22/10/2020
It’s Wisdom Wednesday!
What if face shields that protect us need protection too?
The pandemic due to the coronavirus going on right now still seems absurd. It feels weird that every time we go out, we see almost empty parking spaces, many closed establishments, and everyone trying to be as far away from each other as possible. However, these are partly the results of certain measures that we have to take. One of the most important among these measures is wearing a face mask, even better paired with a face shield.
The shield covers the entire face, including the eyes, and so it protects the mucous membranes of our face where we can get infected. It is good to see that a lot of people do so. However, it is hard not to notice that a number of them wear it inappropriately such as those who put theirs over their heads. The most logical reason for this is that due to improper care, the once clear shield has turned blurry.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends wearing disposable face shields only once. However, one can use a disposable face shield repeatedly as long as it is regularly cleaned and it is not damaged, warped, or cracked. If these requirements are not met, it is better to get a new face shield. For those who are interested in using their face shields more than once, we got you covered! Just follow these steps and you’re good to go!
First, never use alcohol to clean your face shield. This is very important to know since it is much more convenient for us to clean our shields this way, especially since alcohol evaporates easily and that it would take just a few wipes. However, alcohol causes cracking or holes that may become breeding ground for bacteria. It also leaves a thin film of organic residue that blurs the shield and the wiping creates reticulate surface markings over the shield.
Instead of alcohol, use warm water and soap to clean your shield. Submerge the shield in warm water so that the particulate matter such as dust, smoke, and liquid droplets will be removed. Wiping off of dirt on the shield directly without submerging in water first may cause permanent scratching due to the particulate matter. Once in the water, soap it gently with your fingers. The soap evens out on the surface and removes the microbes accumulated on the shield.
However, if you wish to use a particular disinfecting solution to clean your shield for convenience especially when outside or for whatever reason, use the compatibility test. Apply a small amount of the solution on a test area to observe its compatibility with the shield's material. Make sure that the test area on the shield should be out of your line of sight, i.e., the corner. Also, take note of the effect over a significant period. If after the test you find a certain solution works for you, then go ahead and use it.
Lastly, it is also recommended that whenever face shields are not in use, they should be placed in a personal storage bag. It should also be properly labeled and stored in a clean area.
The face shield might not usually be something we cherish, but we must take care of them. This is good practice so that we would not have to use and dispose of too many face shields over some time. Let us not add to the growing waste coming from other disposable PPEs such as face masks and bodysuits.
References
[1] Batcher, Renee, and Christina Ianzito. 2020. Are Face Shields Better Than Masks for Coronavirus Protection? July 23. Accessed October 19, 2020. https://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-2020/shields-compared-to-masks.html.
[2] bayplastics.co.uk. n.d. "Chemical Resistance of Polycarbonate Products."
[3] Guignon, Anne Nugent. 2020. Understanding face shield maintenance—practical steps to insure cleanliness and optical clarity. May 28. Accessed October 19, 2020. https://www.dentistryiq.com/dental-hygiene/infection-control/article/14176826/understanding-face-shield-maintenancepractical-steps-to-insure-cleanliness-and-optical-clarity.
[4] Ranello, Marissa. n.d. 8 things you should never clean with rubbing alcohol. Accessed October 19, 2020. https://cooktopcove.com/2019/08/04/8-things-you-should-never-clean-with-rubbing-alcohol/?src=interxpromo&ro=3&et=fbsub_smallerliving&eid=49593_s&pid=60394&vn=200&t=mxp.
[5] Roberge, Raymond J. 2016. Face shields for infection control: A review. February 22. Accessed October 19, 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5015006/.
[6] The Loop. 2020. Face shields—Frequently asked questions. September 24. Accessed October 19, 2020. https://medcom.uiowa.edu/theloop/face-shields-frequently-asked-questions.
[7] Word Health Organization. 2016. "Personal protective equipment for use in a filovirus disease outbreak."
Content by: Laurice Angeles
Design by: Samantha Aquino
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