Face Masks 101: St. Francis ER Physician Provides Tips

COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.

“Wearing a face mask is an effective way to slow or prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep everyone safe,” says Valerie McLaughlin, MD, FACEP, FAAEM, Emergency Department Chair and Medical Director at St. Francis Medical Center. “Of course, like everything else, there’s a right way and a wrong way to do it.”

Dr. McLaughlin says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing cloth face masks in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, such as grocery stores, pharmacies, and gas stations. Exceptions include children under the age of two, people who have trouble breathing, or those who are unable to remove the mask without help.

She urges people to wear masks properly in order to safely protect themselves and those around them.

Dr. McLaughlin offers these tips:

Wear your face mask correctly

Wearing a face mask is only effective if it’s worn properly. Here’s how to do that:

First, be sure to wash your hands before putting your mask on, that way any germs from your hands don’t wind up on your mask. Put your mask over both your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin. It should fit snugly against the sides of your face while also allowing you to breath easily.

It’s best to keep the covering on your face—fully covering both your nose and mouth—the entire time you’re in public. And try not to touch it if you can. Don’t put the covering around your neck or up on your forehead. If you touch the face covering at all, wash your hands as soon as possible.

Removing your mask

It’s important to remove your mask carefully to make sure anything that’s gotten on it doesn’t get on you. Only handle your mask by the ear loops or ties. Start by untying the strings behind your head or stretching the ear loops. Once you’ve pulled it off, fold the outside corners together. Place the mask in the wash machine. Be careful not to touch your eyes, nose, or mouth when or after removing your mask, and wash your hands immediately.

Keeping your mask clean

Wearing a mask is a great start, but you’ll need to keep it clean for it to continue to be effective. Ideally you should wash your mask after each use.

Masks can be machine washed with your regular laundry. A quality laundry detergent will clean your mask fine if you’re using the warmest water you can for the type of cloth it’s made from.

You can also hand wash your mask. Prepare a bleach solution by mixing 4 teaspoons of household bleach with a quart of room-temperature water. Then soak the mask in the bleach solution for five minutes. After it’s done soaking, rinse your mask thoroughly with cool or room-temperature water.

Be sure your mask is completely dry before using it again. You can toss it in the dryer on the highest heat setting or lay it flat to air dry.

Continue to Follow Precautions

In addition to wearing and caring for your face mask properly, continue following these guidelines:

• Stay at least six feet away from others
• Avoid contact with people who are sick
• Wash your hands often, with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds each time
• Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available
• Abide by guidance from your state and local health department regarding activities and gatherings

To learn more about how St. Francis Medical Center is helping our communities deal with COVID-19, please visit www.stfrancismedical.org.