When it comes to protecting yourself from harmful chemicals and vapors during hazardous medical tasks, a medical protective mask is an indispensable piece of equipment. It is an important, first-line defense against particles and gases that are harmful and can affect your health if you are not wearing it. In fact, more than 90% of all medical staff exposed to hazardous materials are not equipped with a mask. The consequences of not wearing one may be disastrous. As a result of this, they face the risk of receiving serious injury or death.
There are many different types of medical protective mask available for use in medical facilities. Each type of mask offers its own particular set of features and benefits, but as a whole they have certain characteristics that make them highly effective in reducing the risk of exposure to potentially harmful medical hazards. Medical surgical masks often used in intensive operating environments; specifically, medical surgical masks designed for head and facial trauma; are the highest quality, with the most effective protection level available. They protect from particles and gases that can enter the patient's respiratory system via the nose, mouth and throat.
One of the factors that can determine the type of medical protective masks a nurse or other medical professional should wear is the type of mask that best suits their own individual needs. For example, those with a nose that is small or large may benefit from a nose piece that has increased filtration efficiency. When shopping for a mask, nurses can also request one with higher efficiency, in order to provide better protection at the source. There are many medical professional manufacturers that offer medical protective masks that meet both high filtration efficiency and comfort, so choosing one shouldn't be a problem.
There are two major categories of medical protective mask available for the workplace: standard, which are worn in the operating room, and specialty, which are worn for protection during surgeries and other special circumstances. These two categories come in a variety of styles, which will depend on the type of mask that the wearer requires. These include full face masks, half face masks, nosepieces, snoring reliefs, and much more. Full face masks are among the highest quality available on the market, as they offer the most comprehensive level of protection. These masks are available in a wide range of sizes and face shapes, in order to match the most appropriate face size of each patient. Some full face masks can even offer custom fit options for patients, ensuring that the correct protection is provided for each individual.
Half face masks, on the other hand, offer very good protection, but offer less filtration efficiency than full-face models. These types of protective eye and nose pieces were designed to offer protection against particles smaller than 5 microns. For this purpose, these masks often feature a variety of anti-fog elements that help reduce or eliminate fogging from particles larger than 5 microns. This helps prevent harmful dust particles from entering into the nose and throat area and causing serious health problems. Many of these features are often combined with advanced features such as moisture and air flow reduction, anti-bacterial protection, anti-static control, and others.
Other than the obvious health benefits, many experts recommend wearing a full face mask, especially if the patient is undergoing invasive procedures, has a chronic illness, or is over a weight limit. This is because these types of specialized masks are designed to fit comfortably over an individual's entire head, covering all critical areas from the temples to the back of the head, reducing particles from entering the airway. This ensures that no foreign matter will enter the lungs and cause problems such as pneumonia or difficulty breathing.
