A body of evidence backs the idea of wearing face masks in public, as there is a chance of coronavirus spreading through people showing no symptoms. The Australian Capital Territory Health still recommends people wear masks if they cannot distance themselves physically. In addition, household contacts are advised to wear masks in indoor spaces or on public transport. So, if you are out looking to buy face masks in Australia, you must get your hands on high-quality and certified masks. You can take the help of the following guide to make the right choice.
Your mask should fit you well
With the increased demand for surgical masks in the Australian market, you get masks that don’t meet safety standards. While you can always report an unsafe and defective mask to NSW Fair Trading, it is wise to remain cautious and prevent making wrong choices. So, first, check if the mask fits you well.
Some face masks are too big, some are too small, and others may be too tight or loose. Then there’s the issue of whether or not the mask fits entirely over your eyes: if it doesn’t sit flush against the bridge of your nose, it won’t do much good at keeping out bacteria or other nasties.
Make sure your face mask has vents and tiny holes
The first thing to consider as you buy face masks in Australia is ensuring they have many tiny holes and vents. Well-vented masks help with airflow and allow your skin to breathe. If the mask is too loose or tight, this can cause discomfort or irritation.
The next thing to consider is whether or not your new face mask fits perfectly above your nose and below your chin snugly and below each ear canal opening. Otherwise, there won’t be enough room for airflow through all those tiny spaces in between where sweat glands reside within your body.
Look for at least one UPF rating
UPF stands for ultraviolet protection factor. It measures how much UV radiation is blocked by fabric, and it’s usually expressed as a percentage of total UV exposure.
UPF ratings vary between 30% and 50%, but most products will fall under one of these ranges. For example: if your mask has a UPF rating of 50+, then its fabric should block 99% or more of UVA rays from penetrating through it; conversely, if your mask only has a UPF rating of 40–44%, then its fabric will only block about 80% or less UVA rays from penetrating through it; whereas if your mask has an average rating somewhere between these two extremes—say 35–37%—then it would protect against both types equally well.
Buy masks with seals
Buy masks with seals on the packaging or on the mask itself to avoid harmful toxins. Seals are essential because they keep out harmful toxins like lead, mercury, and other heavy metals. If a seal isn’t present, you should contact the manufacturer and ask them if this is normal for their product.
A mask is certified if it has written specifications on the back stating that a certain percentage of chemicals in the production process are naturally occurring and meet specific standards. The main requirement for certified masks is that they must be made from natural materials, not synthetics, PVC, etc. So, just because a face mask says “certified natural” doesn’t mean it is free from toxic chemicals. Hence, pay attention to every detail before your purchase.
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