The Importance Of Respirator Face Masks
Author: Vincent Abrugar

Globalization as well as advances in technology has improved
the quality of life of the people. New inventions and
industrialization has somehow made life easier and m ore
comfortable for the modern man. However, while these are
considered blessings to humanity, the modernization of the
human race carried with it unavoidable evils such as modern
diseases.

The rise in the number of diseases may be attributed to the
increasing globalization of the world. The increase in people
traffic from on e country to another has made containment of
diseases harder and more complex. Thanks to technology again,
man has invented ways and means to keep modern diseases from
spreading.

The use of respirator face masks both for ordinary citizens and
for health workers has somehow minimized the spread of diseases.
Such diseases would have grown to an epidemic if not for these
health masks.

Respirator face masks are widely used by healthcare providers
as well as individuals who already have diseases of are in
danger of getting the disease.

The panic brought about by the Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome or SARS several years ago has increased the demand for
respiratory masks. Some healthcare institutions used to reserve
respiratory masks in the event of a smallpox outbreak. However,
there are more complicated and special respiratory face masks
for use in case of chemical or radiological emergencies.

During the SARS scare, healthcare workers were prioritized in
the provision of respiratory face masks since they were in
direct contact with patients who have SARS or who may have been
infected with the disease.

Respiratory face masks come in all sizes and shapes and in
different specifications. Some respiratory masks have
exhalation devices that are intended to lessen the build up of
moisture. Most respiratory masks can fit any face size and are
designed to protect the wearers from the spread of the virus.
Generally, respiratory masks protect the wearer from
microorganisms that are easily spread in the air.

However, experts admitted that the use of respiratory face
masks does not provide total protection to the wearer. Thus,
aside form wearing respiratory face masks, doctors also
recommend the use of other precautionary methods like gloves or
medical gown as well as the intake of vitamins and other
medicines.

Hospitals or clinics that are at the forefront of healthcare
provision are required to provide respiratory face masks for
both their medical and non-medical staff. They must also
conduct trainings for the their staff who may possibly
encounter highly critical and contagious diseases later on so
they will know what to do when that happens. The respiratory
face masks are special health equipment and the staff must be
taught its proper use.

Ordinary people tend to confuse the ordinary surgical mask from
the respiratory mask but these are two different masks. The
doctor's surgical masks does not provide the same protection
offered by the respiratory face mask although it can be a
substitute when a person is faced with an emergency situation
and it is impossible for him to find a respiratory mask
Surgical masks tend to be loosely fitted and are generally not
suited as a protection against airborne diseases. Surgical
masks are used to protect healthcare workers from blood
splashes and the release of other body fluids during surgical
and related procedures.


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