Much has been made about which mask for what purpose and for when and one of the most resilient types of face mask has been the disposable face mask. These masks are often referred to as surgical masks, medical masks and or disposable med masks. These masks are the ones you mostly see on nurses and doctors and they are effective against almost all forms of small harmful particulates. The versatility and low cost of these masks makes them an easy choice for people who want a fast way of dawning oral air filtration.
Why Should I Use a Disposable Face Mask?
Disposable face masks have many advantages over the myriad of options that you for oral air filtration. Here are some of the benefits of using disposable face masks as your face mask of choice:
1. Easy on Easy off
2. No Mess and No Fuss
3. Inexpensive
4. Versatile
5. Effective
6. Comfortable
7. Light Weight
8. Easy Fit
There are very few face masks, both medical and civilian grade, that give you the versatility, effectiveness and affordability of the disposable surgical face mask. They fit everyone, they are easy to use and they can be placed in easy and convenient places like your glove box, coat pockets, purse or office drawer. Keep them hand for the times when you are entering a large uncertain area where many people congregate such as big box stores, grocery stores or government places such as the DMV.
How Long Can I Use a Disposable Mask?
This really depends on how you use your masks. If you are constantly pulling it up and down, over and over again, your mask will begin to lose some of its structural integrity over a few hours. Being nice to your disposable face mask is going to greatly increase its longevity.
ANSWER: 1 - 3 Days or 5 - 20 Hours (Civilian Use)
This is a general rule and should be applied according to how you use and take care of your disposable face mask. You want to get as much use out of your face mask but you want that use to be effective for why you are using it for. The constant moisture from your mouth will also begin to erode the effectiveness of the fabric along with the movement of air through the mask. These are fairly fragile face masks and you need to understand that they will lose their effectiveness in fairly short order, but, they are inexpensive so that is the upside.
Bottom line, you will begin to notice a structural change to your disposable mask over a few hours. Get a few hours of use out of your mask and throw it away after all, they are disposable.
2 Important Things to Remember with Disposable Masks
1. Do not touch the outside of your mask. Once you are finished with it and want to hang it for another use, grab it by the ear straps and hang it in a place that children and animals cant reach. If your mask did pick up contaminated particulates, allow a few hours for those potential microbes to die.
2. Dispose of your face mask safely. Do not just throw away your mask as is. Take some precautions to protect others. Wrap your mask in a seal bag or other container that is going into the trash.