Using a face shield, who needs to be?

With the easing of the PSBB, some people began to return to carrying out their daily activities with guidelines new normal COVID-19. One of the things that may be quite new besides wearing a mask is use face shield. What is that face shield and who really needs to use this?

What is that face shield?

Apart from masks, other protective equipment used to prevent transmission of COVID-19 is face shield. Face shield is a face shield made of clear and rigid plastic to cover the face so that it extends below the user's chin.

You may see a lot face shield health workers, even before the COVID-19 pandemic begins. Normally, this face shield is part of the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) worn by dentists for examining the mouth at close range.

Meanwhile, doctors, nurses, and laboratory workers use this protective equipment together with masks so that they are not contaminated with blood or other substances in the air.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic started with a high enough spread, some people chose to use it face shield as well as masks. This is an effort to prevent the spread of disease through droplet (saliva splash).

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Advantages face shield

source: International Business Times

Everyone using face shield of course want to protect themselves from virus infection. Fortunately, face shields are not as rare as the availability of masks at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Therefore, you will probably see people wearing it more often face shield along with masks when traveling to public places. So, what are the advantages of this one face shield that makes it quite popular in the general public?

According to the article on Journal of the American Medical Association, this clear plastic face shield offers several advantages, namely:

• can be reused indefinitely
• easier to clean with soap and water or regular disinfectant
• protect the entry routes of viral infections, namely the mouth, nose and eyes
• prevents the user from touching the face
• reduces the risk of inhalation of passing respiratory viruses droplet

So far no studies have analyzed the effects or benefits of use face shield in people experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. Starting from sneezing, coughing, or those who are exposed to the virus without showing any symptoms.

Even so, the percentage of effectiveness of the people who use it face shield ranged from 68 to 96 percent. Therefore, it is possible to add face shield as an effort to protect themselves apart from wearing masks can be more effective.

Face shield not a substitute for a mask

Although using face shield offers advantages that are not present in masks, does not mean that you take off the mask and replace it with a face shield.

Most of the spread of the COVID-19 virus occurs through droplet. However, the face shield design has a drawback, namely that there is a gap between face shield and face. As a result, the risk of transmission still exists even after using it face shield.

Meanwhile, the mask did not leave any gaps face shield because it sticks directly to the nose and mouth. Therefore, you cannot count on face shield course, but rather wear it as additional protection after the mask.

In certain situations, face shield can be used in conjunction with a mask. By wearing face shield, You can protect the eyes from droplet which may be contaminated by the virus. The face shield also helps prevent the mask from getting wet quickly.

Anyone who needs to use face shield?

Appeals to wear masks while traveling have been implemented since the COVID-19 pandemic began, especially to avoid spreading the virus on public transportation.

However, there are some situations when using masks may not be practical, so use them face shield becomes additional protection.

In some countries that are already seeing success in flattening the pandemic curve, notably Singapore, it is advisable to use it face shield in certain groups. The following groups of people may need to wear face shields when traveling or in public places.

• Children aged twelve and under due to difficulty wearing masks
• People with respiratory diseases that make it difficult for them to wear masks
• Workers who often speak in a group, such as teachers or lecturers

The three groups above need face shield for many reasons. First, difficulty wearing a mask for a long time can cause shortness of breath.

Second, those working with large groups of people may find it difficult to use masks. Therefore, face shields are an alternative as long as they can keep their distance from other people and stay where they are talking.

Using a mask and face shield is one of the efforts to prevent the transmission of COVID-19, especially when traveling and outside the home.

However, people are still advised to stay at home and travel outside only for urgent needs so that they can contribute to reducing the number of COVID-19 cases.