| How to Know if a Mask Is Effective Against Coronavirus Posted: 02 Sep 2020 01:00 AM PDT As of July 2020, the World Health Organization recommends wearing a medical face mask if you have symptoms of COVID-19, and wearing non-medical face masks if there are high transmission rates in your area and you cannot socially distance.[1] Face masks may help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by catching the droplets from your mouth when you talk, breathe, or cough.[2] Since many people are looking to purchase and wear face masks, it can be hard to tell if yours is effective against the spread of the COVID-19 virus. By inspecting your mask and purchasing it from a reputable seller, you can make sure that you are keeping yourself and others safe when you're out in public. [Edit]Putting on Non-Medical Fabric Masks - Choose a mask made out of thick cotton. Cotton quilts, cotton sheets, and cotton T-shirts are all great materials to make a mask out of. If you're making your own, try to choose fabric that is tightly woven so it can catch the water droplets that come out of your mouth.[3]
- If you aren't sure if your fabric is woven tightly enough, hold it up to a light. If you can see the light shining through, you should try to go for a different fabric.
- Check for 2 to 3 layers of fabric on cloth masks. Fabric face coverings are only effective when there are 2 or more layers of fabric. Make sure that the one you are wearing has at least 2 layers, if not more.[4]
- The double layers of fabric help to trap in more water droplets when you speak, cough, or breathe.
- Ideally, the outside layer of the mask should be water resistant, the inside layer should be water absorbent, and the middle layer should act as a filter between the two.
- Make sure the mask fits snugly against your chin and cheeks. Put your mask on by looping the ear loops over your ears. Look in the mirror to see if there are any gaps around your nose, chin, or cheeks. If there are, you may need a smaller mask.[5]
- If there are gaps around your face, the air that you breathe in and out can escape, making the mask ineffective.[6]
- Try to avoid touching the mask itself as you adjust it. Instead, pull it by the ear loops to avoid contaminating your hands.
- Wash your mask if it's damp or dirty. If your mask is visibly dirty or it feels damp, put it in the washing machine on a hot water cycle with laundry detergent. Let the washer run its full cycle, then hang the mask up to dry before you use it again.[7]
- Ideally, you should wash your mask after each use. If you do plan to wear it again without washing it, seal it in a plastic bag until you're ready to wear it again.
[Edit]Using a Surgical Mask - Ensure that your surgical mask is approved by the FDA. Surgical masks are the loose-fitting thin blue masks that loop around your ears and cover your nose and mouth. If you are purchasing a surgical mask, make sure you check for the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, logo on the package to make sure it is a reputable source.[8]
- Surgical masks usually have 3 layers of protection, but they are often not visible unless you cut open the mask.
- Non-FDA approved masks may not have the level of protection needed to slow the spread of COVID-19.
- While surgical masks help to keep the air droplets from your mouth in, they are not effective against filtering air particles that you breathe in.
- Discard your mask if it's torn or dirty. Before you put on a surgical mask, check to see if it's torn or dirty in any spots. If it is, throw your mask away and replace it with a new one.[9]
- Fit the mask snugly against your nose, cheeks, and chin. If you are wearing a surgical mask, pull the loops over your ears and bend the top to fit around the bridge of your nose. There shouldn't be any large gaps on your cheeks where air can escape.[10]
- Gaps between the mask and your skin can allow water droplets to escape into the air, potentially spreading the COVID-19 virus.
- Throw away your surgical mask after one use. Unfortunately, surgical masks are not reusable, and you should throw them away after using them one time. Be sure to take the mask off by the ear loops and throw the mask into a garbage can with a plastic bag in it to avoid contaminating your hands or your home.[11]
- Surgical masks are only made for one use, so they become less effective over time.
[Edit]Wearing an N95 Mask - Make sure your N95 respirator is NIOSH approved. Respirators are tight-fitting masks that loop around the back of your head or your ears. If you are purchasing a respirator, make sure it is approved by The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, or the NIOSH. This will ensure that it can filter out 95% of airborne particles.[12]
- Respirators not approved by the NIOSH may not have enough filtration to protect against the spread of COVID-19.
- Fit the mask snugly against your cheeks, nose, and chin. Pull the straps up and over your head, and secure one around your neck and the other on the back of your head. Check the seal of your respirator to make sure there are no gaps in between the mask and your skin to ensure it is filtering air effectively.[13]
- If you can get your finger in between your mask and your skin, go for a smaller size.
- Respirators are supposed to be tight-fitting, and they may leave marks on your skin if you wear them for a long time.
- Throw away your N95 mask if it's torn or dirty. You can reuse respirators until they look visibly damp, dirty, or torn. If yours is compromised, throw it in a garbage can lined with a plastic bag to avoid contamination. Although N95 masks are not usually reusable, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued an exception during the global pandemic.[14]
- You should also throw away your respirator if it becomes hard to breathe through while you're wearing it.
[Edit]Using a Mask the Right Way - Pull the mask on by the loops. To put on your mask, pick it up by the loops on the sides and pull them up and over your ears. Or, grab the straps and pull them on over your head and neck if you're using a respirator. If you need to adjust your mask, pull the loops or straps back and forth until it's sitting comfortably on your face.[15]
- If you do touch the front of the mask while putting it on, wash your hands with soap and water.
- Avoid touching the mask while it's on your face. While you're out and about, try to keep your hands away from your face as best you can. Avoid touching your mask to take it off, pull it down, or adjust it so you don't contaminate your hands.[16]
- If you do touch your mask, use some alcohol-based hand sanitizer to clean your hands.
- Keep the mask on until you can socially distance from other people. Unless you are in an area where you can stay at least from other people, you should keep your mask on. Taking your mask off while you're near other people can spread the COVID-19 virus, even if it's just for a moment.[17]
- If you aren't sure whether you need to wear a mask out in public, check your state or county guidelines.
- Take the mask off by pulling on the loops or straps. To remove your mask, grab the ear loops or the head straps and gently pull them up and away from your face. Avoid touching the front of the mask as much as possible to keep from contaminating your hands.[18]
- Your mask may have filtered out some contaminants that are stuck to the front of the mask, which is why you want to avoid touching it.
- Wash your hands after taking off your mask. Using soap and warm water, scrub your hands thoroughly, getting your palms, fingers, and under your nails. Rinse your hands thoroughly and dry them off with a clean towel when you're done.[19]
- Try to wash your hands every time you go out into public or touch a shared surface.
[Edit]Warnings - Face masks should be used in conjunction with other preventative measures, like social distancing, hand washing, and staying home when you feel sick.[20]
[Edit]References |
| How to Prepare for the First Day of School During a Pandemic Posted: 01 Sep 2020 05:00 PM PDT The COVID-19 pandemic caused many schools to shut down last year before the term was over. Now, many school administrators are planning to reopen for the new school year while keeping the health and safety of their students in mind. Preparing to go back to school during a global pandemic can feel scary and anxiety-inducing, but you might also be excited to see your friends and get back into a routine. By keeping in contact with the people in charge of your school and taking safety precautions, you can prepare to go back to school while keeping you and your classmates as safe as possible. [Edit]Dealing with Stress and Anxiety - Talk to your friends about how they're doing. If you've been in lockdown since last school year, you might not have seen your friends for a few months now. Try reaching out to them over the phone or on social media to see how they feel about everything and what they think about the new school year. If you're feeling anxious, chances are they are too, so you can help support each other.[1]
- Talking to people who are going through the same thing as you can help you feel less alone, and your friends can also give you tips on how to handle the new year.
- Brush up on the stuff that you learned last year. If your school year ended early because of the COVID-19 pandemic, you may have some trouble remembering what you learned about last year. If you still have your notes or homework assignments, consider looking over them again to get a refresher on what you learned. If you're really having a tough time, try reaching out to an online tutor or watching online tutorials.[2]
- Khan Academy and YouTube have free videos that explain basic math, social studies, and science concepts.
- Many teachers won't be upset with you if you need to review some concepts from last year. This is a tough time for everyone, teachers included.
- Take a break from watching the news. Staying informed is important, but watching the news 24/7 can give you a bad outlook and increase your stress levels. Don't be afraid to take 1 to 2 days off from news websites and social media to care for your mental health.[3]
- Or, you can set aside a small part of the day where you look at the news, then take a break from it for the rest of the day.
- Exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, and drink a lot of water. Taking care of your body is super important, even though it can be tough to do so when you're stressed. Try to exercise three to four times per week, eat a balanced diet with a lot of whole grains, proteins, fruits, and vegetables, and drink water every time you're thirsty.[4]
- Try bringing a water bottle to school with you so you have it when you need it.
- Get at least eight hours of sleep every night. Not enough sleep can make you irritable and cranky, and it can also make your stress and anxiety worse. Try to stick to a regular sleep schedule as much as possible, and make sure you're getting enough rest so you can learn effectively at school every day.[5]
- Going back to school can help you get back into a healthy sleep schedule.
- Set aside time to do activities you enjoy. Even though school is starting again, try to make some time for your hobbies so you can unwind and relax. If you're too busy during the week, make some time on the weekends. You can play a card game, do crafts, read books, or go outside and hang out in nature.[6]
- Unfortunately, some of your extracurricular activities may be canceled due to the pandemic. If that's the case, try to do these activities on your own, if you can. For example, if you played a sport at school, brush up on your skills in your yard or at home. Or, if you were in the drama club, practice performing monologues and sending a recording of yourself to your friends.
- Talk to an adult if you're struggling. Getting back into the swing of the school year is always tough, and it's especially hard now. If you're having trouble with the concept of going back to school or you feel scared about what might happen, reach out to an adult that you trust. Everyone is feeling a little scared and worried right now, so it's nothing to be ashamed about.[7]
- You can talk to your parents, your guardian, a teacher, or even a guidance counselor.
[Edit]Taking Safety Precautions - Ask your school administrators about what precautions they are taking. As schools make the decision to open back up during COVID-19, they may be implementing new procedures and policies to keep you or your child safe. If you haven't received any news of changes in your schools, email or call the principal or administrator of your school about what they are doing differently. Some helpful questions to ask are:[8]
- What safety precautions is the school taking to keep students safe?
- Will there be mental health facilities available to students this year?
- How will you enforce the safety measures in place during school?
- Wear a face mask if your school requires it. Before you head off to school, make sure that you have a cloth face mask that you can put on when you get near other students and teachers. Be prepared to keep this mask on for the majority of the day if your school requires it.[9]
- Some schools aren't requiring face masks, but it's best and safest to wear one anyway.
- Try to wash your mask in hot water after each use to avoid contamination.
- Stay away from other students and staff. When you get to school, your desk may be arranged so that it's at least away from the other students. Throughout the day, try to keep at least this distance between you and your peers to avoid any contamination.[10]
- It can be tough not to be able to hug your friends, let alone stand near them. Feeling sad about this is perfectly normal. Just remember that you're following safety guidelines to keep yourself and others healthy, as hard as it is.
- Wash your hands with soap and water often. As often as you can, head to the bathroom and wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Rinse off your hands well and dry them on a clean towel to kill any germs that you may have come into contact with.[11]
- You can also carry an alcohol-based hand sanitizer in your backpack in case you can't wash your hands.
- Make sure you wash your hands really well before eating.
- Stay home if you feel sick. If you have any symptoms of COVID-19, make sure you tell an adult and stay home from school. Keeping yourself isolated from your peers can help keep them healthy, and you'll be able to go back to school once you're feeling better.[12]
- You may have to report your symptoms / test results to your school before you can go back.
- If you do have the symptoms of COVID-19, like shortness of breath, a cough, and a fever, consider getting a diagnostic test from your state or county healthcare provider.
- Follow the guidelines implemented by your school. Every school is different, and your school may have stricter guidelines than other ones. Remember that every new rule is to keep you and your friends safe while still giving you a good education.[13]
- Some schools may be staggering class times, staggering lunch and recess times, getting rid of passing time, or moving classrooms outside.
- This is a new and uncertain time for everyone, and policies may change as more information becomes available.
- You can also try talking your parents into letting you do online school if your school has that option. You could also do home school.
[Edit]Warnings - If you ever feel unsafe in school, talk to your parent or guardian.
[Edit]References |
| How to Frame a Print Posted: 01 Sep 2020 09:00 AM PDT Prints can be a fun and stylish addition to your home, but displaying them can seem a little tricky. While it's usually best to leave framing to a professional, you can try your hand at framing with a store-bought frame and some basic supplies, like a mat. You can display your prints with a custom mat to make them look really sleek, or give them an extra dimension by "floating" them in a frame. Play around with different framing styles until you find something that works well for your home and living space! [Edit]Getting the Right Supplies - Measure your print to get an idea of the dimensions. Take a ruler or measuring tape and see how long your print is. Jot down this measurement, then repeat the same process by measuring the height of your artwork. Keep these dimensions in mind so you don't get a frame that's too large or small for your print.[1]
- Most prints will probably fall under a standard size like , but it doesn't hurt to double-check.
- Get a frame that's larger than your print. Look for a frame that's a size or so larger than the print you have on hand. When you display your print with a mat, the mat takes up a lot of space within the frame, so give yourself several inches or centimeters of wiggle room to work with.[2]
- For instance, if your print is , you may want to get a frame.
- You can buy a new frame for your print, or reuse a frame that you don't currently have on display.
- Invest in a custom mat that fits around your print. Search online or in an art supply store for a mat that is larger than the dimensions of your print. Check that the dimensions of the mat can comfortably frame your print while providing a couple of inches or centimeters of white space around the side of your print.[3]
- For really exact cuts, trim your mat with an X-acto knife.
- Most prints are displayed with white mats, as this helps the print stand out more.
- For instance, you'd want to get a mat to frame your print.
[Edit]Displaying with a Mat - Cut out the center of the custom mat so it frames your print. Mark the dimensions of your print on the mat, making sure that there are equally sized gaps along the right and left sides of the print, along with the top and bottom edges. Slice around this traced rectangle with a sliding cutter to get your custom print. You may want to draw a rough template of your mat on a separate sheet of paper so you can get an idea of which dimensions to mark and cut.[4]
- For instance, if you're framing a print in a mat, there'd be of space to the right and left of the print and of space above and below the print.
- Tape the back of the print to the mat. Place the print face-down along the back of the mat, then secure it in place with several strips of acid-free tape. Place additional strips of tape as needed along the back edge of your print to hold it in place.[5]
- Acid-free tape won't create any long-term damage to your print.
- Attach the mat and print it to the back of the frame with tape. Place 4 sections of acid-free tape along the back of the mat, then secure it to the front of the frame backing. If your frame is especially large, you may want to use several sections of tape to get the job done.[6]
- For instance, you may want to stick 4 sections of tape along the corners of the print, as well as 1-2 sections in the center of the print.
- Tape the back of the frame into place. Stack the mat and print on top of the frame backing, then place them face-down on the frame glass. Some frames may have screws or clamps that hold your frame in place—if your frame doesn't have any of these mechanisms, use a couple of long strips of tape to hold the edges of the frame's backing in place.[7]
- Thicker, more durable tape is best for this. You can ensure a smooth edge by creasing the center of the tape with a ruler.
[Edit]Floating Your Print - Trim the mat so it's identical to the back portion of the frame. Place the frame on top of your mat and trace around it with a pencil. Cut out the rectangle with an X-acto knife so your mat fits into the frame snugly.[8]
- If you don't have an X-acto knife, you can use a pair of scissors instead.
- Mark along the center of the mat where you'd like to put your print. Place your print in the middle of the trimmed mat so you have an idea of how you'd like it to look. Measure along the edges of your print with a ruler to ensure that it's equidistant from all edges of the mat. As a finishing touch, lightly mark the border of your print with pencil.[9]
- Measure a section of foamcore that's smaller than your print. Lightly trace the edge of your print along the section of foamcore as a starting point. Measure in from each edge and mark the new, smaller dimensions with a pencil.[10]
- You don't want the foam to stick out from under the print, so it needs to be slightly smaller than the print itself.
- Foamcore is a thick, sturdy board that lifts your print and makes it look like it's "floating" in the frame. You can find this online or at most craft stores.
- Cut out this smaller rectangle of foamcore with an X-acto knife. Place your foamcore on a sturdy work surface and drag your X-acto knife around the traced rectangle. Work in long, smooth cuts so your foamcore looks as sleek and seamless as possible.[11]
- Stick the print to the foamcore with several strips of mounting tape. Place at least 4 pieces of specialty tape along the back of the print so it adheres to the foam. Double-check that both the foam and the print look smooth, so your print looks really sleek when you go to hang it up.[12]
- Always use acid-free tape, which won't damage your print over time.
- Secure the foamcore to the center of the mat with tape. Place a few strips of tape along the back of your foamcore-mounted print and stick it to the center of the mat that you previously marked. Lightly press the print into place so it stays put on the mat and doesn't shift after you hang it up.[13]
- Measure and trim 4 acrylic spacers that can go around the inside of the frame. Place an acrylic spacer along the inner edge of your picture frame, and mark where it meets the edge of the frame. Trim the acrylic spacer to size with wire cutters. Repeat this measuring, marking, and trimming process with 3 more acrylic spacers, then peel away the adhesive-covering tape along the bottom of the spacer. Press all 4 spacers into place along the inner perimeter of the frame.[14]
- Acrylic spacers look like thin, see-through sticks that stick to the sides of your frame. They help create a gap between the print and the frame so the print isn't touching the glass. They have a piece of peel-away tape along the bottom that keeps the adhesive as sticky as possible.
- You can find acrylic spacers online or at most stores that sell framing supplies.
- Your spacers may be different sizes, depending on the size of your frame.
- Place the print in the frame on top of the acrylic spacers. Check if floating print is flush against all sides of the frame, and that the print is visible through the glass. Look at the print to ensure that it's sitting on top of the acrylic spacers and not touching the frame glass.[15]
- Secure the back of the frame in place so you can display your print. Place the frame backing behind the floating print and hold it in place with the mechanisms on your frame. For some frames, you may need to use a couple strips of tape or a staple gun to secure your frame into place.[16]
- For instance, you can place a thick, strip of tape along each outer edge of your frame backing. Press along the center of the tape with a ruler so it creases and sticks evenly to the frame.
- If you'd like your print to take up the entire frame, talk with a framer about trying a full-bleed framing style.[17]
- Get rid of smudges on your mat with a rubber eraser.[18]
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Displaying with a Mat - Ruler
- Pen or pencil
- Framing mat
- Mounting tape
- Scissors or X-acto knife
- Nail
[Edit]Floating Your Print - Ruler
- Pen or pencil
- Scissors or X-acto knife
- Framing mat
- Foamcore
- Wire cutters
- Mounting tape
- 4 acrylic spacers
[Edit]References |
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