MIND – BAME Community

Mental health & Covid-19 Safety and Prevention Awareness Information

While you can keep your own home clean and sanitized, going out to stores or public spaces increases the risk of contagion.

Commonly touched surfaces such as store counters and gas pumps can be contaminated if an ill person touched them before you. And while you should remember to keep your distance from others, you may unwittingly find yourself in the vicinity of ill individuals as you wait in line to buy basic necessities.

Wearing a face mask when going outside is helpful in protecting yourself and others from infection during an outbreak.

Face Masks

Face masks can help limit the spread of germs when an ill person talks, coughs or sneezes. By wearing these masks, ill persons can help prevent spreading disease to others.

Wear a face mask if you are ill with a communicable disease or suspect you are.

It is also important to know that you could be contagious without even realizing it. For example, a person may have germs in his body yet have no symptoms of illness. But someone else in contact with him can still get infected.

Hence you should always wear a face mask when around the elderly or persons with health problems to reduce the spread of germs.

Also wear a face mask if you are likely to come in contact with infected persons.

A mask can serve another purpose—it can help prevent you from touching your mouth or nose.

For example, if you touch a surface that was contaminated by an ill person who touched it before you, germs will get onto your hands. If you then touch your nose or mouth with your hand, these germs will enter your body and infect you. This is one of the main ways germs can spread.

So a mask can help prevent infection as you are less likely to touch your own mouth and nose when wearing one.

How to wear a mask

Step 1

Before putting on a face mask, wash your hands with soap and water. If these are not available, use hand sanitizer.

Step 2

Inspect the mask to make sure it has no obvious tears or holes that would render it ineffective.

Step 3

Determine which side of the mask is the front. The colored side of the mask is the side that faces away from you.

Step 4

Determine which side of the mask is the top. If the mask has a nose clip (a stiff, bendable edge), this is meant to mold to the shape of your nose and is the top.

Step 5

If your mask has elastic bands that fit over your head, hold the mask on your face while stretching the bands over your head to secure it in place.

Step 6

If your mask has ear loops, hold the mask by the loops and place a loop around each ear.

Step 7

If the straps of your mask are adjustable, tighten them as needed to help keep the mask in place.

Step 8

If the straps of your mask aren’t adjustable, you can shorten them, if needed, to help keep the mask in place. Simply twist each strap to make a loop and fit a loop around each ear.

Step 9

Adjust the nose clip. Use the fingertips of both hands to mold the nose clip firmly against the bridge of your nose.

Step 10

Pull the bottom of the mask as far as you can over your mouth and chin.

Note: If you are wearing glasses, a properly adjusted nose clip will help prevent your glasses from fogging.

 
 

Resting your glasses on top of your face mask will also block air from escaping and fogging the lenses.

 
 
 
 

How to remove a mask

By removing a face mask correctly, you reduce the risk of spreading bacteria or a virus to your bare skin or the surfaces around you. To remove a face mask, do the following:

Step 1

Before removing a face mask, wash your hands with soap and water. If these are not available, use hand sanitizer.

Step 2

Avoid touching the part of the mask that covers the face. Touch only the bands or loops used to secure it.

Step 3

If your mask has elastic bands that fit over your head, lift the bottom band over your head first, then pull the top band over your head.

Step 4

If your mask has ear loops, hold them both and gently lift to remove the mask.

Step 5

Dispose of the face mask after each use. Never reuse it.

Step 6

Wash your hands thoroughly.

This information is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions you may have.

source: scientology