Do you know on which side should you wear a surgical face mask? There are certain hoaxes about the use of surgical face masks in Canada. It was said that surgical masks were 'reversible,' something like: 'blue is the filter, put it to the side you want to protect' from a way that would turn the blue side out if you are infected and towards oneself if it is to protect you from the infection. We understand that it is a hoax, but many of us for sure do not know what side to put on.
Summing up: Is there a difference between using them on one side and the other? If so, what is the difference? On which side should they be used?
When the shortage caused by the breakage of the distribution lines implies the need to reuse and use the masks with the FFP2 filter, as well as the obligation of the intensive use of surgical face masks in Canada, normally, confusion makes us sensitive to certain rumors that run on the internet.
In this regard, as we explained which surgical face masks protect, which ones don't and how to use them, usually in operating rooms and postoperative care, as well as in cases of less pressing epidemics. Surgical face masks in Canada is used only once and is thrown into the wastebasket, as indicated by the security protocol. However, at this scarcity, health personnel are forced to use and recycle surgical face masks in Canada in an unprecedented situation.
This raises doubts that sometimes seem a bit absurd to us but that are due to the insecurity that overwhelms us. And the same that can be applied to health personnel, it is true for all of us, who use the masks that we can on the street. Is there a difference between using them on one side and the other?
So, why do surgical masks have a blue side and a white side?
As you know, surgical face masks in Canada protect the patient so that we do not contaminate the field. They are placed with the white part facing inside because the filter is blue, allowing the particles to remain in the mask.
The masks are placed the other way around. With the blue inside that is to protect ourselves and that the filter prevents the particles from entering us. If we are going to contact someone suspected or confirmed, and we do not have the approved filter masks.
If we put on two surgical face masks (the first
with blue inwards and the second with blue facing out), we achieve an effect
similar to that of filter masks.
Why the filter always has to go out
Surgical face masks in Canada-unlike paper masks, which are single-use and cannot be recycled because being made of cellulose, they cannot be washed. They must be used in such a way as to protect patients adequately.
Surgical face masks only protect from the inside out
This is due to their triple-layer design: the outer, or colored, is a fluid-repellent layer. Although it has little effect, the central, more compact cellulose is a barrier, a small filter against bacteria. Finally, the inner or white layer is the one that absorbs the substances. The correct way is to place the colored part green or blue towards the outside. Nevertheless, use white one towards the inside.
Let's put it upside down.
Placing the fluid repellent layer inside and the absorbent outside does not make any sense. Nor does it protect against external agents. These masks do not have micro particle filters that prevent the circulation of the virus from the outside to the inside. So they lack that effect, even though we do not use them.
What's more?
Putting a surgical one backward can be counterproductive: the absorbent layer can absorb even the droplets with viruses present in the environment. In addition, the seams would not fit well to the face, and we would leave a gap higher.
Important: the surgical face mask must be thrown
away after each use since they are not reusable.
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