A strange mask-wearing question

[Ben E N]

I was standing around by the deli at my local supermarket. I, and everyone around me, was wearing a mask. Suddenly I felt the urge to sneeze. Luckily I was able to suppress it, but it got me thinking about what my best option would have been had the sneeze come. Here's the options that I came up with:

1. Just sneeze into the mask. This one seemed horrible to me. I would then have a sopping wet mask the rest of the shopping trip.

2. Remove the mask and sneeze. This one also seemed horrible to me. It would terrify everyone around me. I'm sure at least a couple of people would be convinced that I was trying to get them sick, even though the sneeze sensation was brought on by the mask tickling my nose.

3. Remove the mask, pull up the bottom of my shirt, and sneeze into it. The sound of the sneeze would alert everyone to me, right as my naked tummy is exposed, but that seemed like the best of three bad options.

Is there some other way to sneeze that I am missing? I know that this is a weird question, but if mask-wearing is going to be the way of life for some time, I want to be prepared for anything that can happen.

 

[Southernmiss]

I was standing around by the deli at my local supermarket. I, and everyone around me, was wearing a mask. Suddenly I felt the urge to sneeze. Luckily I was able to suppress it, but it got me thinking about what my best option would have been had the sneeze come. Here's the options that I came up with:

1. Just sneeze into the mask. This one seemed horrible to me. I would then have a sopping wet mask the rest of the shopping trip.

2. Remove the mask and sneeze. This one also seemed horrible to me. It would terrify everyone around me. I'm sure at least a couple of people would be convinced that I was trying to get them sick, even though the sneeze sensation was brought on by the mask tickling my nose.

3. Remove the mask, pull up the bottom of my shirt, and sneeze into it. The sound of the sneeze would alert everyone to me, right as my naked tummy is exposed, but that seemed like the best of three bad options.

Is there some other way to sneeze that I am missing? I know that this is a weird question, but if mask-wearing is going to be the way of life for some time, I want to be prepared for anything that can happen.

The purpose of the mask is to stop the secretions that you spew. Hence, sneezing in to the mask and cleaning it once you leave the store. Gross, yes, but it's what we are supposed to do.

Just read this this morning. A little long, but explains it all well in layman's terms

https://www.erinbromage.com/post/the-risks-know-them-avoid-them

A Sneeze: A single sneeze releases about 30,000 droplets, with droplets traveling at up to 200 miles per hour. Most droplets are small and travel great distances (easily across a room).
If a person is infected, the droplets in a single cough or sneeze may contain as many as 200,000,000 (two hundred million) virus particles which can all be dispersed into the environment around them.

 

[BrianL]

@Southernmiss, I like that very common-sense explanation of things that it heavy on the facts and light on the fear-mongering. Good read.

 

[Hikergirl]

Since it is allergy season the chances that I'm going to sneeze while wearing my mask is pretty high. I plan just sneezing into the mask while using my hand (with hopefully a tissue in it) to cover the mask as well. Then I'll take my hand sanitizer and spray my hand. I'll just have to deal with the wet mask until I get back to the car.

 

[DLgal]

Sneeze both into the mask AND into the crook of your elbow, as though you weren't wearing a mask. This is what I would do and what I would expect others to do as well. Same with coughing.

 

[Ben E N]

Sneeze both into the mask AND into the crook of your elbow, as though you weren't wearing a mask. This is what I would do and what I would expect others to do as well. Same with coughing.

Does your mask end up being sopping wet afterwards?

 

[DLgal]

Does your mask end up being sopping wet afterwards?

My sneezes aren't usually super wet anyway. I sneeze into my arm and my shirt doesn't end up sopping wet.

 

[NotUrsula]

If you're feeling sneezy, fold a tissue inside your mask to catch the worst of it. Then you can step to a more private space and take it off momentarily to dispose of the tissue.

 

[DoraBA]

As previously written - sneeze into your mask AND elbow. Also if possible, turn to face away from people as much as possible.
I also usually keep a spare mask or two as well as gloves - I have both surgical and cloth masks - so I can switch if necessary or use a new one.

What a world.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I would sneeze into the mask AND cover with my jacket/sweater or collar of my T-shirt. And turn away from any people/food. So combine what you've always done with the addition of the mask.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I agree that you should not remove the mask to cough or sneeze. The purpose of the mask is to keep the droplets from reaching other people, and from landing on surfaces that other people might touch. It's also a good idea to sneeze into your elbow, even while wearing the mask.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Sneeze into your mask and also into your elbow as you have always done. I carry extra masks in my car.

 

[bcla]

Removing the mask does seem to defeat the purpose of covering one's mouth/nose.

And if anyone remembers the deal with exhalation valves, I personally haven't seen anyone denied entry or told to leave for wearing a mask with one. I've seen quite a few store employees wearing such respirator masks.

 

[disneychrista]

There is only one option. Keep your mask on when sneezing or coughing.

 

[maxiesmom]

If I had time and could step away, I would lift my mask and sneeze into a tissue. I would then pull my mask back into place and sanitize my hands.

 

[eMoneyBug]

...I want to see some Star Wars, Buzz Lightyear and other characters that have helmets. I would rather wear one of those than just a nose/mouth cloth covering, give me an entire helmet and I'll pay a premium to have some sort of usb powered cooling system. Win win win.

 

[CarolAnn856]

Since the entire purpose of wearing a mask is to catch anything that comes out of my nose or mouth before it goes into the air, and then into other people’s nose, etc., I’ll definitely keep my mask on if I sneeze. I’ve been keeping a spare in my purse in just in case.

 

[KPeterso]

I actually had to sneeze in my mask about 10 days ago. It was not a super wet one. But since then, I carry a spare mask so that if it happens again, I have a spare to put on.

 

[New Orleans lady]

I was standing around by the deli at my local supermarket. I, and everyone around me, was wearing a mask. Suddenly I felt the urge to sneeze. Luckily I was able to suppress it, but it got me thinking about what my best option would have been had the sneeze come. Here's the options that I came up with:

1. Just sneeze into the mask. This one seemed horrible to me. I would then have a sopping wet mask the rest of the shopping trip.

2. Remove the mask and sneeze. This one also seemed horrible to me. It would terrify everyone around me. I'm sure at least a couple of people would be convinced that I was trying to get them sick, even though the sneeze sensation was brought on by the mask tickling my nose.

3. Remove the mask, pull up the bottom of my shirt, and sneeze into it. The sound of the sneeze would alert everyone to me, right as my naked tummy is exposed, but that seemed like the best of three bad options.

Is there some other way to sneeze that I am missing? I know that this is a weird question, but if mask-wearing is going to be the way of life for some time, I want to be prepared for anything that can happen.

I carry three mask everywhere I go. One in my purse , one in my car and the one I am wearing. shopDisney has 4 mask for $20. Carry a plastic bag for clean mask and a bag for used mask.

 

[Ben E N]

I carry three mask everywhere I go. One in my purse , one in my car and the one I am wearing. shopDisney has 4 mask for $20. Carry a plastic bag for clean mask and a bag for used mask.

Yeah I think I'll be doing the same. If I have time to prep for it, though I'm still going with option 3. My shirt is thicker and wider than any mask, so it would still catch more droplets.