A Step-by-Step Guide to Making and Wearing Your Custom Reusable Face Covering

17:17 12th April 2020 | COVID-19

COVID-19 Lockdown Face mask DIY Stay safe Flatten the curve Stop the spread face covering face mask

(CNN) -- There’s one thing you should know before diving into the conversation around masks: The public should not purchase surgical masks or N95 respirators. Health care workers are facing shortages and need those masks to treat coronavirus patients.

As such while face coverings are recommended, they are not mandatory. Homemade masks are also not a substitute for social distancing and staying in.

How to Wear Cloth Face Coverings

Cloth face coverings should—

• fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face

• be secured with ties or ear loops

• include multiple layers of fabric

• allow for breathing without restriction

• be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape.

Some Simple Mask Rules:

Do not buy and hoard medical masks. Health care professionals are already facing a devastating shortage in supplies, and we should not use protective masks that ill patients and health care workers may need.
Do not put a face mask on kids under 2 years old—or anyone who has difficulty breathing or might be unable to remove the mask themselves.
Do not remove a mask by its mouth area. Grab it by the straps. Wash your hands after touching it.
Do not just wear a standard bandana or scarf. Follow the instructions below to create a mask that has multiple layers and more tightly covers your face.

By now you’ve figured out that wearing a mask is not as simple as all those TV doctors made it look. And in COVID-19 times, they don't come cheap when found. So here’s our guide to the wear and care of your new mask.

Check out this link for a video tutorial on How to make a DIY T-shirt face mask with ease!

FAQs on how to handle Custom-made masks

Q: Should cloth face coverings be washed or otherwise cleaned regularly? How regularly?

A: Yes. They should be routinely washed depending on the frequency of use.

Q: How does one safely sterilize/clean a cloth face covering?

A: A washing machine should suffice in properly washing a cloth face covering.

Q: How does one safely remove a used cloth face covering?

A: Individuals should be careful not to touch their eyes, nose, and mouth when removing their cloth face covering and wash hands immediately after removing.

Whether you are wearing a face-covering or not, health regulatory bodies still recommend that you:

Wash your hands regularly.
Cover your face when coughing with a tissue or the inside of your elbow.
Avoid touching your face, because you could transmit the virus from your hands into your mouth.
Stay at home, except for essential trips outside like trips to the grocery store or to see your doctor.
Practice social distancing by staying at least 6 feet away from other people.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily

If you notice any of these respiratory symptoms like fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. Please call the National Centre For Disease Control (NCDC) on 07032864444 or 080097000010 (toll-free).

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