A number of preventive measures and guidelines are illustrated by different health organization that help prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19. One of these prominent preventive measures are, wearing masks.

Wearing mask is advised when you are out in public place or when you have flu like symptoms, or when you are in home isolation. People have a variety of options to choose from, for their masks, like may prefer wearing cloth mask, some prefer surgical mask, while some go with KN95 masks.

Well, recently you might have come across a new strategy used by people for wearing masks, that is Double Masking Strategy! 

Let us know all about this new masking strategy, whether you should opt it, or if you opt it how safe is it?

What is Double Masking? 

Double masking is simply when people while wearing mask, layer one mask with another. That is when they wear one mask on top of the other.

What Are Its Advantages? 

Best Fit……

It is advised to people that wear mask that fits your face, but it seem to be a difficult task to find a mask that fit our face properly.

Many types of masks don’t fit perfectly on your face. In fact, you’ve probably noticed that you feel air escaping through the sides of your mask when you breathe in and out.

The not-fit mask would certainly allow respiratory droplets containing the virus to escape from your mask, also they will allow to enter them in. However, when you double your mask, you can prevent this from happening.

How, understand it! When you wear double mask that is one on top of the other, the outer mask apply gentle pressure on the edges of the inner mask, making them perfectly fit with your face, thus creating a better seal.

Increase Filtration Capacity……

Wearing mask is advised because in most of the case it has been seen that COVID-19 mainly spread through respiratory droplets that are made when someone who’s contracted the virus, talks, coughs, and sneezes.

How Wearing Mask Protect Us? The material in a mask filter out the respiratory droplets and prohibit them from entering into our mouth or nose. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends using a face mask with at least two or three layers of fabric.

Thus, if you double your mask that is wear one mask on top of the other, it will improve filtration capacity even more, as this time the virus containing droplets will be filtered out twice.

How To Double Your Mask? 

Now its time to know how to opt doble masking strategy. How you should double your mask and which type of mask you should use for doubling, to make it safer and more effective. Here are some tips to get you started.

The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention suggest using the proper mask combination while opting double masking strategy. The CDC recommends layering a cloth mask over a surgical mask.

Avoid other mask combinations……..

Some mask combinations may not improve fit or may make it hard to breathe. As such, avoid combinations of the following:

• two surgical masks
• a KN95 and any other type of mask
• an N95 and any other type of mask

Test at home first! 

Try out your double mask at home before using it in public. Check for things like:

Whether It Perfectly Fits! Make sure that the outer mask helps press the inner mask close to your face, forming a seal. To do this, cup your hands over your mask and feel for air escaping from the edges as you breathe.

You Can Breathe Comfortably! While breathing may require a little extra effort when you’re double masking, it shouldn’t make breathing difficult.

So basically, if you can maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from others outside your household, a single mask can give good protection. However, a double mask can be beneficial when you’re:

• going shopping
• visiting the doctor
• traveling with others outside your household, such as by plane, train, or public transportation
• working a job where you cannot maintain physical distancing

Stay Informed! Get Vaccinated! Stay Safe! 

Thank You!