These five ways of wearing it are a big waste of N95 masks!

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2021-06-01

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1. Wearing multiple layers of disposable N95 masks at once is unnecessary—and even harmful: First, it compromises the mask’s seal, making it more prone to leakage; second, it can obstruct breathing, and forcing yourself to inhale deeply may increase your risk of infection. The correct approach is for the general public to simply wear one disposable N95 mask. 2. Discarding a mask after a single use: If you don’t have enough N95 masks at home, there’s no need to change them every four hours or throw them away after just taking a sip of water. The proper practice is to use disposable N95 masks in low-risk settings, and—provided the mask remains clean, structurally intact, and especially with its inner layer free from contamination—it can be reused. 3. Treating with alcohol…

1. Wear multiple layers of N95 masks at once.

In fact, wearing multiple layers of N95 masks at once is unnecessary and can even be harmful: first, it compromises the mask’s seal, making it more prone to leakage; second, it restricts breathing, and forcing yourself to inhale deeply may increase your risk of infection.

Correct approach

For most people, wearing a single N95 mask at a time is sufficient.

2. Use it once and throw it away immediately.

If you don’t have enough N95 masks at home, there’s no need to change them every four hours, nor is it necessary to discard them after just taking a sip of water.

Correct approach

In low-risk settings, single-use N95 masks can be reused, provided they remain clean, structurally intact, and their inner layer remains uncontaminated.

3. Disinfect N95 masks with alcohol.

N95 masks can protect against viruses because viruses are carried in tiny particles formed by liquid droplets, which adhere to the mask. Spraying the surface of an N95 mask with alcohol causes the alcohol to evaporate, taking moisture along with it; when the mask is reused, the detached viral particles may be inhaled.

Correct approach

After removing an N95 mask, if it shows no obvious contamination, simply hang it to air in a clean, well-ventilated area or store it in a clean, breathable paper bag.

4. When removing the N95 mask, the outer surface of the mask was touched.

We block respiratory droplets with an N95 mask, but removing it directly with your hands from the outside effectively opens a pathway for contact transmission. Your hands may become contaminated on the outer surface of the mask, and if you then forget to wash them and touch your nose or rub your eyes, the virus can enter your body unnoticed.

Correct approach

★Hold the ear loops and simply remove the N95 mask.

★ Since the front of an N95 mask is already contaminated, be sure not to touch it when removing the mask.

★ Wash your hands after removing an N95 mask; if handwashing is not feasible, avoid removing the N95 mask whenever possible.

5. Always carry an N95 mask wherever you go.

Whether or not to wear an N95 mask should be determined based on an individual’s risk of exposure to the disease.

Correct approach

★ For healthy adults, if they are alone—such as when driving by themselves, engaging in household activities, or being in an open, well-ventilated space without close contact with others—they may choose not to wear an N95 mask.

★ In elevators, on public transportation, in crowded places such as shopping malls and supermarkets, among individuals who have been in contact with those under home isolation or close contacts, and for those engaged in high-risk occupations, N95 masks must be worn at all times.

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