of the middle ply. For protection property purposes, it is all in the ply. Cloth Mask Another mask that should be discussed is the stylish cloth mask that is handmade and has been recently released by companies or handmade by private individuals. These masks offer no protection to the wearer and are only somewhat efficient in its use. It is not recommended to embalm or complete any preparation of a deceased who has died of COVID with the surgical or cloth mask. That said, many of these mask companies have become very creative and have convenient slits where you can incorporate an N-95 filter in the fabric mask itself. Now you can wear a fashionable mask with the protection of an N-95 filter.
efficacy, particle filtration, breathability and delta pressure, and flammability. The Level 1 surgical mask has a low fluid resistance and should be used only where there are low amounts of fluid. It has an extremely low filtration efficiency. The Level 2 surgical mask accommodates more of a moderate amount of fluids and a moderate filtration efficiency. The Level 3 surgical mask has high filtration efficiency and high fluid resistance. The surgical mask has a makeup of three plies: the outer ply, which is usually yellow or blue; the middle ply, which encompasses the actual filtration; and the inner ply, which is touching your face. The efficiency of each mask depends on the thread count, thickness, and material
RESPIRATORS
Look over each cartridge to make sure there are no dents or deviations. If the cartridge is damaged, replace it immediately. Before screwing the cartridge in the respirator, be sure not to cross-thread. To prevent cross-threading, turn the cartridge counterclockwise a few turns, and then turn clockwise to form the seal. To begin the negative face seal fit, place the respirator over the nose and mouth. Once in place, use the hands to cover the respirator cartridges leading to the inhalation valves. Once the cartridges are covered, inhale as usual and hold for approximately 10 seconds. If the rubber seal is working correctly, you should not be able to inhale. Once the sealing has been established and you cannot inhale, release your hand from the cartridges. You should immediately be able to inhale and exhale. The second step is the positive face seal fit, where you will place your hand over the exhalation valve. Slightly exhale until there is a slight positive pressure buildup around the respirator. If you feel any escaping air blowing around your face, that means there is a leak, and the mask is compromised. This fit testing and face seal fit testing should be completed each time the user will be exposed to a COVID environment during the embalming process. Nevertheless, even the right respirator worn wrong puts you at risk. Respirators are offered in full-face or half-face. This virus is airborne, so if you are using a half-face, be sure to wear goggles to protect your ocular mucous membranes. If fogging is an issue with eyeglasses, face shields, or goggles, reduce the surface tension by washing the lenses with soap and water. An alternative is to use shaving foam on the lenses and then wipe away. It is imperative to clean the rubber, gaskets, hoses, and seals on your respirators. Over time, sweat, grime, and dirt will start to wear on the unit. Take the respirator apart and use soap and water in a lukewarm water bath. Do not use hot water because it will distort the rubbers and gaskets. Do not use harsh chemicals such as bleach; they can be corrosive to metal parts and dry out the rubber gaskets and seals. If parts are damaged or not working correctly, replace the parts immediately.
Respirators, on the other hand, offer a great deal of protection. The respirators offer protection to the wearer and the surrounding public, so they are considered two-way protection. Non-disposable respirators are offered in half-face or full-face and have replaceable cartridges. It is important to note that sweat, dirt, and moisture from breathing breaks down the fibers of disposable respirators and, over a short period, eventually lose their effectiveness to protect. An example of a disposable respirator is the N-95, which is worn by health care professionals. The first option we will discuss is the N-95 respirator. This respirator offers minimum respiratory protection from airborne SARS. It is effective at blocking 95% of tiny particles and is not intended to be reused. The respirator has to have a fit test requirement and face seal fit to be most effective. As stated previously, dirt, sweat, and grime will shorten the life span and render the respirator useless. If you are going to wear anything, it should be an N-95 at the minimum. The next option we will discuss is the P100 respirator. The P100 cartridge offers superior respiratory protection from airborne SARS. It is effective at blocking 99.97 % of oil-based particles. The P100 cartridge is rated the highest for respiratory protection and is intended to be reused. This respirator is most effective, as it has a fit testing requirement and face seal fit. The fit test and seal test are relatively rudimentary but must be completed in order to have the highest achievement of protection. Males should have a clean-shaven face; even a little stubble of hairs can compromise the seal. Females should be sure that long head hair does not contact the respiratory rubber, impeding the sealing quality of the respirator. Testing the Respirator A fit test should be completed each time you use a respirator. For the fit test, place the respirator around your face and tighten each strap. If the mask is too loose, it will not seal correctly. If it is too tight, you may distort the soft rubber and disrupt the sealing qualities. For a quality check, inspect the exhalation valve of the respirator. It should be clean of dirt and not distorted. Check the exhalation valves to make sure the valves are correctly seated.
GLOVES
The use of nitrile gloves, a medical-grade synthetic rubber, is recommended. They are three times more puncture resistant than latex. They should be high cuff for added protection. The efficiency of gloves breaks down by your body’s temperature and natural oils, so the gloves should be checked regularly during
the embalming operation. If torn or deviated, replace them immediately. Chemicals such as DryWash will also breakdown nitrile gloves.
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