Because of recent news, we have seen an unnecessary increase in the use of face masks in our immediate environment. There are shortages, and those who need them (a person with immunodeficiency, for example) have trouble getting them.
As there are some confusion and a lot of over-information, we want to explain, as we have said before, only in the case that it is strictly necessary, the different types that exist, and their use in a hospital environment.
How Can We Check The Correct Fit Of The Mask
It is important that the cotton mask (หน้ากาก ผ้า which is the term in Thai) is appropriate for the risk against which we protect ourselves, and that it adjusts to our physical characteristics. It must be appropriate to our physiognomy, to our face, and it must fit perfectly to prevent air that may be contaminated from passing between our face and the mask, avoiding filter material that would prevent us from being exposed to risk.
It is very important to raise awareness about checking for a good fit on the mask because if it does not fit well, it does not protect. We must, therefore, be able to sensitize those responsible or managers to take into account:
- The level of protection of the person based on their physical characteristics
- The selection of the equipment that best suits the user in terms of sizes and models
- The importance of a correct fit through a fit test
What Adjustment Methods Do We Know
Qualitative Method: the worker will be exposed to a certain product and is based on the user’s senses.
Quantitative Method: using a quantitative method, we will measure the possible leaks of the equipment.
Both methods check the fit by performing 7 exercises of one minute each, which are:
- Breathe normally
- Breath deeply
- Shake your head from side to side
- Move your head up and down
- Read or speak aloud
- Flex the body at the waist
- Breathe normally again
Taking into account that the qualitative method depends on the perceptions of the individual, it is preferable always to be able to perform the test using a quantitative method.
