Necessity is the mother of all inventions – it is true when in need we all come up with ideas that can somewhat be useful. The same is the case with masks, with the outbreak of the deadly COVID-19, masks have become a household essential. People can go out without food but not masks!
While there are so many masks available in the market, every person prefers different masks depending on how much they can afford. For example, the N95 mask and the 3M mask cost considerably more than the disposable masks – but not everyone can afford it.
Read below to find a short guide on disposable masks, their uses, and efficiency:
Disposable Masks
Surgical masks previously used to have just the value piece of cloth wrapped around a doctor's or nurse's face, but now they are the need of every other person all over the world! They are constructed using non-woven materials made of plastics such as polypropylene to prevent any particles from entering your mouth. These are often available in several types and grades based on the degree of protection you need.
There are several disposable masks in the market. Read below to learn how efficient they are:
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Surgical Masks
Often classified as a medical mask, a surgical mask is a loose-fitting disposable mask covering the nose and mouth of the user from any interference with droplets, splashes, and washes that might have any germs or dust particles. The surgical mask often prevents larger contaminants out of the air. Surgical masks can shield others by limiting the sensitivity of the mask wearer to saliva and respiratory secretions.
Food and Drug Administration has not licensed any form of surgical mask explicitly intended to protect against COVID-19. However, such masks can provide a little security when you cannot find n95 masks. -
N95 Masks
The n95 mask is more of a respirator; the N95 mask provides better protection than the ordinary surgical. The n95 masks can eliminate both big and minor particles as the user inhales. Its name suggests that the mask is built to filter 95% of very tiny particles.
However, Health care workers must be qualified to undergo a fit check to ensure the correct seal before using N95. Similar to surgical masks, N95 masks are also disposable. Moreover, companies are investigating ways to make n95 masks that are not disposable so that the users can use them later.
Many N95 masks, including even cloth masks, have one-way openings that allow people to breathe much more easily. But since the valve emits unfiltered air as the wearer exhales out, this sort of mask does not keep the wearer from transmitting the infection. It is one reason most places all over the world prohibit its use.
Although surgical and N95 masks can be limited and should be kept for health care professionals, face cloth and other masks are simple to find or produce and can be cleaned and reused.
Why Are Disposable Masks Cheaper?
Most disposable masks are cheaper due to which most people can afford it. They are cheap because they are disposable and are not made up of hard materials, which may be costly. These disposable masks are made up of cheaper materials due to which their overall cost is low.
While disposable masks are beneficial, there are more beneficial options available!