The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our work and home lives in unimaginable ways. Everything has been affected, from our personal mobility and socialization to workplace workarounds like telecommuting and modified schedules. Since last March, the “face” of this new reality is… the face mask.

Prior to the coronavirus, masks were for Halloween, superheroes and bank robbers. Masks as personal protection were for folks who depended on them, such as healthcare workers and people in the trades. Maybe you bought a disposable mask for a home painting project or before cleaning out the attic. But that was it.

Today, masks are mandatory to enter most workplaces and commercial establishments. A cottage industry for homemade mask making appeared out of thin air, and non-traditional PPE companies quickly followed. Now masks have become a fashion statement. Masks are emblazoned with team logos, dog breeds, hobbies, and, well, you name it. This rage of personalization has doubtlessly helped to encourage mask wearing.

Why we wear masks

Widespread masking came on so suddenly that the reasons for masks are worth a quick review.

In a traditional industrial setting, workers don masks either to protect themselves from inhaling airborne dust, particulates and vapors, or to avoid contaminating a workpiece or sample, as in a cleanroom.

In healthcare, and with an infectious disease such as COVID-19, the primary function of a mask is to prevent the wearer from spreading germs to others. That’s why surgeons and dentists have worn masks for years. In this context, the mask wear’s own protection from airborne contaminants — the barrier effect — is secondary. This key point is often misunderstood, especially among people who feel perfectly fine. They might be asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19, or not. Either way, mask wearing curtails the transmission of airborne droplets.

FACT: A simple cough expels saliva droplets at 100mph for distances up to seven feet. Droplets can linger, suspended in the air, for several minutes.

The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) identified cloth masks as a “powerful weapon” in the fight against COVID-19 spread. Data has shown that within a community, universal compliance helps to contain and ultimately eliminate the virus.

WHO guidance on masks

The World Health Organization (WHO) published revised guidelines on mask wearing. Essentially, masks should be worn by all persons out in public in situations where they cannot socially distance:

• The general population should use a 3-layer mask.
• People over 60 and people with underlying medical conditions should use medical-grade masks.
• All medical workers should wear masks in clinical areas, regardless of direct patient contact.

WHO stresses that masks alone are insufficient to provide adequate protection or control of COVID spread, and that social distancing, hand washing and surface sanitation protocols must be followed for maximum benefit.

Masks, cold and flu

Epidemiologists and scientists will track the impact of mask wearing on reported cases of the common cold and flu this winter. Anecdotal evidence from last spring’s lockdown indicated a drastic decrease in recorded colds in that timeframe. (Flu season was essentially over.) If that data is an accurate predictor of things to come, a potentially “healthier” winter may be ahead, COVID aside. And that could help to foster a lasting awareness of disease-mitigating hygiene practices.

BlackHawk offers an extensive selection of masks designed for personal protection and germ containment. Here are three popular choices. Find more at bhid.com.

• BlackHawk Non-Woven Face Masks. 3-ply with elastic ear loops. Very efficient for fog, haze and dust. Non-medical grade protection. Applications include clinics, electronics manufacturing, restaurants, hotels, kitchens and food processing. Approved by ISO 13485.
• 3M Particulate Respirator Mask. Disposable mask offers N95 protection with 95% filter efficiency. Stapled 2-strap suspension and cushioned nose. Designed to help provide comfortable, reliable worker respiratory protection against certain non-oil based particles. Compatible with a variety of protective eyewear and hearing protection.
• PIP® 270-4000 Disposable Latex Free Face Mask. Resists airborne particles. 3-ply with ear loops. 99% BFE. Latex-free and hypoallergenic. For industrial and medical use.

You can find more masks on our website or call us at 855-610-1001 to speak with one of our PPE professionals.