The haze may have been the major talking point last week and it is expected to hog the news in the coming weeks. Accompanying it is the subject related to masks. Singaporeans were clamouring head over heels for that last piece of mask, never mind if that last piece is the correct size our not. And yes, this is the point of my article.
Being in a healthcare environment I know that nurses, doctors and all staff working in hospitals or healthcare institutions are made to go through mask-fittings to determine each one’s mask size as well as the types of masks most suitable for the individual. The mask-fitting exercise sees a very strict test routine, where each staff is given a set of masks of various sizes and various brands.
While wearing each mask at a time, the individual is made to go through a series of breathing exercise to see if vapours (the breath) are escaping easily, and whether the person is breathing relatively well.
When a fit is ascertained, the staff puts on the best fitting mask and then dons a space-like moon walking head gear. This is a head gear that is similar to being air tight. A sour tasting spray is sprayed into the head gear while the staff continues to breathe. It leaves a bitter taste in the mouth if your mask does not fit well. Otherwise, you won’t even feel the effect of the bitter spray.
So, why am i narrating this? Simple, how many Singaporeans have bought for themselves masks that are of the correct sizes? How many have bought boxes and boxes of N95 masks and either realized or do not realize they have not gotten hold of the right mask fits? Why were masks sold in boxes, sometimes limiting buyers to one box each, when the Sellers, like hospital pharmacies, knew exactly that the one box is not going to fit everyone in a family?
Why wasn’t there an education program to educate Singaporeans on how to look for a mask that fits. The haze is not a new our recent occurrence. It has been happening year after year but yet Singaporeans are none the wiser where mask sizes are concern. Wear the wrong size mask and you might as well don’t wear any mask at all.
Today, it’s the haze, not too major an immediate or visible impact. Tomorrow, it may be an incurable airborne virus. The mask, when wrongly fitted, will not save you.
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The Alternative View
http://www.tremeritus.com/2013/06/23...sks-stockpile/