The best face masks for the cold
People who are actively involved in sports are more likely to expose their skin to low temperatures. For face protection, the following equipment options are suitable:
- balaclava,
- snood,
- mask,
- buff,
- increasing endurance.
The balaclava effectively protects the face from the headwind, since it is completely covered with a cloth. Only the slits for the eyes are visible. There are models with a slit for the mouth. It is considered a lightweight option. Use at temperatures up to -35 degrees is actual. If the temperature is even lower, then an insulated balaclava must be used. The model is equipped with a special water-repellent layer.
The mask will help keep the neck and part of the face warm up to the beginning of the nose. There is a hole for the mouth. The equipment must be tight to the skin
It is recommended to pay special attention to models made of polyester and spandex. Additionally has a fleece lining to protect the face
For lovers of active winter recreation, the buff will be the best protection. The outfit has the shape of a transformer. Can be worn around the neck, leaving the face open, or raised up to the nose, protecting the lower part of the face.
Snood is a lightweight design with no additional features. With an active lifestyle, you can use a sports version where polycolon or wool is used. Optimal conditions for use are temperatures not lower than -40 degrees.
Structures that increase endurance during physical activity are relevant not only for athletes, but also for everyday use. They effectively protect the skin from cold and excess moisture in the air.
How long can the mask be worn and is it possible to extend the period of use or restore the mask
Separately: a) how long can masks be worn ?; b) can they be reused ?; c) can they be washed and sterilized?
FFP1-FFP3 respirators are designed to work effectively for 2-4-6 hours. Masks are gradually moistened and lose their filtration ability - the filter retains particles not only and not so much due to the size of the cells, but due to the effect of electrification, and it leaves with moisture. The maximum allowable time of use is 8 hours, but after 6 hours of use, the efficiency drops rapidly
After use, carefully remove without touching the outer surface and discard. Surgical mask 3-layer - in conditions of viral danger, working time - up to 2 hours
After 2 hours, carefully remove and dispose of
Some respirators FFP1-FFP3 are marked with the letter “R” (for example, FFP3 R). This means that the respirator can be reused, but not under the conditions of use with a virus threat. This refers to work, for example, with asbestos - you left the work area, took off your respirator, had lunch, returned to work and put on the respirator again.
In case of a viral threat, the respirator cannot be reused - it must be disposed of immediately after removal. Removed and disposed of! Surgical masks are even easier - they are disposable: removed and disposed of, take a new one!
Many people ask: why shouldn't respirators be washed and sterilized? The answer lies in the principle of their work - the electrostatic effect (see above point a). When the respirator is moistened, the electrostatic effect is gradually lost and the effectiveness decreases. Therefore, you should never wash respirators! And the last thing is sterilization. Sterilizing is ineffective and useless.
The information was provided by the Department of Life Safety of ETU "LETI" (head of the department V.N.Pavlov) .In the preparation of the analytical review, materials from the article by the author "Pasechnik" were used.
×
Useful page
Useless page
How to use masks
The World Health Organization recommends:
- Wear a mask if you cough or sneeze, or are caring for someone with suspected COVID-19 infection.
- Masks are only effective when used in conjunction with frequent hand cleaning with hand washing alcohol or soap and water.
- Before putting on the mask, wash your hands with an alcohol wipe or soap and water.
- Cover your mouth and nose with the mask and make sure there are no gaps between the face and the mask.
- Avoid touching the mask during use; if you do, wash your hands with alcohol or soap and water.
- Replace the mask with a new one as soon as it becomes wet and do not reuse disposable masks.
- To remove the mask: remove it from the back (do not touch the front of the mask); discard immediately in a covered waste bin; Clean your hands with an alcohol-based handwash or soap and water.
Elena Saratseva adds that it is not necessary to wear a mask outdoors (on the street), if a meeting with potential carriers of the virus is not planned, and at home, if everyone in the family is healthy and is on self-isolation. The mask should be worn for no more than two hours.
When donning, unfold the folds on the mask for a snug fit to the face. If the mask has a nose clip, fit it tightly over the bridge of the nose. If the mask is accidentally dirty, it should be replaced immediately. Use disposable masks once - that's why they are disposable: they lose their properties and sterility and can become a source of infection.
Masks have different levels of protection
Let's start with the highest protection - PAPR (Powered Air-Purifying Respirator)... A device with this degree of protection has a sealed helmet design, in which a complex, combined and very expensive inlet filter purifies the air and protects a person from toxic gases, viruses and bacteria. This helmet has a centralized air supply system. In some cases, the breathing mixture may not even be supplied through a filter, but from a separate container with an absolutely clean breathing mixture. The compressor is driven by an electric motor, maintains the required pressure in the breathing zone and delivers completely clean air to the person's face. Great, but not available.
The next level of protection against coronavirus can be considered full face masks with replaceable cartridges... Such face protection will protect a person from getting the virus on the mucous membrane of the eye, and a properly selected cartridge will protect you from inhaling the virus through the nose and mouth. Expensive, therefore only for doctors and researchers.
The simpler protection is masks that are already realistically bought for personal protection, but which do not fully protect the face (eyes open). The class of this protection is half-face respirators (Half-Mask Respirator)... In this case, it is necessary to additionally provide for the protection of the eyes with glasses, and the face with a shield, or a transparent shield with attached glasses, or other combinations of similar protective equipment.
In more detail, it is necessary to dwell on the levels of protection of respirators that can be used against the coronavirus. The abbreviation FFP is used here - an abbreviation for Filtering Face Piece - a filtering half mask. The highest level of protection of such masks, which is able to completely filter out coronavirus - class FFP3! It is this type that is recommended for use by doctors in clinics.
In some countries, in connection with the coronavirus pandemic, it was even banned from selling FFP3 respirators retail. Now respirators of this class are supplied only for the protection of doctors - in hospitals and clinics. Some manufacturers label FFP3 respirators and masks as simply P3. Although this is the same FFP3 with the maximum protection level!
Lower level of protection - at respirators FFP2 (middle level) and FFP1 (low level).These respirators may no longer filter out the coronavirus itself (the size of the coronavirus is smaller than the cells of the filtering system), but will reduce the amount of penetration by creating mechanical problems for particles on their way to the respiratory system. And given the fact that the coronavirus is most often attached to particles that these respirators can easily detain and filter out, the chances of not getting infected are quite high. FFP1 will let more of them, while FFP2 will let them pass a little less. And if you have a choice between FFP1 and FFP2, then FFP2 is the best choice. Simplified marking is also possible here. For example, P2 corresponds to FFP2.
On sale meet respirators or replacement filters for respirators called PM2.5 - they should not be confused with P2 (see above)! The number in the name of such a respirator means the particle size in microns that the filter is able to filter out. In this example, 2.5 microns.
Powered Air-Purifying Respirator
Full face mask with replaceable cartridges
Half-Mask Respirator
FFP3 respirator
FFP2 respirator
FFP1-respirator
Replacement filter for PM2.5 respirators
N95 respirators are manufactured and sold in the USA with filtering capacity for particles larger than 0.3 microns, i.e. with filtering capacities between FFP2 and FFP3 (very good, but not perfect).
The press has recently suggested not to neglect homemade gauze masks. For example, a three-layer surgical mask. Scientists from the University of Edinburgh conducted a study that tested the ability of various masks to cope with filtering particles as small as 0.007 microns (almost 2 orders of magnitude smaller than the size of coronavirus). The results of testing a surgical mask (not home-made, but industrial production) showed that a simple surgical mask delayed 80% (!!!) of test particles! That is, the risk of infection becomes at least 5 times less.
Even the simplest cotton scarf, according to the test results, was able to stop 28% of the particles. Agree - this is much better than nothing. After all, doctors estimate the viral load, and the fewer copies of the virus enter the body, the more efficiently the immune system copes with the task
Therefore, it is important to protect yourself and your family with whatever types of masks are available to you. Even homemade
It's better than doing nothing, and it's smarter!
An important decision was made: the mask is worn not only by those who are sick (and do not want to infect others), but also by those who are healthy and want to maintain this state
Medical masks
Apart from the above-described professional masks and specialized respirators, the most effective means of protection are ordinary medical masks. In everyday life, they are number one. Their effectiveness is verified during state registration through numerous tests.
Medical masks partially protect the user from viruses entering his respiratory tract and serve as a good barrier between the carrier of the virus and the surrounding space.
Modern disposable medical masks are made from a three-layer SMS material that combines layers: spunbond - meltblown - spunbond. SMS is characterized by high absorbent properties, while it does not allow biologically active liquids, chemical compounds, and fats to pass through. The antibacterial properties of SMS are several times higher in comparison with traditional spunbond.
GOST R 58396-2019 describes two types of medical masks, depending on the effectiveness of bacterial filtration.
- Type I medical masks are used at least for patients to reduce the risk of spreading infection, especially during epidemics and pandemics. The effectiveness of such masks not less 95%.
- Type II masks are predominantly used by healthcare professionals in operating theaters or other medical environments with similar requirements. The effectiveness of these masks is not less than 98%.
The second type has a subtype IIR. Masks of this subspecies withstand higher air pressure and resist the spread of splashes
In fact, these are surgical masks: in the operating room, it is especially important that microbes from the doctor's body do not enter the open cavities of the operated person. In addition, such masks are designed to protect the doctor from the patient's fluids entering his respiratory tract.
All of these masks are primarily designed to protect the environment from harmful aerosols and splashes from the mask wearer, not to protect the mask wearer from viruses in the environment.
This is due to both the materials from which the masks are made and the design - the mask does not fit snugly to the face. On the other hand, thanks to the materials of the mask, they still filter out part of the air during inhalation. And this fraction is significantly higher than that of beautiful hygiene masks and spectacular-looking protective equipment, designed to work in an aggressive but bio-safe environment.
The less virus enters the body, the more efficiently the immune system will cope with the task. A medical mask filters out a fair amount of the virus.
“The main thing is to buy a registered medical mask,” says Elena Saratseva, Deputy Head of Roskachestvo. - The name of the product must contain the words "medical mask". The package must have the number of the registration certificate of Roszdravnadzor. Imported medical masks must also have a certificate of state registration from Roszdravnadzor. This is the standard value for a medical device and what sets it apart from other products. "
Remember, the packaging is marked, not the mask itself. The medical mask has a registration certificate (RU), its number is indicated in the marking. According to GOST, the packaging must contain the actual GOST R 58396, the degree of protection (I, II or IIR) and information that EN ISO 15223-1 and EN 1041 are applied. Abroad, the types of protection are indicated differently: N95, N99 - in the USA (Chinese masks are also often marked), FFP1, FFP2 and FFP3 - in Europe. FFP1 protects against 80%, FFP2 protects against 94% and FFP3 protects against 99% of particles. GOST I and II (including IIR) differ in bacterial efficiency: 95 and 98%, respectively. American and European standards speak of the degree of protection against the penetration of particles and more often refer to respirators.
Do not believe in the antimicrobial properties of knitted underwear
Even imposing-looking masks made of thick neoprene (synthetic rubber) or masks with "ion-rich" copper fibers do not protect against viruses.
Neoprene is used in medicine, but as a material for the manufacture of orthopedic products - wherever fixation and support of problem areas of the body is required, as well as in sports medicine for rehabilitation treatment. That is, you will need a neoprene mask if you are recovering from a broken jaw.
Vendors claim that the "copper" masks are safe from germs. However, the virus is not a microbe, but only a fragment of the genetic code. Perhaps the "ionic richness" will help with E. coli, but will not scare off the coronavirus.
Household masks are suitable for riding a motorcycle, bicycle, rollerblading or for jogging, when there is no epidemic, to protect against city dust and partly from exhaust fumes. Fashion designers make such accessories of the youth subculture from materials of colorful colors, with creative prints.