There’s no doubt about it; PPE is one of the most important tools for clinics. That is why so much research and resources are thrown into choosing the right type of PPE for staff to use. One of the most important today includes the face mask. Because of the pandemic, greater attention has been placed on the type of masks that clinics are choosing to go with. If you’re managing a clinic and hoping to make the decision easier, the following includes four factors that must be taken into consideration before purchasing your masks.
Production Timeline
No matter how good the quality of your chosen masks is, it won’t matter if you are not receiving them consistently. In the medical field, time is precious and can often be the determining factor between life and death. That is why having PPE at the ready is so important. Therefore, choosing a reliable manufacturer such as Old South Trading Co must be your top priority when making your final decision.
Quality of the Masks
Once you have narrowed it down to a few reliable manufacturers, the next factor that must be considered is the quality of the masks you are purchasing. This is important because although regular masks will do fine for public wearing, they may not offer enough protection within a clinic. So, what should you be looking for? Highly quality masks will provide two things, comfort, and protection. For example, a mask that properly sits on a person’s face without too much movement will not only be comfortable but helps avoid constant touching of the face. Lastly, you will want to look for masks that have small pore sizes, as the smaller the gaps between the fabric, the more protection it provides.
Setting the Masks Will Be Used In
Most clinics will have different areas to them, all of which come with different levels of severity. That is why it is so important to factor in the setting where the masks will be used. For example, someone in reception may not need to be wearing multiple masks throughout the day, and thus funds could be saved providing other more “at-risk” departments with higher-quality masks.
Awareness of Gimmicks
Where a dollar can be made, you can bet that there will be individuals attempting to take advantage of it. That is why it is so important to prevent yourself from falling for mask gimmicks. One of the most popular on the mark includes masks with valves. This accessory allows people to breathe better but does not protect others around them. This is because masks with valves allow air droplets to escape your masks, thus placing others around you in danger.
Choosing the right mask for your clinic is understandably a difficult decision to make. That is why it is highly recommended to take into consideration the factors listed above before any investments are made.