Mask Fit Resource

Making the Most of Masking: Let’s Focus on Fit!

Respiratory infections, including COVID-19, RSV, and flu, are transmitted through the release of respiratory droplets and aerosols from those that are sick.  Face masks are a simple way to reduce the transmission of respiratory infections by containing the release of germs by infected people while also serving as a barrier to prevent the exposure of uninfected people.  The function of face masks is dependent on both the type of material used to make the mask and how well the mask fits the wearer’s face.  Poor fit results in poor function.  Understanding the way that material and fit affect mask function is important to reduce the transmission of respiratory infections, especially with increases in indoor close contact, such as employees returning to offices, increased airline travel and in-person meetings, and students returning to school.

This webinar hosted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine (CiTEM) and UNC Children’s Hospital discusses the importance of face mask fit on comfort and function.  It also offers simple and inexpensive ways to improve fit, comfort, and function to make the most of masking.

Webinar link: https://bit.ly/MaskFitWebinar

We also have a poster for this information that can be accessed via a link immediately above this webinar on the UNC Health Care Understanding Coronavirus (COVID-19) website: https://www.unchealthcare.org/coronavirus/understanding-covid-19/