3 The most dangerous mistakes when wearing masks

Currently, the situation in Lithuania is particularly difficult and we have sufficient effective protection measures in place, so pharmacist Rimvydas Blynas from Camelia urges the press to take even more care of their safety and that of others.

Starting on Wednesday in Lithuania, an even stricter quarantine: the movement of the population, the number of contacts, etc. will be restricted. Lithuania is currently one of the first in Europe in terms of the number of new COVID-19 cases per million inhabitants, and the state is tightening the quarantine. There are exceptions in which residents of the country will be able to leave the house, so the pharmacist R. Blyn calls for a greater strengthening of their security through the use of masks.

The pharmacist identifies 3 major mistakes that can also contribute to the spread of the virus:

1. Wear non-protective masks

Studies show that even homemade masks can reduce the spread of the virus and protect against infection, but the mask must be made of at least three layers of material, they must be as impervious as possible to drops of water. However, says pharmacist R. Blyn, these patients go to the pharmacy, whose masks are sewn from a single layer of cotton material.

“If we kiss or cough indoors without wearing a mask, the virus can spread to countries at a distance of up to 30 feet. The mask in this case reduces the spread of the virus, so the layers of the mask must be waterproof says R. Blyn. “Cotton is extremely permeable, so it is not suitable for making masks.”

Even if the reusable mask is made of the right materials, the pharmacist emphasizes that they should be washed after each use. Disposable masks must not be reused.

“However, since we currently have sufficient protective equipment, I would sincerely recommend choosing specially designed, medical, certified and approved masks in Europe,” advises pharmacist R. Blyn. “When you buy masks or other products in a pharmacy, you will be sure of the safety and ease of use of the product.”

The pharmacist advises choosing only those masks that are marked with the CE mark, which means that the product has been tested and approved for use in the countries of the European Economic Area, and R. Blyn recommends giving preference to disposable medical masks of three hats.

2. Does not cover the nose

The pharmacist realizes that even if some clients even use medical masks, it happens that they do it incorrectly. “The mask must cover the chin and the respiratory tract: the mouth and necessarily the nose.

Some patients still don’t know how to use the mask correctly, so we advise them how to do it, says Blyn. – Some patients claim that they have difficulty breathing, so their nose sticks out, but in this case, the mask will not protect anything, neither the user of the mask nor other people they will encounter.

On the street, I also notice people wearing face shields. However, they are not as effective as masks, so a protective mask must be worn at the same time as the shield. “

The pharmacist says that there are also patients who break into the pharmacy without a mask and claim that their medical condition allows them not to use the mask. However, Mr. Blyn emphasizes that if this is indeed the case, these people should wear face shields.

“It is necessary to wear masks not to receive a fine, but to really protect ourselves from the virus and protect others, otherwise the situation with COVID-19 in Lithuania will not improve,” says R. Blynas.

3. Don’t worry about cleaning the masks.

The pharmacist points out that even if residents wear disposable medical masks to protect themselves, they are not changed often enough. “Disposable masks are not called that unnecessarily; they should be used only once and then disposed of safely,” Blyn said.

The disposable mask should be changed every 4 hours or when the mask is wet or dirty.

The pharmacist says he often sees customers with dirty and visually worn masks. “Doing so is very dangerous because you can get infected not only with COVID-19, but also other viruses or bacteria, so you need to make sure that the mask you wear is clean. Worn masks can also make breathing difficult, ”says Blyn.

Wash or disinfect your hands before putting on or taking off the mask.

If you use reusable cloth masks, the pharmacist emphasizes that they should be washed after each use and should be used in the same way as medical ones: wash or disinfect your hands before putting on and taking off the mask, do not touch it after putting on the mask. The mask should be washed at a temperature of at least 60 degrees C for at least 20 minutes, dried and ironed with a hot iron.

We need to reconcile and change habits

The pharmacist recalled that a couple of decades ago, it was unusual for many people to always wear a seatbelt while driving a car. The introduction of fines for not wearing seat belts has caused great outrage. Many still only slipped the belt over their shoulder, but did not fasten it. This reminds Blyn of the current situation: “Some people wear a mask just to avoid being fined. Some not only protrude their nose, but there are also those who wear the mask under the chin, and if there is a risk of a possible fine, they put the mask on their face, points out the pharmacist.

– For a long time, social ads were shown asking for the seat belt, and in the long run it became understandable and common for everyone, we know it is for our safety. I hope that our society also accepts the use of masks as a necessary safety measure.

If we all focus, the situation with COVID-19 will improve over time and we may not have the limitations of being vaccinated as we do now. We may wear masks in public places for a long time, especially during cold season.

Pharmacists, in addition to wearing masks, also remember other important measures to stop the COVID-19 virus:

• keep a safe distance from other people (1-2 years);
• wash your hands well with soap or disinfect them as often as possible;
• adhere to the cough and sneeze tag (cover with a napkin or with the inside of the elbow bent);
• if you have cold symptoms, stay home;
• avoid meetings, unnecessary visits, meetings.