Susan Holt
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction:
When a person knows how to do everything himself, he does not depend on circumstances. Crafting is an enjoyable hobby. One should create things from those they already have. A mask is a general requirement for protecting one's self from the environment. So the idea to make a mask for yourself is not superfluous.
And so, if you set yourself the goal of making a mask for yourself or your loved ones, a lot of questions might spring up in your mind. You are lucky because you can get answers to all those questions in this book.
I tried to gather here a brief, but in-depth information about the masks, how they work, the pathogens they can protect you from, and how to use them. It has a detailed description of the fabrics that can be used for making a mask. This book has lessons to guide you how to make a mask for yourself!
And most importantly, to manufacture a mask you do not need any special devices, except for simple threads and needles, or some other improvised means which are discussed in this book. And you dont need any special skills, believe me, I experienced it myself, and I'm not an expert by I did it. This is easy but worth doing.
your time is essential to me, so the book contains as much as possible useful and practical information that you can take and use in order to learn how to make masks in a short time.
And so, if you want to protect yourself during the periods of exacerbation in the world. When infections are waiting for you at your doorstep so, use this book, make your own mask, stay calm and feel the charm. Yeah, obviously living in an environment full of diseases you must also consider other preventive and proper guidelines that were discussed side by side in this book.
History
Mask is protecting medical equipment. It comforts you in different situations of life. The invention and implication of masks go back to a medical emergency in the world in the 19th century , that gave birth to this useful and protective equipment. It was more often called the plague's doctor mask, which first came into the application during the bubonic breakout in Europe. It was the era of the Middle Ages. The first medical mask has glass coverings for the eye openings and a beak that contains some garlic, salts, and other herbs for medicinal purposes. These contents present created an antibacterial environment. In the 19th century, people used wool bandage as a mask that had a valve for support. This is how the use of medical masks came into existence.
Later on, the old masks were replaced with new and advance kind of masks. During those days, a widely spread disease called "Spanish flu" occurred. It took lives of about a hundred million people. Initially, cotton masks were used by people.
In the 20th century, the widespread use of disposable masks was seen. Polymeric materials that were prepared synthetically were used for making these disposable masks. They can be frequently seen today. That is how the use of masks began and evolved with time to aid the doctors, medical staff, and humanity.
Modern Era and Masks
We are living in a modern world where each day brings innovation to your life. Changes are always good as new things add up to your life. The medical mask we use today is not the same that was used in the 19th century. Gauze bandage mask was the first type of mask ever used. Gauze is a surgical material that is resistant to autoclaving. It is inexpensive material so that is why it was most commonly used. But the masks used today are somewhat different. Nowadays, the polymeric substance is used for making medical masks. They are spunbond, unlike gauze bandage masks. The modern mask has three layers. There is a filter in the middle layer of the mask. The modern mask has a specific aluminium insert that is added for the support at the nose. It keeps the mask right at its place. There are accessories attached to the mask, which include ear loops, a layer of a hydrophobic material, a screen along with a film. We can easily understand that ear loops keep the mask at its place as they hold it between ears. A layer of hydrophobic material is added to the mask. It is to resist the moisture content. Additional layers might be added to the mask to enhance its protective effect. The additional layers include a screen and a protective film. The film is to prevent the contact of biological fluids with the mask whereas the screen is specially designed to protect the formation of fog inside spectacles.
Classification of Masks
Generally, medical masks have been divided into two categories based on their use and role. There are two types of medical masks based on there use. This classification is specific for the non-woven polymeric Masks
Procedural Mask
Surgical Mask
Procedural Masks
The procedural mask can be defined as the one used for daily life purposes. An individual can make it a part of one's daily routine. Procedural Mask is often referred to as regular or every day's mask. The procedural mask consists of three layers, an inner layer and outer layer, while a middle layer consists of a filter. Procedural masks are designed by placing a filter in between two layers of fabric. There are two types of procedural masks. One is for the adults and one for children. The adult mask is 17595 mm, whereas that used for children is 14080 mm.
Surgical Masks
Surgical masks are used by doctors, nurses, and paramedics during surgery. Surgical masks are prepared using a non-woven fabric. Surgical Mask has four different layers. Three of them are similar to that of the procedural mask. Along with them is the fluid-resistant barrier. The fluid-resistant layer has been placed to inhibit the entrance and contact of biological fluids with skin while carrying out surgical procedures. There is a screen attached to the surgical masks to prevent the formation of fog on glasses. Surgical masks should be used in specific conditions only. T h ey are further classified as sterile or non-sterile. Sterile masks are expensive so procedural masks as are preferred upon the surgical masks for everyday use. However, there are some cases in which we might feel the need to use a sterile mask. Operation theatres, labs, and sterilized rooms are the places where it is necessary to keep the environment sterile. It is not easy to manufacture sterile masks because of the high costs rendered during the process. So, to make our procedures economically feasible sterile masks are limited to certain vicinities and not ordinary rooms.
From What and How the Mask Protects
Coughing and sneezing bring out some contents from the body that are harmful to others. They are pathogens actually. When a person coughs, he or she pulls out the air along with droplets from the respiratory tract forcefully. Coughing is not a normal phenomenon. It does not usually place. Whenever a person's respiratory system is facing obstructions in the continuous flow of air, cough occurs. The same goes for sneezing! It is not a normal process, and the person might need to do this after being the victim of common cold, flu, or other viral diseases. During coughing and sneezing a person expels out harmful substances and mucus. Virus and bacteria may be present in the mucous. The sick person unintentionally adds infectious agents to the environment. They affect the healthy individuals So here comes the protective and beneficial effect of the mask. If the person is wearing a mask, the tiny droplets he coughs or sneezes are held within the mask. It saves the other person, the healthy one, from inhaling those viral droplets . An infectious agent can enter the body of a healthy individual if one touches the contaminated surface. But if you are wearing a mask, it serves as a barrier and protects you from becoming the innocent victim of these viruses.
