Why Surgical Masks & Face Coverings Are Good Alternatives of N95 Respirator

Keep washing your hands, wear a face mask, and maintain physical distancing. That’s what usually comes to our mind while thinking of fighting the pandemic. Handwashing and physical distancing are more unequivocally accepted than using a face covering. Face masks have stoked scientific conflict, political controversy, and cultural wars, among other things. Even among the ‘supporters’ of face masks, there are overwhelming disagreements about the kind of mask one should wear.

The market is now filled with surgical masks and cloth face coverings, of different forms. Thanks to face mask manufacturers and suppliers. But N95 respirators have been in short supply since the onset of the pandemic. You need to understand this diversity of the forms of face coverings and masks to efficiently fight the pandemic. These face coverings can be categorized into medical-grade masks and non-medical grade face coverings.

Different Mask Structures for Different Use

Disposable surgical masks and N95 respirators are the medical-grade masks. Surgical face masks are worn to block large particles and respiratory droplets entering and leaving your mouth. Personal protective equipment manufacturers make close-fitting N95 respirators (or N95s) to filter our tiny particles, smoke, and airborne microorganisms.

Re-usable cloth masks, bandanas, and scarves are examples of non-medical face coverings. Many bulk PPE suppliers in the USA are scaling up their non-medical mask supplies. This has been prompted by steadily growing demands for non-medical masks across states. Several U.S. states implemented mask mandates as a means to slow the transmission of the virus. Multiple studies have concluded that face coverings of all kinds can significantly reduce the rate of transmission.

Surgical Masks as Alternatives to N95s

PPE suppliers in the USA have battling with the shortage of N95 respirators since the beginning of the pandemic. People who most critically need those are medical professionals. They are the front-line warriors in this global fight against the coronavirus. Hence it would be our duty as responsible human beings to save N95s for them. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doesn’t recommend N95 respirators for the general public. We must, therefore, seriously consider the alternatives.

Surgical and procedural masks and face coverings are effective alternatives. Surgical face masks are designed to keep out the droplets of an infected person when they talk or sneeze. It protects your nose and mouth from such droplets. Wearing a surgical mask can protect you from getting infected if you come in close contact with a sick person. It also helps you to prevent spreading your illness to someone else. And not just the general public, medical professionals, too, are widely using surgical masks during this pandemic.

Face Coverings as a Sustainable Alternative

Face coverings have similar functions to surgical masks. They, too, block large particles and respiratory droplets. There are no specific CDC guidelines as to what kind of face coverings you should wear. However, some government health officials in California recommends wearing fabric masks, bandanas, and neck gaiters. These are sustainable and effective options. Using it may also reduce the unprecedented burden face mask manufacturers around the world are facing.

Face coverings should cover the nose and mouth and can be made from a variety of fabrics, according to the California Department of Public Health. The fabrics include cotton, silk, and linen, among others. You can buy a premade cloth mask or make one from household clothing items. You should wash the cloth face coverings in hot water and dry them in high heat in a dryer. Also, you must follow all the safety measures you’d do for other masks. These include covering your nose and mouth properly, not touching your face covering, and keeping them clean.

Final Thoughts

It’s obvious that surgical and cloth masks are not as efficient as N95s, but they are good enough to protect you as an alternative. If you don’t work in a healthcare setting or a high-risk indoor environment, you don’t have to wear an N95. There is overwhelming evidence now that all face coverings (without an outlet) can help contain the spread of the coronavirus. Co-Defend, one of the leading bulk PPE suppliers in the USA, provides surgical masks and other PPE to fight the pandemic. Our surgical masks are designed to protect you from the coronavirus.