How to wear an N95 mask? How long can an N95 mask be worn at a time?

Masks are being snatched up everywhere, manufacturers are working overtime to produce them, and masks are being disposed of after use. In the face of the epidemic against the coronavirus pneumonia, "N95 masks" has become a sensitive word that touches the nerves of society.

"Since January 20, orders for N95 masks have been in a state of overwhelmed. A batch of N95 masks in stock has been sold out. The earliest delivery time for new goods is the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, which is January 30." A Taobao shop selling N95 masks told the Travel One reporter on January 22 that the current demand for N95 masks is about ten times more than usual. On January 23, when the reporter clicked on the Taobao link again, it showed that the product had been sold out and no new orders were being accepted.

As of January 23, there were still many stores on e-commerce platforms selling N95 masks. The price of a single N95 mask ranged from 3 yuan to 25 yuan, and monthly sales were generally above 3,000, and as much as 30,000. After finally buying a mask, a new problem arises: how to wear a mask? How long should I wear it at a time? How to deal with it after use?

How to wear an N95 mask? How long can an N95 mask be worn at a time?

What exactly are the N95 masks that everyone is chasing after?

N95 is not a specific product name, but a standard. Products that have passed the review of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) can be called "N95 masks."

"N" means not oil-resistant, and "95" means that when exposed to a specified number of special test particles, the particle concentration inside the mask is more than 95% lower than the particle concentration outside the mask. The protection level of N95 means that under the testing conditions specified by the NIOSH standard, the filtration efficiency of the mask filter material for non-oily particles (such as dust, acid mist, paint mist, microorganisms, etc.) reaches 95%. The N95 mask is one of the nine types of particulate protection masks certified by NIOSH.

Generally speaking, the protective effects of N95 masks and KN95 masks are the same. The difference is that KN complies with Chinese standards and N complies with American standards.

In China, KN95 refers to a filtration efficiency of greater than 95% for non-oily particles larger than 0.075 microns. According to the NIOSH standard, the N95 has a 95% success rate in blocking particles with a diameter of 0.075 microns.

Because the diameter of the coronavirus pneumonia (atypical pneumonia) virus is approximately 0.1 to 0.12 microns, wearing an N95 or KN95 mask is a feasible prevention method.

In addition, medical surgical masks can also be used to protect against infectious diseases. Medical surgical masks can block 70% of bacteria, while N95 masks can block 95% of bacteria, and the latter has a stronger blocking effect.

However, paper masks, activated carbon masks, cotton masks and sponge masks are limited in their effectiveness in preventing infection because their materials are not tight enough.

How to wear an N95 mask? How long can an N95 mask be worn at a time?

The way to wear a medical protective mask is very important. Otherwise, even if you buy the correct mask, wearing it incorrectly will affect the filtering effect.

Liang Jiansheng, director of the Disinfection and Vector Control Institute of Wuhan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, introduced the specific steps of wearing as follows:

1. Hold the protective mask with one hand, with the side with the nose clip facing outwards;

2. Cover the nose, mouth and chin with the protective mask, with the nose clip facing up and close to the face;

3. Use your other hand to pull the lower tie over your head and place it behind your neck, under your ears;

4. Pull the upper tie to the middle of the top of your head;

5. Place the fingertips of both hands on the metal nose clip. Starting from the middle position, press the nose clip inward with your fingers, and move and press to both sides to shape the nose clip according to the shape of the nose bridge.

▲ The correct way to wear an N95 mask
Director Liang Jiansheng reminded that if citizens go to public places and do not come into contact with patients, wearing a medical surgical mask is sufficient and there is no need for excessive protection. However, if they will come into contact with patients, they must wear a bio-protective N95 mask.

N95 masks provide tight protection, but they can cause a noticeable stuffiness after being worn for a long time. Wang Yuedan, professor of immunology at the Peking University School of Basic Medicine, reminds that when wearing an N95 mask, the time should not exceed 4 hours at a time. If an N95 mask is used continuously for a long time, it will cause lung damage and may cause problems such as emphysema.

Zong Zhiyong and Wang Yantong, experts from the Infection Management Department of West China Hospital of Sichuan University, recommend that children under the age of 7 should not wear N95 masks, even if they are N95 masks with special air valve designs, because the breathing resistance will be too great and children will be at risk of suffocation.

Can masks be used repeatedly? Experts Zong Zhiyong and Wang Yantong clearly stated: "No, no matter what kind of mask, there is a use period. Disposable medical masks are recommended to be replaced every 4 hours; medical protective masks are recommended to be used for 6 to 8 hours."

What should I do with the mask after use?

While N95 masks are being purchased and used in large quantities, how to deal with used masks has become a new challenge in controlling the spread of pneumonia.

In hospitals, medical waste is generally divided into three colors: black, yellow and red. Among them, black plastic bags are for domestic waste, yellow plastic bags are for medical waste (including infectious waste), and red plastic bags are for radioactive waste and other special medical waste. After use, the masks will be placed in a clean, sealed bag and thrown into a yellow trash can.

"From the current situation, it is impossible for ordinary citizens to determine whether they have been exposed to the new coronavirus when they go out. Based on the principle of prudence and from the perspective of maximizing the protection of public life and health, it is recommended to place used masks separately in sealed bags such as plastic bags. In cities such as Shanghai that implement garbage sorting, put the sealed bags in the "hazardous waste" bin." Du Huanzheng, a professor at the School of Environment and Sustainable Development of Tongji University, was quoted as saying by Science and Technology Daily.

In some cities that do not have strict regulations on garbage sorting and disposal, Tao Xiaoqing, director of the Interventional Vascular Department of Weihai Maritime University Hospital, suggested that discarded masks at home should be placed in bags to avoid secondary contamination. Because high temperature and medical 75% alcohol can kill the new coronavirus, it is recommended to disinfect with alcohol spray, seal it in a bag and then discard it.

On January 21, 2020, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued the "Notice on Doing a Good Job in the Environmental Management of Medical Waste from the Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Epidemic", deploying all localities to dispose of medical waste from the pneumonia epidemic in a timely, orderly, efficient and harmless manner, and requiring local ecological and environmental departments at all levels to attach great importance to the environmental management of medical waste from the pneumonia epidemic, and to effectively supervise and manage environmental pollution prevention and control in medical waste collection, transportation, storage and disposal activities.