Before removing a face mask, prioritize hand hygiene and address your eyewear if you wear glasses.
Steps Before Removing Your Face Mask
Proper preparation is crucial before you physically take off your face mask to help minimize the risk of contamination. Based on guidelines, the steps you should take immediately before mask removal involve hygiene and managing other personal items worn on the face.
Follow these steps when you are ready to take off your mask:
- Perform Hand Hygiene: The very first action you should take is to perform hand hygiene. This ensures your hands are clean before you touch your mask for removal.
- Remove Glasses (If Applicable): If you wear glasses, you should remove them before proceeding with the mask removal process.
These steps, particularly performing hand hygiene, are essential to ensure that you don't contaminate your hands before handling the mask, which could have particles on its outer surface.
While the reference focuses on the preparatory steps, remember that the physical removal typically involves carefully handling the mask by the ear loops or ties, avoiding touching the front surface, and then disposing of or storing the mask properly, followed by another round of hand hygiene. However, the immediate actions highlighted in the provided reference are the crucial preliminary steps.
