The mask deal

The rest of this article is about masking (and gloving), but some of you are already for masking and just want to know what I have to offer, so here it is. To note, I’m not sure for how long I’ll offer this deal in part because I don’t know how long the company I’m ordering these from will have them, so jump on it soon!

I’ve gotten a bunch of masks printed. They are fun, punny, relatable, unique, and/or just nice to look at. They are also comfortable, have adjustable ear loops, are dual layered, have a filter pocket, and come with 2 removable disposable filters. 

Option A

Buy one of the avocado or sloth adult-sized masks for $15 each before they run out.

Option B

Pick one of those masks or select any of the others I’ve designed below (in a background colour of your choice) for $25 per mask. For each of those masks you purchase, one mask is donated to KidSafe. So, hooray, you’re helping a great cause! PLUS, I will give you a $30 gift certificate (emailed or on paper–you let me know) for you to give to anyone you want for an appointment with me. 

Pick your mask style

If you chose option B, you have so many options! Tell me which mask(s) you want (scroll through images), what size, how many, and what background colour (yes, you can change the background colour to one in the palates below).

All images are shown as adult mask, but can be done as child mask.

Adult masks are 7″ x 5″ 
Child masks are 6″ x 4″

Why wear a mask?

Masks are a necessary accessory. Soon enough signs in shops that used to read just, “No shirt, no shoes, no service” will now be “No mask, no shirt, no shoes, no service.” I know there is much debate and talk about the value of masking, but it’s really relatively simple. 

• The mask wearer is helping protect others.
• Masks aren’t perfect, but they help reduce airborne droplets from taking flight.
• Those airborne droplets are the most likely way to transmit COVID-19 from an infected person, even before they show any symptoms (and they may not ever have symptoms).
• Masks are particularly helpful in situations where 2 meters or more of distancing is not possible and especially indoors.

So, why wasn’t masking recommended earlier on?

• One reason is that surgical masks and N95 masks were in limited supply and we needed to save them for frontline workers.
• Another is that Westerners are not used to wearing masks like those in countries like Japan, China, and Korea.
• They could also create a false sense of security. I’ve heard people say, “I’m wearing a mask, so I don’t need to distance myself or watch what I’m doing.” Masks are not perfect. So, don’t imagine that they are like an impermeable shield. But they are better than nothing. 
• Many don’t wear or handle them correctly. I’ve seen so many people wearing them over their mouth but not nose. Remember, you breathe through both. And both are possible modes of transmission and reception of those airborne droplets. Also, when you need to adjust them, grab the sides with clean hands, not the centre where your nose is. If you’ve ever been in a tent or tent trailer, you may have been told not to touch the tent walls if they are wet with rain. Why? Because the moisture makes the fabric more likely to leak. The same happens with your mask. Breathing and talking makes the inside of your mask moist (yes, there’s that word again), so touching that area makes it more likely to become permeable.
• Plus, we’re learning. As information has come in, recommendations have changed. This is a relatively fluid situation and we’re making mistakes that we learn from (hopefully!).

But I hate masks

Hey, you’re not alone. I hate them too. My first week back to clinic, I had a headache all week from wearing a mask all day. But, I knew it was necessary, and if I wanted to be back to work, I needed to mask. 

Good news is, I’ve learned that going into the staff room periodically to remove the mask and breathe, that taking breaks and going outside, and that making sure I hydrate well enough (first week back, I kept forgetting to drink enough water) helped. Plus, I think I just got used to it. In fact, I often forget that I’m even wearing the mask when I’m at work now because it’s like wearing shoes or, for the women out there, you’ll remember perhaps how uncomfortable bras first were. The other day I drove past a construction site where I saw a guy walking around with a harness on–you know the one with the straps between the legs?–and though I think I’d find that so awkward and uncomfortable, he was clearly used to it. I used to hate having short nails and wearing hair barrettes because they felt odd, but now they feel normal. You probably have an experience with some clothing item that is the same for you–awful at first, but then not so bad or even totally fine.  

Maybe masks can show off your personality or make you smile

While they are much more than an accessory, they can also be something you don and feel good about. I’ve seen some fun, pretty, amusing, and fancy masks on my patients, from lipsticked lips to a big heart to ones that I know helped support a good cause. 

Environmentally-friendly options

I know that N95 masks offer the best protection and surgical masks are generally thought to be the next best, but both are disposable, so not so great for our environment, which we’ve already pushed to the brink.

I wear surgical masks in clinic because I can’t keep the 2m of distance from my patients. When I go out in regular life, I wear a cloth mask when I’m indoors and doing my best to keep that 2m of distance and also when I’m outdoors and in areas where keeping that distance is not always possible, e.g. walking on the sidewalk and not wanting to step into traffic when I have to pass someone.

I want to cry when I see tossed masks and gloves on the ground. What are we doing?!

On the subject of gloves

So…disposable gloves. I get the idea that you might touch your face less if you’re wearing gloves. If that’s true for you, then okay. But what I more often see is that gloved hands are still being used to touch the nose area of face masks and everything else around. Clean hands via soap and water is best. Next best is hand sanitizer. Always best is not touching face. Also, when out, avoid touching everything with your hands. Crosswalk buttons can be pressed with your elbow. Your elbow can never touch your face and you’re unlikely to touch someone else’s face with it either…right? 

Best way to get back to “normal”

I know that making these changes is tough: masking, distancing, cancelled events, lost work, too much work (often for less money), missing family and friends, and so forth. But we likely to be in this for awhile yet, so managing our situation is the best we can do right now.

Masking is just one of the things we can do. It’s not actually that difficult. And I thought I’d try to also make it something positive.