Face Masks: How Do They Work?

Just recently I was at an airport waiting for my flight, and I glanced over my shoulder to watched another waiting passenger just walking up and down the waiting area. The only difference was that he was wearing a face mask.

In the United States it is rare to see someone where are face mask in the public. Move to some Asian counties such as China and Japan, where Avian Bird Flu has infected many people, the donning of face masks is like wearing sunglasses or a jacket. In hospitals where you usually go to get better, You need to remember, that is a place where sick people go also!

The United States has done a remarkable job in doing its best to educate people to minimize outbreaks. Hopefully everyone is using some universal infection control protocols in protecting themselves of any viruses. While most people wash their hands, use hand sanitizers, and staying home when ill. People still infect other people, so you need to make sure you take all the necessary precautions in keeping yourself healthy.

As H1N1 or the next strain of influenza infects the population, you might see more and more people start wearing face mask in public to protect themselves from airborne strains.

Basically, a face mask is a type of air filtration device. As a kid, the first type of face mask might have been your hand as you try to cover your nose and mouth from a foul odor. You might have gone to the next level and used your shirt or rag to cover your respiratory intake. These methods might block large particles floating in the air, it will not block something as small as a virus.

From janitors to surgeons, they all wear face masks for one reason or another. There are different methods to keeping the face mask in place, such as elastic ear loops, elastic that stretches around the head, or ties around the back of the head. The use of each depends on the user and the situation.

Studies show that viruses such as H1N1, also know as Avian Bird Flu or Swine Flu, are transmitted in the air by droplets, so when someone sneezes or coughs. The potential to be infected increases when you can not filter the air increases significantly. The most common mask used to protect from H1N1 is called a N95 mask.