How to Fit Test N95 Masks
N95 masks can literally keep you from inhaling 95 percent of small particles in the air, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In a public health crisis, these masks can offer you some protection against germs from other people. An N95 mask requires a proper fit to your face to work as designed. Fortunately, it is easy to check for the proper fit using nothing but your hands and your breath.
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Instructions
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Place your N95 mask over your face as you normally would. Take a deep breath and hold it in.
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Put your hands over the portion of the mask directly covering your mouth without causing the mask to touch your face and hold them there.
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Exhale the deep breath you took forcefully and take note if you feel any of your breath blowing on your face or eyes. According to the 3M instructions for putting on one of its FDA-approved N95 masks, if you feel any air blowing on your face or eyes during this test, the mask needs to be adjusted. Refer to the package insert to fit your mask properly.
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Tips & Warnings
The FDA has indicated that N95 masks are not designed for children or people with facial hair; therefore, the proper fit may never be achieved in these cases.
