverings.html
The New York Times - One Mask Is Good. Would Two Be Better?: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/12/health/coronavirus-masks-transmission.html?searchResultPosition=3
The Washington Post - How to properly wear a double mask: https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/national/how-to-properly-wear-a-double-mask/2021/01/28/02ebc2d0-d278-451c-892c-d59d9dc89866_video.html
The Washington Post - Time to double or upgrade masks as coronavirus variants emerge, experts say: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/01/27/double-mask-variants-guidance/
Image: https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/masks-problematic-for-asthmatic-autistic-deaf-and-hard-of-hearing-health-advocates-1.4948802