Globalization as well as advances in technology has improved the quality of life of the people. New inventions and industrialization has somehow made life easier and m ore comfortable for the modern man. However, while these are considered blessings to humanity, the modernization of the human race carried with it unavoidable evils such as modern diseases.



The rise in the number of diseases may be attributed to the increasing globalization of the world. The increase in people traffic from on e country to another has made containment of diseases harder and more complex. Thanks to technology again, man has invented ways and means to keep modern diseases from spreading.

The use of respirator face masks both for ordinary citizens and for health workers has somehow minimized the spread of diseases. Such diseases would have grown to an epidemic if not for these health masks.

Respirator face masks are widely used by healthcare providers as well as individuals who already have diseases of are in danger of getting the disease.

The panic brought about by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome or SARS several years ago has increased the demand for respiratory masks. Some healthcare institutions used to reserve respiratory masks in the event of a smallpox outbreak. However, there are more complicated and special respiratory face masks for use in case of chemical or radiological emergencies.

During the SARS scare, healthcare workers were prioritized in the provision of respiratory face masks since they were in direct contact with patients who have SARS or who may have been infected with the disease.

Respiratory face masks come in all sizes and shapes and in different specifications. Some respiratory masks have exhalation devices that are intended to lessen the build up of moisture. Most respiratory masks can fit any face size and are designed to protect the wearers from the spread of the virus. Generally, respiratory masks protect the wearer from microorganisms that are easily spread in the air.

However, experts admitted that the use of respiratory face masks does not provide total protection to the wearer. Thus, aside form wearing respiratory face masks, doctors also recommend the use of other precautionary methods like gloves or medical gown as well as the intake of vitamins and other medicines.

Hospitals or clinics that are at the forefront of healthcare provision are required to provide respiratory face masks for both their medical and non-medical staff. They must also conduct trainings for the their staff who may possibly encounter highly critical and contagious diseases later on so they will know what to do when that happens. The respiratory face masks are special health equipment and the staff must be taught its proper use.

Ordinary people tend to confuse the ordinary surgical mask from the respiratory mask but these are two different masks. The doctor's surgical masks does not provide the same protection offered by the respiratory face mask although it can be a substitute when a person is faced with an emergency situation and it is impossible for him to find a respiratory mask Surgical masks tend to be loosely fitted and are generally not suited as a protection against airborne diseases. Surgical masks are used to protect healthcare workers from blood splashes and the release of other body fluids during surgical and related procedures.