Why a surgical mask?

The Basics

• Different types of personal protective equipment exist for the purpose of preventing infection.  Masks are commonly used to shield the nose and mouth from airborne exposure to infectious droplets; they are also used to prevent the spread of droplets from an infectious source. 
  

• When it comes to pandemic flu, you may hear talk of different types of masks.  Surgical masks are commonly used for source control (reducing the likelihood that an infectious source will spread the infection to another individual) while N95 respirators are used to prevent the acquisition of infectious droplets from a sick person. 
  

Surgical Masks

Surgical masks are commonly seen in health care venues; they are also frequently used in non-medical settings.  Surgical masks do not prevent the wearer from acquiring an infection from someone else (viruses are smaller than the weaving of the material and can get through the barrier).  However, surgical masks provide an excellent means of trapping respiratory droplets (like those that come from coughs and sneezes) from people who are sick, thereby reducing the chance that the sick person infects others around him or her. Surgical masks can be found at your local drug or hardware store.

N95 Respirators

N95 respirators are masks that are designed to prevent the inhalation of airborne particles such as viruses.  They form a tight seal around the mouth and nose and require "fit testing" to ensure the mask fits the face appropriately and does not leak.  Wearers of N95 respirators breathe in filtered air that has had small particles removed. N95 respirators can be found at your local drug or hardware store.

For more information:

• Mask and respirator information: http://www.pandemicflu.gov/vaccine/mask.html
  

• Check out this website from the Australian Department of Health and Ageing: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/phd-pandemic-prepared-protected.htm
  
• Click "Play", then view "Section 8: Using a Face Mask"