Mask up! Tips for masks from East Bay Pediatrics

Both COVID-19 and poor air quality from fires are great reasons to wear your mask. Here are some tips from your pediatricians about wearing masks:

• Children 2 years and older should wear a mask when indoors. Practice wearing the mask for longer periods of time to help children get used to it.
• Keep both your mouth and nose covered when wearing your mask. Both virus particles and smoke particles can enter your body through your nose and month.
• Masks with vents may help with filtering smoke from the air but do not prevent the spread of COVID-19. Wear a mask with at least two layers and no vent. Surgical type masks are designed with two layers.
• The mask traps virus particles and smoke particles on the outside surface. Avoid touching the outside surface of the mask. Do not flip the mask around so that the outside is now touching your mouth and nose.
• Continue to wash hands and avoid touching your face. This will help decrease the spread of COVID-19 and many other illnesses including influenza.
• If the air quality worsens due to smoke, consider staying indoors. If you are unable to open windows and doors for ventilation, consider using an air filter to help decrease the spread of virus in the room.