Staying healthy is more important than ever in the time of
COVID-19. In fact, to help curb the spread of this incredibly contagious virus,
many states across the nation are requiring citizens to wear masks anytime they
go into a public place. You may have heard, though, that not all masks for
COVID-19 are created equal. It’s important to understand the differences in
these masks before you run out and purchase your first order – or, more likely
right now, click the “Add to Cart” button. This guide can help you select the
best masks for you and your employees!
Cloth Masks
Right now, many people are having a hard time getting their
hands on surgical or N95 masks. Because of this, there has been a strong uptick
of people sewing cloth masks at home, generally using cotton quilt fabric.
Although these masks are better than nothing, according to
the National Center for Biotechnology Information, they aren’t ideal for
blocking virus transmission. In fact, wearing one of these masks does more for
the people around you than it does for you. If you have a cough or are
displaying symptoms of COVID-19, wearing this type of mask can help contain
your germs.
However, if you can get your hands on a better mask, it’s
highly recommended since these are usually about ½ as effective as a surgical
mask.
Surgical Masks
Surgical masks are essentially disposable versions of
reusable cloth masks. They work similarly in that they protect other people
from the germs of the wearer. While these masks work twice as well as cloth
masks, they still don’t stand up to viruses like COVID-19 very well.
There are three different ratings for surgical masks,
depending on risk of exposure to bodily fluids. If you only have access to
surgical masks during this pandemic, you’ll want to go with the highest level
of protection to avoid spreading this virus.
Respirators
By far, the most ideal mask for preventing the spread of
COVID-19 is a respirator. These types of masks come in a variety of standards.
The most common ones you’ll hear about in reference to the novel coronavirus,
though, are N95, KN95, and FFP.
N95 and KN95 Masks
N95 and KN95 masks are equally protective. The only real
difference is that KN95 is the Chinese standard for respirators as opposed to
American standards. The important part is that they both block about 95% of
airborne particles, significantly reducing your chances of catching COVID-19.
These are the types of masks that most medical professionals are using right
now.
FFP1, FFP2, and FFP3
Of these masks, FFP3 masks have the top filtration rating,
preventing up to 99% of particles from breaking through the barrier. FFP2 are
similar to N95 and KN95 masks with a 94% filtration rate.
Get Masks for COVID-19 From Skylight
Right now, many factories that usually produce promotional
products have switched production to PPE in order to help protect our heroes on
the frontlines: medical professionals, grocery store clerks, custodians, the
list goes on. This puts us in a unique position to help people with their needs
while providing a lending hand to our community.
We recently set up an online
shop where you can purchase PPE for your employees, including surgical
masks, KN95 respirators, and branded custom face covers. We’re also carrying
face shields, goggles, gloves, and a number of other protective items to help
keep you and your employees safe and healthy.
Additionally, we are donating 10% of the proceeds from all
orders straight to Maryland organizations serving our communities and our
neighbors. You
can check out the shop here or contact your sales rep directly for more
information! More questions? Give us a call today at 410.879.8401.
