PRODUCTION AND PROTECTION

HAND MADE FACE MASKS

DURING PANDEMIC COVID-19

INTRODUCTION

"Pandemic is not a word to use lightly or carelessly. It is a word that, if misused, can cause unreasonable fear, or unjustified acceptance that the fight is over, leading to unnecessary suffering and death."

                                                                                                                                      By: Dr. TEDROS

The COVID-19 is pandemic globally and affects many of the people in the world. As per information, there is no vaccine available for the disease against Virus so the protective measures should be adopted according to the current situation.

There are the followings adaptive measures: 

➤Wash your hand often   

➤Don’t touch your mouth and eyes     

➤Wear a mask. 

➤Don’t go outside without any reason. 

➤Maintain social distance.

➤Don’t close to each other.

➤Have some good diet and food that boost your immune system.

➤Have some vitamin C food like lemon etc. 

➤Have some hot drinks like Green Tea.

The Covid-19 affects developing countries more because they have less source and low Economic level. So, in this global pandemic situation the masks (handmade face masks) are more effective to restrain the spread of the virus. Sound’s Good!

So, here we go!

Handmade Face Masks

Handmade masks are made up of textile material (cotton). It protects you from virus-laden droplets emerges during coughing and sneezing and against Air pollution (usually smog). The hand made face masks are more useful in developing countries and use by health workers. It is your personal protective equipment in case of a shortage of surgical masks and respirators. These masks are also used by the household person, sick person, and community to reduce the spread of disease and air pollution. These masks are also used when there is no social distance like in markets, shops, and other crowded places.

How these masks are formed?

Cloth face masks contrast with surgical masks and respirators such as N95 masks are made up of non-woven fabric formed through a melt-blowing process and are regulated by their effectiveness.

Three layered masks of different material

Tow spun-bond polypropylene layers are present which is effective for adequate filtration and breathability.

Parameters

1.      Filtration

2.      Breathability

The filter quality factor is called as Q is commonly used as an integrated filter quality indicator. It is a function of filtration efficiency and breathability with higher values indicating better performance. Expert recommended Q factor should be 3 or higher.

Surgical Mask vs Handmade Masks

The surgical masks and respirators such as the N95 mask are more expensive and cost a lot of money. In contrast to that, the handmade masks have the following benefits as: 

➤They are made up of (cotton) textile with the highest filter quality factor of 7.6(kpa^-1). 

➤ It is washable. 

➤ It is reusable. 

➤ From an economic point of view, it has further two important factors.

1.     It can maintain your budget.

2.    If you made this mask on your own on a small/ large economic scale so that you can earn from them.

➤ It can reduce the waste products and thus control the pollution and reduce the spread of disease. 

➤  It is easy to make. 

➤  It is according to your face size and can easily be adjusted. 

➤  It is easily wearable. 

➤  It is a source of business for you.

Recommendations

WHO World Health organizations recommend this to control disease where social distancing is not maintained. US center for disease control, JOHN HOPKINS university school of medicine, The Mayo Clinic, Cleveland clinic are also recommended the use of handmade face masks.

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Thanks 

Regards: 

Saleha Zulfiqar Ansari