The world has come to a standstill due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Safety norms such as social distancing and sanitisation have become a part of daily lives. As a result, it is imperative to take care of professional and personal safety while following all precautionary measures. Global health experts have emphasised on the effectiveness of 3 Ply Face Masks in these times.
3-Ply Face Masks, also known as surgical masks, serve as protective gear against several microorganisms that are present in the liquid aerosols and droplets shed from the mouth of an individual. They are best suited for personal use.
UrPrinters.com ranks amongst the most trustworthy wholesalers who provide a diverse range of health and safety products. They are especially known for their wide range of face masks that cater to the diverse customer base.
Curated below is a detailed guide about surgical face masks to aid businesses in purchasing the best-quality products at an affordable wholesale rate.
What Material are Surgical Masks Made of?
The three layers of the mask constitute of two non-woven layers of fabric and a central layer that is made from melt-blown or spun-bound material. The outermost layer is hydrophobic in nature, thus making it water-resistant. The middle layer is the main layer of filtration and is made from a melt-blown or spun-bound material, thus preventing the influx of microbes. Finally, the innermost layer is hydrophilic, making it absorbent of any droplets coming out of the mouth of the wearer.
What are the Different Levels of Surgical Face Masks?
Surgical Masks are cautiously tested by ASTM International to assess their quality and safety. Based on these assessments, there are three levels of surgical face masks.
Level 1 – these ensure low barrier protection for general use that include low-risk, nonsurgical procedures and exams. They do not protect against aerosols, sprays and fluids. An ear loop mask is a level 1 mask. ASTM level 1 masks are the general standard for both surgical and procedural use.
Level 2 – these offer moderate barrier protection for low-to-moderate levels of aerosols, sprays and fluids.
Level 3 – these provide maximum barrier protection for any situation that has the potential for exposure to heavy levels of aerosols, sprays and fluids. These are of the highest levels and are mostly used by frontline workers as they are prone to maximum risks.
What are the Types of Surgical Face Masks?
Surgical Face Masks are essentially of two types, based on the material of the middle layer. These are melt-blown or spun-bound. Both these layers are the main layer of protection against potentially hazardous contaminants.
Apart from this, surgical face masks vary as per the inclusion of a nose pin. The nose pin in a mask is a soft piece of cloth that is adjustable. It helps to adjust the mask in the shape of the nose of the person wearing the mask.
How do these Masks Provide Protection?
Hydrophobic Outer Layer
The outermost layer of the Surgical Mask is hydrophobic, which means that it is water-resistant. Therefore, this provides protection against water droplets, aerosols, and other body fluids. This is an important requirement during the times of the pandemic as it safeguards the individual from breathing in potential carrier droplets of the virus.
Hydrophilic Inner Layer
It is simultaneously imperative that the bodily fluids such as sweat, saliva, and water droplets do not come in contact with that of others. Therefore, the hydrophilic inner layer of the Surgical Masks absorbs these droplets, thus providing extra security.
How to Wear Surgical Masks?
An individual must always clean their hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer before touching the mask. Thereafter, they must remove the mask from the box and make sure there are no obvious tears or holes in either side of the mask.
After this, the user has to determine which side of the mask is the top. The side of the mask that has a stiff bendable edge is the top and is meant to mould to the shape of the individual’s nose. Usually, the coloured side of the mask is usually the front and should face away, while the white side touches the face.
Face Mask with Ear loops: The mask must be held by the ear loops and then a loop should be placed around each ear.
Face Mask with Ties: The mask must be brought to the nose level and the ties should be placed over the crown of the individual’s head and secured with a bow.
How Many Times Can a Surgical Face Mask be Used?
Surgical face masks are for single-use purposes only. Thus, they must be immediately disposed of after use. They are best suited for individuals who are in the frontline, especially in hospitals, medical institutions, media, cleanliness and sanitation, among others.
One of the common complaints with most masks is that they need to be washed after each wear. Additionally, they need to washed with critical care so that not even a trinket of germs remains. However, individuals are saved from this tedious task as they can simply dispose of the surgical masks after use.
What is the Approximate Costing?
Face masks have become an essential commodity of daily utility. Despite this, most face masks cost tremendously high, thus burning a major hole in the pockets, especially when purchased at wholesale.
Surgical masks are available at an affordable rate, starting at prices from Rs 499/- for a wholesale pack of 500 masks.
Where to Buy Surgical Face Masks?
Surgical Masks are available in abundance across both online and offline stores. However, it is paramount that businesses make their wholesale purchase from authentic vendors since this is a matter of the safety of their employees.
A trustworthy website that promises to provide the best safety products during these times of crisis is UrPrinters.com. They offer a diverse range of safety and hygiene products at affordable rates. One among their bestsellers is the Surgical Masks that are available in bulk at an affordable wholesale price on the website. These Surgical Masks are available in business-specific curated bulk packs that can be purchased as per the individual requirements of the businesses.