Dr. Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, has provided a helpful video for how to properly wear a mask.  

The first step, she says, is to make sure to thoroughly wash your hands.  

You then put the loops over your ears and adjust the mask to make sure both your nose and mouth are covered. The mask should cover half of your face and the sides be snug to the sides of your face. 

Dr. Hinshaw says it’s very important to remember not to touch your face while wearing the mask, as this can contaminate it. This includes touching the mask, reaching under to scratch your nose, or putting fingers near your eyes.  Wearing a mask may be a helpful reminder not to touch your face. 

When it comes to taking the mask off, make sure again to wash your hands before starting. 

Dr. Hinshaw says you need to think of the used mask as a source of infection, so it needs to be dealt with right away. For disposal, it should be thrown out. If it’s a cloth mask, you can put it in a sealed bag that can be taken to the laundry.  

After disposal, it’s time to wash your hands once more.  

Masks can get damp or dirty after a few hours, so it’s important to remember to replace them.  

Dr. Hinshaw says that masks can be a useful tool if you’re using them for the right job in the right way.  

Watch the video here: