Unless you work in the medical field, there is a good chance you have never had to worry about how to wear a face mask before. But in the era of the novel coronavirus pandemic, wearing protective face masks when out in public has become the new normal. Since most of us are new to wearing masks, we do not always know how to wear them properly. To ensure you know how to wear a face mask correctly, listed below are some guidelines for getting the best fit possible. Here is how to stay as safe as possible and avoid common safety mistakes when wearing a face mask. Face covers are one way to protect yourself and others from the spread of coronavirus, but they are only effective when worn properly. Whether you are wearing a disposable mask or a cloth face mask, it must cover your face from the bridge of your nose to under your chin. It should be loose-fitting but still secure enough to stay in place. Small gaps are normal and unavoidable, but the fewer there are and the smaller they are, the better. Make sure you can talk with your mask on and that it’s comfortable, so you aren’t tempted to touch it or pull it out of place, which could put you at risk from touching your face or limit its effectiveness. To get your perfect fit, follow these steps on how to put on a face mask correctly.Wash your hands and wear a mask
1. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before putting on your face mask.
2. Check for defects in the mask, such as tears, missing ties, or missing ear loops. Throw away any that are defective.
Put on your mask, holding it by the ear loops
1. Position the colored or patterned side of the face cover outward, away from your face.
2. If your covering has pleats, they should open downward.
3. If the face mask has:
a. Ear loops: Hold the mask by both ear loops and place one loop over each ear.
b. Ties: Hold the mask by the upper strings. Tie the upper strings in a secure bow near the crown of your head. Tie the bottom strings securely in a bow near the nape of your neck.
c. Dual elastic bands: Pull the top band over your head and position it against the crown of your head. Pull the bottom band over your head and position it against the nape of your neck.
Make sure your mouth, nose and chin are covered1. Make sure the mask is completely secure and covers your nose and mouth so that the bottom edge is under your chin.
2. Try to fit your face covering snugly against the sides of your face. Make sure you can breathe easily.
3. Your mask may have a wired side that is meant to adhere to the shape of your nose. Once the mask is in place, pinch the bendable top edge of the mask around the bridge of your nose for a more comfortable fit.
4. Once your mask is on, do not touch it again until it is time to take it off.
5. Wash your hands.
How to wear a mask with glasses?When you leave the house wearing a face mask while also wearing glasses, you may notice your breath flows upward and causes your lenses to fog up. It is a common occurrence for many people, and several factors can cause it, from the fit of your mask to the weather. Luckily, there are a few tricks to prevent your glasses from fogging up while wearing a face mask.
Fit your face mask snugly to your face

Wipe your lenses

Adjust the position of your glasses

Wear your glasses over your mask

Some mistakes made while wearing a face maskWearing a face mask can take some time to get used to. Avoiding touching or fidgeting with your mask can be tough habits to break. To get the best use out of your protective covering, beware of these five mistakes you can make when wearing a face mask:1. Your mask is too looseIf your mask has large gaps around your mouth, nose, or sides of your face, it cannot effectively protect you.
2. Your nose is not coveredYour nose needs to be covered by your mask. Coronavirus is respiratory and travels through the air, so you could breathe it in if your nose is not covered.
3. You do not keep it securely on your faceMake sure not to dangle the mask from one ear or hang it around your neck.
4. You touched it after putting it back onYou should not take your mask off for a break when you are still in public. If you must touch the mask while you are wearing it, wash your hands first and again afterward.
5. You reused single-use masksDisposable masks are meant to be worn only once and then thrown away.
Steps to follow while removing your face maskHow you take off your mask is just as important as how you put it on. When removing your face covering, make sure you do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. You should always wash your hands afterward, and reusable cloth masks should be machine-washed and dried regularly. To keep your reusable cover effective, follow these steps on how to remove your face mask.
Take off your face mask by the ear loops, ties, or bands1. Make sure you are removing your mask with clean hands. Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before.
2. Avoid touching the mask itself and hold it by the loops, ties, or bands only.
3. Carefully take the mask off your face. If the mask has:
a. Ear loops: Unhook both loops.
b. Ties: Untie the bottom bow first, followed by the top one.
c. Dual elastic bands: Remove the bottom band first by lifting it over your head, then do the same with the top band.
4. Holding it by the loops, ties, or bands; discard the mask by placing it in a covered trash bin if using single-use face masks.
Store your mask immediately1. If using reusable face masks, fold the outside corners together before storing them.
2. Place cloth face masks in the washing machine and lay them flat to air dry.
3. If you are not immediately going to wash your mask after you use it, place it in a clean, paper bag or resealable plastic bag. Pick it up by the ear loops to place it inside the bag, and store the bag in a cool, clean place.
4. After removing the mask, wash your hands thoroughly or use hand sanitizer.For more understanding and if you would like to know if you might be at risk, you can consult our medical specialists at eahomecare.in/medical