Your Guide to Face Coverings & Mask Selection and Use
Masks and other face coverings have become commonplace and oftentimes mandatory for just about everyone protecting themselves from COVID-19. While most understand that science suggests wearing a mask lowers transmission, anything beyond that is the subject of a lot of questions. In what settings is a mask most necessary? Is there a best practice for using a mask? Are some masks better than others?
These questions are especially important for business owners and working professionals, as using masks to lower transmission risk is a matter of both their health and livelihoods. With the stakes this high, it’s essential to know all there is to know about masks before you decide to purchase PPE.
Why Use Face Coverings/Masks?
The first topic to cover is exactly why a mask is so essential for lowering the risk of infection in the first place. COVID-19, like many other viruses, is transferred mainly through microscopic particles. These can travel through the air, but also on various surfaces. Normally, our skin serves as a natural barrier against the different particles. However, other body parts like the eyes, nose, and mouth aren’t nearly as secure.
Many may think that someone needs to sneeze, cough, or breathe heavily on you to expose you to the virus. This isn’t the case.
Say that you work in an office with someone that was infected and no one was wearing a mask. If the infected person coughs on a surface like the copy machine and you touch the copy machine later in the day and then absentmindedly touch your face, you’ve now been exposed to the virus without even realizing it. Situations like this could easily lead to infection. This is the same way that colds, the flu, and other illnesses are passed around a workplace, but COVID-19 is proving to be a lot deadlier.
This combination of reasons is what makes masks essential for COVID-19. Masks will reduce your chances of transmission from direct contact from an infected person. However, they also deter you from touching your face, one of the easiest ways to get infected from a shared surface. In addition, we know that asymptomatic spread has been a major factor throughout the pandemic. People who feel well should still be wearing masks not just to protect themselves, but those around them in case they are an asymptomatic carrier. This way, any particles they expel through breathing will not end up on shared surfaces or circulating in the air.
A side note we should talk about is making sure your masks are authentic. Part of the reason a lot of myths take hold (KN95 isn’t as effective as N95, etc.) is due to false masks being provided by malicious actors wanting to make a quick buck. KN95 masks are popular options because they provide similar protection to the N95 mask, but have a lot more availability. With this said, here are some ways you can test your KN95 masks.
The sweetener test: This entails wearing the mask and putting a packet of Sweet and Low on a flat surface or spoon. You want to compare the smell with the mask on and off. If you have a good mask, there should be a marked difference, where you get only a slight hint of the fragrance with the mask on. This is due to the filtration of the mask.
The water test: Here, you need to hold your mask by the elastic bands and fill it with water. A good mask should be able to hold the water with no leakage, as official masks are all waterproof. This protects against biological fluids, like a sudden sneeze.
All Your Face Covering Options
So, now that you understand why you need a mask, how can you go about getting one? At iPromo, we are happy to use our wide selection of options to meet your business needs. Since we were covering the KN95, we might as well showcase our own KN95 Respirator Face Masks. These lightweight, humidity-resistant masks only differ slightly from the N95 mask in terms of breathability and fit. You still get the same amount of filtration and protection with either option. The fit is particularly important, as you don’t get the protection without a proper seal. Our KN95 masks use a hanging ear setup and adjustable nose clip to maintain that seal.
However, if you still prefer the N95s as an option, we have some available. Our Makrite N95 NIOSH Cup Face Masks uses a headband design and ultrasonic welding to help ensure a fit and seal. While N95 masks aren’t seeing the shortage that they used to, we still prioritize shipping to essential services, government agencies, and the healthcare industry.
While KN95 and N95 masks are the pinnacle of face coverings from a protection standpoint, there are a ton of other options that are better suited for normal everyday usage situations.
Keeping that in mind, one strong suggestion is the Disposable 3 Ply Medical Face Masks. These are useful masks in settings where you want something lightweight, comfortable and effective. These are also useful if you’re in a setting where you want to hand out masks to anyone that enters your workspace. Disposable 3 Ply masks can be effective and affordable in this context.
However, we also understand that masks may become a standard option for many professionals for quite some time to come. This is why we offer a variety of different reusable branded masks for you to cut down on waste while also building up awareness for your brand. One example is the Custom Champro Triple Layer Sublimated Cloth Mask. This gives you the ability to choose what fastener you want, then add a little space between you and the mask. This can make all the difference when it comes to minimizing condensation, which is a major boon for people trying to wear their masks while also wearing glasses. Even if you don’t wear glasses, it makes for a more comfortable long-term fit. Be sure to apply your brand logo using full-color printing.
These aren’t the only options available for people who want a branded reusable mask to add to their employee uniforms or to use in giveaways/gift packages. Custom Cotton Reusable Masks are also great for optimal protection and branding purposes. These are great for combining health and safety with business savvy. Each mask has 4 layers and is made out of 100% cotton. Feel free to reuse and rewash these for multiple uses so your employees can have long-term protection. Make sure that they also represent your brand while they are staying safe by applying your company logo with screen printing.
But you don’t need to go with face masks in order to have a customizable option. Custom Multi-Functional Wraps have become a very popular option as they are more convenient on the go and more comfortable as well. Even better is the ability to apply your branding and/or logo across the entire length of the cloth in full color.
There are other variants of protective face coverings that can be useful to complement your masks for an added layer of protection. A good example is the One Size Spray Protection Face Shields – MADE IN USA. These don’t necessarily have the filtration properties of a typical mask, but what they do accomplish is protecting your eyes along with the rest of your face. The eyes are a potential infection vector, so these make for a great additional purchase.
No matter what type of industry you are in, masks are likely going to be a central piece of PPE. This means that it’s important not only to have a healthy supply but also to make sure that you have the right fit for your level of safety concerns. At iPromo, our goal is to supply as wide a selection of custom masks and coverings as possible to make sure that everyone can feel comfortable and comply with local regulations. Be sure to look at our site regularly to see new face coverings and other PPE as they become available, including customizable options.