Face masks are only useful if they are used correctly.
This means that the air must travel through the filter of the mask in order to provide protection. This is why it is so important that a face mask fits snugly to your face. If your face mask is not worn correctly, it does not protect either you or those around you.
Make sure to
- Wear your face mask so it completely covers your nose and mouth.
- Wear your face mask so it seals as snugly as possible around your face. This means you must use the nose clip to shape the mask to fit your face.
- Ensure that the air you breath in and out travels through the filtering face mask and not around it.
- Check if you notice increased breathing resistance – if so, the face mask is working.
- If you have a beard or do not wear your mask tightly fitted to your face then air flows around your mask and you are not well-protected when wearing it.
Check how your face mask fits
- If your mask moves towards your face when you breathe in, then it fits snugly and correctly.
If you notice that someone's face mask is not fitting correctly, then please let them know and offer to show them how to adjust the mask.