In this month’s article published in the AARP, Eli Perencevich, M.D., professor of internal medicine and epidemiology at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, explains on cons and pros of the face shields.
Unlike masks — which people tend to let slip under their nose, or worse, off their face completely — “it’s hard to wear a face shield incorrectly,” Perencevich says.
Incorrect wear of face masks produce an increasing risk of spreading infectious particles trapped on a surface of the mask around the face and leaving contamination to enter your body freely. Touching a mask with hands to adjust it frequently creates another example of incorrect wear, leaving contaminants on your hands that can later be transferred to the face or eyes.
Just make sure that face shield is positioned properly on your head. The forehead band should sit approximately 1/2 inch to 1 inch above the eyebrows, according to a University of Iowa Health Care explainer, and the bottom of the shield should sit below chin level.
Additionally, it’s important to notice that face shields are very easy to disinfect and keep clean between the uses.
According to the CDC recommendation, face shield should extend bellow the chin and wrap around the face on the wearer.
It’s also a double protection, when face shield is worn with a mask Dr. Perencevich says. “The face shield will protect the mask from being contaminated and then block additional droplets from your whole face, including your eyes.”
According to Dr. Fauci and Dr. Birx, eye protection is equally important in reducing the spread of the virus. The mucosa is in the nose, mouth, but you also have mucosa in the eyes. For complete protection, they both recommend protecting the eyes in addition to the nose and mouth.
Leave a Reply