In an effort to stay safe and stay healthy right now we’re seeing a rise in the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), most prominently face masks.
We’re hearing a lot about effective ratings to mitigate transfer of COVID-19, but it can be a little unclear who needs what level of protection. We’ve also heard from many of our clients that their unsure what some of the terminology means.
Let’s break this down…
Types of Masks and Facepieces
First let’s look at some of the common terminology out there:
- PPE: This stands for Personal Protective Equipment. It covers all items to protect the wearer from coming in contact with, or potentially spreading, the disease. This includes masks, respirators, gloves, gowns, and sanitizer to name a few.
- FFR: An FFR stands for Filtering Facepiece Respirators. These are masks designed to filter higher levels of particulates from the air. These are primarily used in healthcare environments with a higher risk to contact with COVID-19.
- N95 + KN95 Respirators: These are a subset of FFRs that filter out at least 95% of airborne particulates and the primary recommendation of the CDC for healthcare respiratory protection.
- 3 Ply Masks: These are loose fitting disposable masks used in a variety of environments depending on their ASTM rating. They do not provide the same protection as an N95 respirator, however they do provide the wearer and patients in less risky environments protection from airborne particles.
- ATSM Level One: This is intended for use in any environment with low risk of fluid exposure or where low amounts of sprays and/or aerosols are produced.
- ATSM Level Two: This is intended for use in healthcare environments with moderate risk of fluid exposure or where moderate amounts of sprays and/or aerosols are produced.
- ATSM Level Three: This is intended for use in healthcare environments with high risk of fluid exposure or where high amounts of sprays and/or aerosols are produced.
- Cloth Mask: This is a mask made from fabric or cloth material. They can be homemade or purchased. This covers any type of protection that covers your mouth and nose.
Who needs what type of mask?
The CDC has made this fairly straight-forward for the purposes of ensuring supply is readily available for those who are at a higher risk of coming in contact with COVID-19.
- N95 + KN95 Respirators: These are reserved for healthcare or medical professionals who have a high risk of contact with COVID-19 patients.
- 3 Ply Masks: These are also intended for use by healthcare and medical professionals, but the lower rated tiers can be used in non-healthcare businesses or for personal use. They are rated in three tiers for varying protection depending on the type of patient care you’re providing:
- ATSM Level One: This is intended for use in any environment with low risk of fluid exposure or where low amounts of sprays and/or aerosols are produced.
- ATSM Level Two: This is intended for use in healthcare environments with moderate risk of fluid exposure or where moderate amounts of sprays and/or aerosols are produced.
- ATSM Level Three: This is intended for use in healthcare environments with high risk of fluid exposure or where high amounts of sprays and/or aerosols are produced.
- Cloth Mask: This is the go-to resource for anyone not in a healthcare or medical environment.
In short, if you are not in a high-risk environment it’s recommended that you simply use a cloth mask or face covering. This will still provide you protection from sharing your germs with others, and also limit your exposure to others.
You can see more details on each of these in our quick-glance guide below:
Need help sourcing masks for your team?
Personal Use Masks
For those of you who don’t work in a healthcare setting, we’ve curated some of our favorite cloth masks below:
Adjustable Printed Mask with Filter
Full color custom dye-sublimated mask. Single ply polyester fabric with one disposable mask pad. Adjustable elastic ear loop.
What We Like:
This mask has adjustable ear loops and the ability to be fully customized for your brand or style!
Structured Custom Imprint Face Mask
Soft stretch polyester, 2 ply structured style mask. This mask is a full custom imprint and comes individually wrapped.
What We Like:
These masks come individually wrapped, plus they have a comfortable stretchy fabric.
Bandana - Scarf Face Mask
Full color custom dye-sublimated civilian bandana style face mask. Single ply polyester fabric. Individually wrapped.
What We Like:
This looser fitting style isn't as constraining, and it can double as a standard bandana for future use.
Healthcare + Medical Use Masks
If you’re in a healthcare setting and need help refilling your mask supply, send us an email and we’ll do our best to help you find the right masks or respirators for your team.
