Bartlett Regional | House Calls | Summer 2020

What to know about cloth To be clear, these are not surgical face masks or N95 respirators. Those kinds of face coverings need to be reserved for health care workers. But you can wear a homemade cloth face mask, scarf or bandana when you’re on essential errands in public. It might help prevent you from spreading the virus to other people. Why the about-face? CDC says it revised its stance about face masks after recent studies showed that a significant portion of people with COVID-19 could spread the virus even if they have no symptoms themselves. If you wear a face mask routinely, there may be less chance you’ll spread the disease. Cloth face masks are not a substitute for social distancing. You still need to stay home as much as possible and stay at least 6 feet away THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC) is now recommending that everyone wear cloth face masks in public places where it would be hard to stay 6 feet from other people. FACE MASKS from other people in public. Also keep in mind, cloth face masks should not be placed on: X X Children under age 2. X X Anyone who has trouble breathing. X X Anyone who is unable to remove the mask without help. What to look for in a cloth face mask You can make your own cloth face masks at home. They should be made out of a material you can clean in a washing machine. That includes things like cotton sheets, a bandana or an old T-shirt. Cloth face coverings should also: X X Fit snugly but comfortably against the sides of the face. X X Be secured with ties or ear loops. X X Include more than one layer of fabric. X X Allow for easy breathing. X X Be able to be washed and dried without changing shape. You should wash your cloth face mask often. Be careful not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth when taking off your mask. And after you take it off, wash your hands right away. Don’t sew? No problem! See how to make a no-sew mask using just a piece of cloth and two rubber bands. Go to www.bartletthospital.org/ facemask . www.bartletthospital.org 3