Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza

B3. Wearing basic personal protective equipment

When the pandemic is widespread in the Australian community (in the SUSTAIN phase), health authorities will encourage people who need to enter crowded areas or visit a health facility to wear a surgical mask or other appropriate covering for the nose and mouth. Advice on appropriate face coverings will be provided at the time. These measures need to be used in combination with good hand hygiene. It is particularly important for people who are coughing or sneezing to wear a mask to prevent the spread of infection to others. It is also important to ensure that they are worn properly and disposed of correctly (see Box 10).

Box 10: Surgical mask It is important to ensure that surgical masks are worn and disposed of correctly. Make sure the mask is correctly fitted by ensuring that it covers your nose and mouth and that it is secured at the back of your head. Avoid touching your face while wearing the mask. Replace the mask whenever it is moist. A mask that has been removed for example, when eating, should not be reused. Remove the mask by only touching the straps and put the used mask in a bin. Wash your hands straight away.

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This information is current for 03 September, 2010
This information was issued on 05 December, 2008