Do not keep shields face safer than face masks?
Face shields and face masks have different benefits in preventing the propagation of coronavirus.
As thePandemic of Covid-19 continues, many of us are used towearing face masks During our outdoor activities a day. But there are also real disadvantages to masks, which can easily beincorrectly And can be uncomfortable on long hot days. In recent times, more and more people explore another option: the face screen, a device with a plastic sheet that covers the entire face and leaves a little more room for maneuver. But are visor as effective as masks to prevent the propagation of coronavirus? If you will check your mask for a shield at your earliest possible? We consulted doctors for the advantages and disadvantages of wearing a facial screen.
First of all, it is important to note that if you already wear a facial mask or otherfabric coating, You follow the CDC guidelines and do not have to change your routine. "People who are frustrated by the changing recommendations can correctly the state that the first step of masks have been recommended, then fabric masks have been recommended, and now visors? Their frustration is understandable, "saysLeann Poston, MD, a certified doctor who works asmedical expert For Ikon Health. "Living in the midst of a scientific experience, especially when the result can be very serious, can try the nerves of anyone. »
, Poston nevertheless recognizes that there are many advantages to wear visors, that it notes can bewashed more easily, Do not stay sitting directly on your skin, prevent you from touching your face, and allow your facial expressions to see and your lips to read. More importantly: "Facial screens that completely cover the face of the chin front and extend to the two ears can do a better job than the masks to stop the propagation of the virus," she says.
Other doctors are inclined to agree.Nikola Djordjevic, MD, co-founder ofHealthcareers, Says, "Facial screens are certainly the way to follow if you can get a plug of one and do not bother me to wear it. The reason they are more efficient is that the plastic blocks of direct droplets that could come your way. »Facial masksOn the other hand, can not filter all the droplets you meet.
And it's through the design. As Poston points out, "the purpose of a mask must contain the secretions of the wearer. They have never been designed to protect the wearer from viruses or bacteria, but on the contrary, to protect everyone from the secretions of the user. »Masks work instop the propagation of coronavirus When everyone does the door to keep everyone safe.
So, if you make the passage of visor masks? Not necessarily. While doctors recognize that visors can offer more benefits from wearer protection, admits Djordjevic that they can "feel a little cumbersome", which means they might also be uncomfortable for an exit all day. In addition, they may not provide complete protection in all scenarios. "Facial screens are open on the sides, offering a possibility for aerosols and small particles to float in," saysRenee Matthews, MD, host ofOutside the office with Dr. Renee.
Some doctors also think that facial screens, likeQuality surgical masks, Should be reserved for health professionals only. "Everyone wears a protective mask is simply not practical face shields are used by hospital health professionals when they are in close contact with patients []," saysFamily and emergency doctor Janette Nesheiwat, MD. "Personal Protection Equipment [EPI] are a real need and a priority for health workers. Many health workers have become sick without a spike, and we can not allow this to happen, especially if we can see asecond wave of coronavirus. "
If you decide to invest in a facial screen, it does not mean you have to completely give up your mask. Matthews, citing the boundaries of both, suggests wearing them into tandem for "the best protection. Poston, however, does not convince, saying that she needed to see a study on the benefits of wearing a facial screen and a facial mask at the same time before she pleaded to do so.
"I would not recommend at once, unless you are in a place where it should beA high viral load in the airAs a health care facility "Poston said at the end of the day, she believes that he belongs to everyone to decide, and the two masks and visors are useful tools in the fight against Covid-19. I recommend wearing one or the other when social distance is impossible. And if you try to decide which facial coating is good for you, here'sEach face mask you can buy in-efficiency classified.