Masks: Where to get them and how to wear them properly

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the demand for masks has increased. A downturn in weddings saw Weddingstar pivot from creating wedding accessories to creating over a hundred different styles of masks, for adults and kids

“Back in March when we saw this happening, we knew that masks were going to be part of out life, and we realize not everyone is going to want to walk around wearing a medical mask and so we started designing fashion masks,” CEO Rick Brink said.

The company also sells a variety of accessories from breathe easy cups to anti-fog lens cloths to help glasses wearers from getting fog in their glasses when they wear their masks.

In a few weeks, the company will also be launching a luxury mask line with a higher quality look and feel, and to ensure everyone can have a mask, they’ve donated thousands of masks to local charities here in Medicine Hat.

“ We have just recently today and yesterday dropped off close to 4000 masks, probably a retail value of close to $40,000 of masks that they can give out to kids and people who really need it, and also with a lot of these charities there are lots of volunteers that work there and we can make sure that everyone is masked,” Brink said.

For Lynne Clarke, her journey to mask making came due to an unexpected request from a close friend.

“ Well my friend Mel works at Crestwood Pharmacy and she said they had no more masks, like there’s no more masks coming in, and she said ‘ well you have a sewing machine, So I said ‘ yeah, and we googled how to make them and we have been making them steady ever since.

Orders for her homemade masks can be made by messaging her on her personal Facebook page, Lynn Clarke.

With so many masks on the market, questions remain if all masks provide the same protection. According to Bueckert, it all comes down to the filtration rate.

“In most cases, masks like this (disposable) are effective, realistic, and inexpensive. The minute you go up in a higher grade than the cost factor is there. There is more protection. If you are out in public randomly, you are not a front-line worker, these are fine,” Bueckert said.

For people who have difficulty breathing, there are alternatives for protection.

“ The visors are more realistic for people who have asthma, or have difficulty breathing, you are preventing any kind of contact between people, so they work well,” Bueckert said.

While visors may be recommended, the city’s bylaw states face shields are not acceptable under the bylaw if they are worn alone.

A face covering, according to the city is defined as, “a medical or non-medical mask, or other face covering that fully covers the nose, mouth and chin.”

Finally, in terms of mask use, Bueckert says is equally important to wear them properly to get the most protection. The mask must cover the nose and mouth area with the straps behind the ears. The mask should also be sealed along the sides, to prevent exposure.

Most disposable and N95 masks are available at local drug stores in the city.

by Tiffany Goodwein

Masks: Where to get them and how to wear them properly

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