A Short Guide to Traveling With a Face Mask

 

If you need to travel during the pandemic, then you may be aware that in addition to health measures like frequent hand-washing and social distancing, you'll also need an airplane face mask to help protect yourself and others from the COVID-19 virus. Airlines, passenger trains, and ride-sharing companies like Lyft and Uber now require travelers to cover their noses and mouths, but wearing a HOOD-19™ and SHIELD-19™ by Colorado Cases will also protect another critical mucous membrane area; your eyes.

With medical experts' advice, the U.S. Travel Association has stated that mask usage is an essential element needed for a safe and speedy recovery of travel and tourism. While there are many airplane face masks to choose from, wearing a lightweight HOOD-19™ and SHIELD-19™ by Colorado Cases will give you extra protection. They are also less expensive than other combination coverage options, such as N-95 masks paired with separate eye protection, like goggles.

The HOOD-19™ and SHIELD-19™ are also made out of a PET clear monfilm providing a clear, direct, and peripheral vision in all weather conditions. They are designed to be comfortably worn for long periods of time, whether as an airplane face mask or anywhere you go. If you're going shopping, to work, or out to other public spaces, you can wear this high-quality PPE with confidence.

The Best Face Masks for Travel

 

Wearing a travel face mask has been commonplace in Asia for a long time. In their populous cities, it's a gesture of goodwill. Most people see face masks as a way to protect others from any germs you may be carrying. It's also a small way to reduce the risk of catching a virus yourself. In the west, face masks are new and have only become common with the onset of the COVID-19 crisis.

For the average person, regular N95 masks are difficult to find and use as a travel face mask. They also do not protect your eyes in crowded places (like using mass transit) the way wearing a HOOD-19 or SHIELD-19 by Colorado Cases would.

Which Face Masks are Most Effective?

The consensus among medical professionals is that any travel face mask is better than wearing none because:

• It Is a Physical Reminder Not to Touch Your Face
• It Prevents Infected Droplets From Traveling To and From Your Mouth
• It Is a Visual Signal That You Care About Transmission
• It Is a Signal That You Wish Others to Respect Physical Distancing

 

Best Everyday Protection

SHIELD-19 and HOOD-19, as sold by Colorado Cases, Inc, prevents viruses from spreading through mucus membranes. Our eyes contain mucus membranes, and most masks do not provide eye protection.

SHIELD-19 and HOOD-19 are travel face masks made of fluid-proof durable nylon material and has a large, optically clear window for excellent front and peripheral vision. It is also adjustable with a hook-and-loop strap in the back.

The SHIELD-19 and HOOD-19 are made out of a Durable Water Repellent nylon fabric and PET monfilm and is perfect for staff who work in warmer environments such as emergency rooms and factories.

Why Wearing a Face Mask is Important

 As the novel coronavirus pandemic continues, many personal protective equipment companies are coming up with new development, which helps people reduce the risk of transmitting it to others. One such company, Colorado Cases, Inc., released a product they call the Protective Hood-19. As its name suggests, it is a hood that covers the entirety of the face and shields the eyes, nose, and mouth from respiratory droplets.

The Protective Hood-19 is the next step in humanity’s fight against a new, viral threat. It is also an improvement of what has already been shown to be an effective defense against transmission: using a face mask.

A Refresher on Face Mask Usage

While COVID-19 control measures are ongoing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise that everyone who must go outside or visit a public space should wear a face mask. This guideline is firmly set in place based on research noting how the virus spreads: respiratory droplets entering the body.

Face masks prevent the spread of infection by being a physical barrier that blocks airborne infectious germs. When worn properly, it prevents respiratory droplets from entering a person’s mouth or nose.

Also, a mask prevents the wearer from spreading their droplets to others. Since most carriers of COVID-19 are asymptomatic, wearing a mask can do much in reducing the risk of transmission.

The Protective Hood-19 is recommended for essential workers and healthcare professionals. While it can offer maximum protection, a standard face mask can also provide sufficient defense against airborne illness.

The Pros and Cons of Face Shields

 Companies that design personal protective equipment are releasing new products to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus. One such entity has released the Protective Shield-19, a variant of the face shield that is used in medical applications. This product combines a protective hood and conventional face shield elements to provide a complete-coverage solution against airborne germs.

One of the standout features of the Protective Shield-19 is its use of the face shield. This post will cover the advantages and disadvantages of the conventional shield.

A Brief Overview of Face Shields

A face shield is particularly effective as an additional layer of protection for the wearer. COVID-19 spreads from respiratory droplets that can enter a person’s body through their eyes, nose, or mouth. Shields cover the face entirely, thereby protecting the eyes. When paired with a face mask, it is useful in blocking respiratory droplets.

On the downside, the face shield cannot be treated as a substitute for a mask.  That’s because the gaps in the sides and bottom of the shield still provide sufficient space for the wearer’s own droplets to become airborne and spread to others. Simply put, having a shield isn’t enough–you need to pair it with a mask to get its intended protection.

Even so, innovations like the Protective Shield-19 and its variants are only part of the bigger picture: reducing illness spread. In order to control the proliferation of COVID-19, it will be necessary for others to wear masks, be mindful of social distancing guidelines, and minimize exposure to large crowds.

How Mask Shaming Has Permeating the Public Discourse

 The general public is particularly adept at applying peer pressure--especially when it comes to shaming. A pandemic doesn’t change people’s habits as much as it amplifies them. A hot topic that has entered the public discourse is mask shaming: shaming others who refuse to wear a medical face mask or similar covering.

Using a mask has become a controversy for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, COVID-19 is a new virus, which means that scientists and medical professionals are still learning new things about its spread to this day. In all respects, studying this virus is uncharted territory, and it is easy to fear the unknown.

In the early days of the outbreak there was also a shortage of medical masks and N-95 respirators, which meant these items had to be reserved for healthcare personnel and first responders. As a consequence, the insistence by government leaders to not use these medical face masks as a rationing measure resulted in a mixed reception amongst the general public.

How the Controversy Evolved

Since April, the mask shaming controversy has changed into a hotly contested and politicized affair. Inconsistent public policy regarding masks at the federal and state levels also meant that people were left to make their own decisions, and this led to getting information (or validation) based on an individual’s biases and long-held beliefs--regardless of medical accuracy. As a result, if one didn’t feel like wearing a mask, they could cite outdated recommendations to justify their behavior.

Another factor is fear. Responding aggressively to stimuli is a self-defense mechanism that is inherent in every human being. The fear response attempts to exert power over something. In this case, it’s a two-way street. A proponent of masks might shame people into taking precautions. Likewise, an opponent of masks might guilt others into thinking that they are being controlled or are giving up their civil liberties.

Medical face masks have been shown to assist in slowing the transmission of COVID-19. As controversy continues, it will be crucial for leaders and medical professionals to implement policies that benefit public health.

The Dos and Don’ts of Wearing a Face Mask

Since COVID-19 can spread without anybody exhibiting symptoms, a key guideline put in place by the CDC is to use face coverings when going to places where seeing people is a possibility--this includes grocery stores, doctor’s offices, and other public spaces.

The medical face mask for front line workers has become a key item in fighting the spread of coronavirus. However, the CDC does not advise the public to buy surgical masks or N-95 respirators, as medical workers and first responders will need access to them. Instead, it has been recommended to use cloth masks.

Protecting Yourself and Others

A folded cloth with some rubber bands is a cost-effective way to make a face covering. While there are many guides to make one online, you still have to know the proper way to wear a face mask to maintain its effectiveness.

When wearing a mask, DO:

Cover Your Nose, Mouth, and Chin

Keep the Covering Snug to Your Face

Wash the Cloth Regularly

NEVER do the following with a mask:

Keep It Loose or Leave Gaps on the Sides

Have the Covering Rest on Your Neck Area

Leave the Nose or Mouth Exposed

Remember: in a pandemic, public health is everyone’s responsibility. By taking a measured approach to risk and acting accordingly, you can protect your community and save lives. In case you do not have the means to make a mask at home, many retailers are selling medical face masks that can be bought by the public.

Is a Face Shield a Better Alternative to a Protective Face Mask?

Protective face masks do a lot of good in helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other airborne viruses, but not everybody is a fan of them. Luckily, there are PPE alternatives to these masks that can offer the level of protection a person needs when they go out while eliminating many of the complaints people have about standard masks.

Face shields, such as the SHIELD-19, deliver a high level of protection for users by covering the eyes, mouth, and nose all at the same time. These are the three main areas for infection. That means this safety option is a great way to do what you can to make sure you are mitigating contact with airborne droplets, sneezes, coughs, accidental chemical splashes, and unconscious hand-to-face contact.

While there are many different separate options you can purchase that can help you protect your eyes and mucous membranes, such as goggles or N-95 masks, it can become pretty expensive to try and buy each individual part. With a HOOD-19 and a SHIELD-19, however, you are able to reduce your costs as well as the potential risk of exposure.