How to wear a face mask

Wearing a face mask in public has become increasingly common during the COVID-19 pandemic, and from Friday 24th July is a government requirement when going in to shops. 

It isn’t something most of us are used to so how do you know if you’re wearing them correctly?   

Follow these handy tips below to help you.

Putting on your face mask

> Wash your hands before putting on your face covering        

> Put it over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin       

> Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face       

> Make sure you can breathe easily        

> Don’t put the face covering around your neck or up on your forehead       

> Don’t touch the face covering, and, if you do, wash your hands or use hand sanitiser to disinfect​

Removing your face mask

> Untie the strings behind your head or stretch the ear loops ·         

> Handle only by the ear loops or ties        

> Fold outside corners together         

> Place covering in the washing machine        

> Be careful not to touch your eyes, nose, and mouth when removing and wash hands immediately after removing

Wearing a mask with glasses or a hearing aid

It has been well documented that people who wear glasses have had difficulty wearing masks as their glasses tend to fog up when worn underneath the mask.   

It has also been difficult for those with hearing aids, as not only is the voice muffled and you cannot rely on lip reading, there is also the risk of losing the hearing aid when taking the mask on and off.

Wearing a face mask with glasses

> Glasses tend to fog up more when the glasses are sat behind the mask. Moving the mask higher up and placing the glasses on top of the mask will take away some of the fogging

> Tissue paper under the mask - Place a small piece of tissue paper under the top area of the face mask. By reducing the upward flow of the warmth from your breath, this will reduce the fogging 

> Make the face mask secure - Tie a knot on the back of the mask. By tightening the mask, the knot will help to further reduce the fogging

Wearing a face mask with a hearing aid

> Pull back any long hair into a bun or with an elastic tie

> Rather than looping the elastic of the mask on the ears, utilise button extensions for the mask (which can be made or bought)

> Obtain a mask that has four strings and ties behind the head rather than worn with elastic on the ears

> Check that the hearing aid is still in plac​e during and following removal of the mask

> Remove your mask at home in an open area so if the hearing aids fall to the ground it can be found more easily