PARENTS
Written by
Dr. Harvey Karp
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This season’s hottest accessory (and probably next season’s, too) is not cool new shoes or a jangle of jewelry…it is a face mask. No, it is not on the cover of Vogue or 100% comfy (but, neither are those new shoes), but it could save you, your friends, family, and strangers from a terrible sickness…or even a tragic death.
'Wear your mask' is now the cultural norm in many countries, like Japan and China. And, now even the United Kingdom is getting with the program. As we are working hard to flatten the COVID curve, we have had to adopt new practices into our everyday lives.
Since mask-wearing is such an unfamiliar act, there is quite a bit of confusion about them. How do they work? Do we all need to wear them? Even, how do you put them on and take them off?
So, let us unmask the facts…
When worn properly—over the nose and mouth—face masks can reduce the spread of the virus. Like most respiratory infections, coronavirus spreads three ways: 1) through tiny droplets of liquid that you expel when you cough, sneeze…or speak, 2) through teeny-tiny aerosol particles that you expel when you breathe, and 3) from surfaces—if you cough into your hand and then touch a doorknob, you have spread the virus to the doorknob…and then, to the people who touch it after you.
Early on, it looked like coronavirus was spread primarily through coughing or sneezing, which propels those droplets through the air really fast, far, and with a lot of force. (MIT researchers found that particles from a cough can travel up to 5 metres and sneeze particles can soar 8 metres…yikes!)
But since so many coronavirus victims have no idea where they got it and since so many coronavirus-spreaders have absolutely no symptoms, researchers began to investigate other ways it might be spreading. Soon, they learned that the virus could be transmitted by singing, speaking…or even breathing. One recent study found that simply talking can release droplets that hang around in the air for up to 14 minutes!
Since airborne particles are the culprit in a lot of COVID cases, masks slow the spread in two big ways. First, and most importantly, masks trap the virus-filled foamy spray that emits or explodes from our mouths and nose when we speak, cough, and sneeze. So that means we are much less likely to infect people around us. Second, masks filter out some of the droplets expelled from the faces of family, friends, and passersby.
Another great thing we have learned is that it does not take a fancy, high-tech mask to kick viral butt (and actually, professional-grade masks, should be reserved for nurses and doctors working on the frontlines). Homemade cotton face masks made from t-shirts, pillowcases, or scarves are highly effective at keeping people safe.
Several studies now show that face masks dramatically reduce COVID-19 transmission. Get this: If 60% of the public wore face masks…we could end the pandemic!
Countries that enforce mandatory mask-wearing have seen a huge payoff. South Korea, for example, has been super successful in keeping corona contained within their borders.
Now, it is up to us to become the masked heroes who stop the villain in our community and country. You say that masks are 'kind of uncomfortable and stuffy?' Okay, but…this is a war! We have lost 100,000 of our friends, family, and fellow citizens, in just two months. So, think of wearing that mask as your patriotic duty. After all, every person who wears a face mask could save a life and save the country lots of money.
The only way to truly get the benefits of wearing masks is to wear them correctly. Here are some tips to help you do it smartly.
Kids can be fussy about what goes on their little bodies. They might even resist putting on a hat or wearing a certain kind of sock if it rubs them the wrong way…so trying to get them to wear a face mask might feel like an alligator-wrestling match!
However, because masks are such a big part of putting the kibosh on coronavirus, it is super important that kids (over 2 years) wear masks when they are around other people. Here are a few tips:
Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider. Breastmilk is the best source of nutrition for babies. It is important that, in preparation for and during breastfeeding, mothers eat a healthy, balanced diet. Combined breast- and bottle-feeding in the first weeks of life may reduce the supply of a mother's breastmilk and reversing the decision not to breastfeed is difficult. If you do decide to use infant formula, you should follow instructions carefully.
