Face masksprotect you from infectious diseases. If you are thinking about getting facemasks, you need to decide which type to buy and how many you should stock upon.

Different Masks Suit Different Uses

You can weardisposable masks that cover the nose and mouth for protection from theenvironment or to prevent spreading your bugs to others. But not all masks arecreated equal and are used for different purposes.

For example,masks used for hygiene during food preparation are typically labelled as “papermasks”. These are thin, single-layered or two-layered paper masks and are notmeant for protection from haze or to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

Cover Your Cough withSurgical Masks

If you are shopping for a mask to stop the spread of aninfection to your family or colleagues, look for a surgical mask that consistsof two or more layers of flat or pleated fabric. A good quality surgical maskgenerally has a three-ply layer with the innermost layer used for absorbingmoisture, the middle layer is a filter and outermost layer repels water.

Surgical masks are made from fabric or polypropylene and shouldhave a minimum of 95 percent bacteria filtration efficiency. You can findout what it is made of from the box label.

Ever wondered why some masks have pleats? The pleated materialallows you to expand the mask so that it covers the area from the nose to thechin.

Surgical masks can also protect you when others around you aresick. You should always wear the mask with the pleated side facing out.

There are also different ways to secure the mask. A popularmethod is with ear loops where a string-like material attached to the mask isplaced behind the ears. Some masks have loose tie-ons that consist of fourstraps to tie the mask around the head, or elastic straps that stretch tosecure the mask to your head.

Be Free from the Hazewith Respirators

For  a mask that reduces your exposure to airborneelements, look for a “respirator” such as an N95 mask. Not to be confused withsurgical masks, respirators have a higher filtering efficiency and are made tohave a better fit than conventional face masks. They typically come in acontour cup design, have an adjustable nose piece and have at least two elasticstraps that go around the head, one above the ears and one below.

Tip: Respirators arenot designed to fit children as their faces may be too small for therespirators to fit properly. While it is not ideal, it is better for childrento wear a surgical mask if protection is needed.

A Buying Checklist

Disposable masks and respirators are meant for single-use andshould never be shared, washed or recycled. So if your mask or respirator getsdamaged, soiled or if you have trouble breathing with it on, it should bediscarded and replaced with a new one.

When buying your masks and respirators, check for:

• The manufacturer's name printed on its packaging.

• The filtration efficiency that you are looking for. Surgical masks should have a filtration efficiency of 80 percent or higher, and N95 respirators should have a filtration efficiency of 95 percent.

• An expiry date on its packaging. Unused disposable respirators are valid for about three years from the date of the manufacture—if they are not opened and are stored properly.

• A listing of materials. Make sure it does not contain materials that you are allergic to.

• A good fit.

So when you need to stock up on masks, keep an eye out for thosethat suit your needs. Masks and respirators are available at pharmacies,clinics and supermarkets, such as Unity, Watsons, Guardian, Cold Storage andFairPrice