Top 5 DIY Face Mask Dos and Donts

Now that the World is in lockdown, there are some important ways one can remain engaged to serve the community, engage one's time and generally live with oneself.

The biggest need for the hour are face masks. Do go and make those face masks and distribute them amongst your local health workers, sanitary workers and use them yourselves too.

The best way to prepare those DIY Face masks are to use the Government health department directives. That will ensure that the masks maintain the highest standards of hygiene.

While lack of PPE are being felt daily by health care workers, one can do one's small bit to help the people who are helping us fight this deadly virus.

Just creating 10 masks by a billion people can produce 10 billion masks. 

The Dos and Donts of Using a mask

WHO says just masks arent going to be effective. They have to be used in conjunction with frequest washing of hands. Further, masks need to be disposed off properly. 

The masks that are used need to be clean. They should have have been cleaned or disinfected using UV rays, heat, soap water, alcohol, etc. So beware of the multiple DIY masks going around unless one is sure of their genesis.

It is essential at this time that people going out should wear masks. WHO has revised its advisory and is asking people to wear masks. However, one should see that the people with risk have first access to the essential item before grabbing them off the shelves.

Here comes the utility of the DIY masks

The advantages of the DIY home masks are

• They can be reused
• A double layer of cotton mask is somewhat effective though no where near the N95 in filtering. However, its better than no mask, and being strongly recommended by the WHO and Govt agencies 
• Easily made at home and disinfected
• Breathable

All you need to do to create these masks are putting together old clothes, some basic stiching skills, and disinfecting in hot water and soap.

There are multiple sites giving instructions on how to make these DIY masks.

To be effective and cover the face really well, the adult masks should be pleated and be 9 inch X 7 inch in size. The pleats ensure the extra layering to keep out the small droplets.

A strip at either end is stuck to tie the mask to the face. It can be a long strip to tie the mask at the back of the head or can be a loop to loop the mask around the ear.

So here's to creating masks and fighing the Corona Virus our way.