Respirator against coronavirus (which will protect, class of protection): how to disinfect

Due to the rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the choice of means of protecting the lungs and mucous membranes has become more relevant than ever. Will a respirator save you from coronavirus and what characteristics should the product have?

Why protect your respiratory system with a respirator or mask

Under normal circumstances, masks should be worn by those who are potential carriers of airborne infections. Respirators are more often used in industry, work with chemical aerosols and building materials.

During a pandemic, personal respiratory protection from coronavirus is needed to protect yourself and others from the transmission of viral particles by airborne droplets. Contrary to the opinion that healthy people can walk without a protective accessory, and buying a mask is the concern of those who are more, the statistics of the infectiousness of the virus and its spread suggests otherwise.

Coronavirus disease has three degrees of manifestation:

1. Acute severe respiratory syndrome.
2. The disease is of moderate severity.
3. Slight malaise.

And also investigations of cases of coronavirus infection in China have confirmed the existence of asymptomatic carriers of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Due to the increase in the number of infected people in Russia and the world, as well as with varying degrees of manifestation of the disease, it is possible to argue that not all sick people go to doctors, observe self-isolation and, in general, suspect their condition.

Therefore, it is impossible to assert who is potentially infectious and who is not. This means that you need to wear personal protective equipment in order to protect yourself and others from possible infection.

The respirator does not guarantee 100% rescue from viruses and infections.

Mask or respirator

Whether to choose a respirator or mask to protect against viruses depends on your specific situation and your health condition.

Medical masks have a filtering level of 95-99% against microbes, but these products do not protect against inhalation of small viral particles. These funds are designed to prevent the exchange of bacteria. Their operation is advisable in medical institutions, in order to avoid the transmission of infections between the doctor and the patient, provided that both wear a mask.

During an epidemic, wearing masks is advisable for preventive purposes - to reduce the spread of the virus.
Respirators serve a slightly different purpose - they protect the respiratory organs from the ingress of harmful particles from dust. The degree of protection of a product determines for what purpose it can be used:

1. The simplest type of respirators has FFP1 protection (80%) - this is not enough against viruses, but it is enough to protect against dust, building materials and household chemicals.
2. FFP2 class (94%) is used for work in conditions of polluted air, work with toxic chemicals. This degree of filtration is suitable for use in medical institutions with an epidemic of diseases transmitted by airborne droplets.

Respirators with a protection rating of P3 (99.95%) and FFP 3 (99%) have the highest class of protection against viruses. They are used at high concentrations of toxic and radiation particles.

Coronavirus protection

Which respirators will protect against coronavirus? Products with anti-aerosol type are capable of retaining particles from 5 microns to 0.05. Filtration is provided by the special structure of the filter fibers, which are exposed to harmful particles. The larger ones remain on the outer layer of the mask, while the smaller ones, getting into the filter maze, begin to move more chaotically, due to which there is a high probability of their collision with the fibers.

All products differ not only in the degree of filtration, but also in the design features.

According to the WHO recommendations, anti-aerosol respirators FFP2 and above protect against inhalation of coronavirus particles.

Types of devices:

1. Half mask respirator without valve - a dense medical mask with an additional filter. Mostly produced for single use.
2. The half mask with a breathing valve and a filtering structure is a reusable accessory with a replaceable filter. Filters the inhaled air and exhales freely, so that respiratory condensation does not form under the mask.
3. Full face products - has the same air filtration capabilities as a half mask with a valve. Differs in the presence of a protective screen or glasses to protect the eyes. Usually it is a respirator of 3 degrees of protection.

You can find a wide range and the best respirators for coronavirus 3M, Alina, Spirotek, Neva and many other brands in most online stores.

Respirator mask

The product has additional filters, but does not allow air to breathe freely, thus creating condensation and moisture inside. The first simplest type of medical masks with a respirator was the "petal" respirator. It is made from materials with an electrostatic charge of fibers, which should ensure reliable adhesion to the skin of the face. However, the efficiency declared by the manufacturers turned out to be somewhat overestimated, since the resistance of the material during air movement is not enough to prevent the appearance of gaps.

A medical respirator of protection class 2 and higher, in fact, is a more reliable type of mask. It does not have an exhalation valve to prevent the doctor from exhaling unfiltered air onto the patient. The mask is mainly worn once, within 2-3 hours. There are reusable masks with replaceable filters. Such a product also needs to be replaced after 2-3 hours of use, then the mask can be washed or disinfected, and the filter can be changed to a new one. After carrying out the described manipulations, the accessory can be reused.

Such products fit better to the face than simple medical masks. They are also sufficient to filter inhaled particles and create a barrier to exhaled particles.

Reusable masks with a charcoal filter protect the respiratory system from dust particles, aerosols, laboratory and household chemicals. However, such products do not possess a high degree of protection, and therefore can only be used as a prevention of the spread of the virus. Just like conventional treatment, surgical and reusable masks work.

The same can be said about construction respirators U 2k, 3M and other brands against viruses with 1st class protection. These products are not designed to protect against small viral particles. However, from an objective point of view, they are no less effective than disposable and reusable masks because despite the lower level of protection, such accessories fit more tightly to the face and are fixed on nose.

Exhalation valve half mask

Accessories with an exhalation valve are among the top most used coronavirus protection products. The principle of the protective action of products with a valve is to treat the inhaled air and exhale freely. Accordingly, using the product with an exhalation valve could be potentially hazardous to those with whom you come in contact. True, if they also put on a protective product, the threat is reduced to zero.

It is worth wearing such an accessory if you are sure that you could not get sick or contact sick people. If you are sick, do not expose others to the threat of infection. In this case, a simple mask will help to stop the infection contained in saliva and nasal mucus.

To protect against viruses, it is better to choose respirators with the FFP3 number, such products allow a minimum of small particles to pass through.

Recommendations for use

Before using a protective product, you must carefully read the tips for its use:

1. The service life of the antiviral accessory is 1 to 3 years. How much you can use a particular product is indicated in the instructions.
2. How often should I change my respirator? Respirators for coronavirus n95, petal and other medical disposable models - need to be changed every 2-4 hours. Reusable 3M, Spirotec, etc. - from 6 to 8 hours. In conditions of severe air pollution, the protective equipment must be changed as often as the filter and the outer layer become dirty.
3. Replaceable disposable filters are used for reusable masks. Without changing the filter, the product cannot be considered recyclable.
4. How to disinfect a respirator from viruses depends on the material of manufacture. The mask can be soaked in soapy water, washed and ironed. Accessories with filter cartridges must be cleaned so that cleaning agent and water do not enter the filter. The plastic parts can be wiped clean with a mild cleaning solution or rinsed with warm water. Be sure to keep an eye on the timely change of the filter - different products have their own.
5. Check out the visual aids for donning the product. Use clean hands only. If you don't have soap and water at your disposal before using the accessory, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer will save you.

But respiratory protection alone does not protect against all infections. It is for this reason that it is necessary to understand the protective effect of each product. A respirator is needed to protect the respiratory system from viruses in order to protect a healthy person from inhaling harmful particles spread by sick people. The type, design and class of protection against viruses must be selected individually for your needs.