Viruses spread through the transmission of bodily fluids. While wearing a mask can reduce the transmission of these particles, you can protect yourself and others even more by wearing a lightweight face shield.
Face shields are a barrier. They prevent particles that you would have otherwise come into contact with from reaching your face. Furthermore, a face shield discourages you from touching your eyes and face thereby reducing possible transmission even more.
Who Needs to Wear a Face Shield?
A lightweight face shield is a particularly useful option for those who cannot wear a mask for various reasons or for those who need added protection in combination with a face mask. They are a popular choice for those in the dental and medical fields who are likely to come into very close contact with other people, some of whom may have respiratory infections and viruses.
Face shields offer some protection on their own but are especially effective when combined with a mask. The benefit of a lightweight face shield is that it can easily be donned with a mask without affecting the fit or the mask’s effectiveness.
Safety Glasses with Face Shield
Depending on the type and manufacturer, you can wear glasses or safety glasses with face shield clips built in. They can be adjusted to prevent condensation from building up underneath, which is especially useful in fields where full vision is needed.
The clips tend to be on the face shield’s perimeter to avoid any accidental hand contact with the face.
Is a Lightweight Face Shield Reusable?
There are actually two types. Some face shields are designed for single use. These should not be worn more than once. If they are removed, then it’s a requirement that a new shield is donned.
Alternatively, there are models available that are designed for multiple uses. Provided there is no damage to the face shield, they can be cleaned before their next use. For home use, it is possible to clean a face shield using a combination of soap and water.
Manufacturers of face shields normally provide instructions for cleaning. Users should pay attention to which products can be used to clean a face shield. Some harsh chemicals can react with the face shield’s material and cause significant damage or degradation.
Remember that a face shield is designed to act as a barrier. Therefore, depending on the circumstances in which it is used, there is a high likelihood that it has collected deposits.
As a result, when cleaning, the user must treat the face shield as a contamination risk. It must be handled with gloves. Both the inside and the outside must be thoroughly cleaned with a detergent or wipe to remove any contaminants. Following this, the shield can be disinfected and air dried or wiped with a clean disposable paper towel before being refitted. It is also important to remember that any time a face shield is touched, proper hygiene protocols must be observed regarding gloves and hand washing.
