During a pandemic, surgical masks and N95 respirator masks may be in limited supply. When that is the situation, they need to be reserved for medical personnel, those caring for infected family members at home, those with immediate health risks, and those who have been diagnosed with the pandemic disease. Everyone else should use cloth face masks.
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) in the United States recommends cloth face masks be worn in public settings where social distancing (staying at least 6 feet apart) is difficult to maintain. This could be in grocery stores, drugstores, the post office, the bank, or in other essential errand situations.
Cloth face masks help to slow the spread of viruses and bacteria and help people, who do not know they are sick, avoid transmitting their illness to others.
Face masks should not be put on children under the age of two, anyone who has trouble breathing, or anyone who would not be able to remove the mask without assistance.
Masks should be worn at all times when in contact with individuals outside of the home. Be sure not to touch the outside of the mask after it has been worn. Cloth masks can be hung to dry and reused unless they have been contaminated with body fluids or blood. Always put the same side of the mask next to your face.
Wash masks regularly with soap or residue-free detergent in warm or hot water and dry in a dryer. They should always be washed after contamination with body fluids (especially if someone sneezes or coughs on it) or blood. Handle contaminated masks carefully so as not to contaminate anything else before they are washed. Then wash hands before doing anything else.
Cloth face masks should:
- Fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
- Be worn using ties or ear loops
- Be constructed of multiple layers of cotton or cotton blend fabric
- Permit comfortable breathing
- Be able to be machine washed and dried without damage to the mask
Nose wires and filters are nice but not necessary.
There are many kinds of cloth face masks. They come in many shapes and sizes. Many can be made more effective by inserting filters into them. When trying to decide which to make ask:
- Who will be wearing it?
- What is the purpose for wearing it?
- Does the person have any limitations that would affect the design chosen?
- Can I sew or do I need a no-sew pattern?