In schools across the country, face masks are mandatory in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention has recommended that anyone over the age 2 should wear a face mask.
For big kids in middle school or high school, this is an easy public safety protocol to enforce. But for smaller children, with smaller faces and bodies that are constantly wiggling and moving, ensuring mask mandates are met is a bit of a challenge.
But for campuses doing their best to mitigate risk for students, staff, and faculty, it's imperative that classrooms find a way to keep kids safely masked up, even if they’d rather not be.
But how? The answer: mask lanyards.
What Is a Face Mask Lanyard
A face mask lanyard is a device that is used to hold a face mask around the neck when it is not being worn. The lanyard is typically made of a string or cord that is worn around the neck, and the face mask is attached to the lanyard by a clip or some other type of fastening device. This allows the wearer to easily access the mask and put it on when it is needed, without having to search for it or carry it in a bag or pocket. Face mask lanyards can be particularly useful for people who need to wear a mask frequently, such as healthcare workers or people who work in settings where masks are required. They can also be helpful for people who are required to wear a mask in public places and want to have their mask easily accessible.
Why Are Face Mask Lanyards a Good Idea?
Face mask lanyards are a great way to keep your mask handy while you go about your daily activities. They can provide extra comfort and security when wearing a face covering.
Lanyards allow kids to carry their masks around without having to worry about losing them. If your child tends to forget where you put your mask, lanyards can prevent you from reaching for it every time you leave the house. You won't have to dig through your bag or pockets looking for it anymore.
Kids will also avoid putting their hands in their mouth or nose when taking off your mask, since they don't have to reach up to do it. This helps reduce the risk of spreading germs.
How to Choose a Face Mask Lanyard
There are a few factors to consider when choosing a face mask lanyard:
-
Comfort: Look for a lanyard that is comfortable to wear around your neck. Some lanyards have a soft, padded neckband, while others have a simple cord that can be adjusted to fit your neck.
-
Length: Consider the length of the lanyard. A shorter lanyard may be more comfortable to wear, but a longer lanyard may be more practical if you need to take your mask off and on frequently.
-
Material: Look for a lanyard made from a durable, washable material. Some lanyards are made from a stretchy, elastic material, while others are made from a more rigid material like nylon.
-
Functionality: Consider whether you want a lanyard with additional features, such as a clip or a buckle for attaching your mask.
Ultimately, the best face mask lanyard for you will depend on your personal preferences and needs. It may be helpful to try out a few different styles and materials to find the one that works best for you.
How to Use a Lanyard for Your Face
First, you need to make sure you know what type of mask you need. There are different types of face masks including surgical, medical, and N95. Each type protects against different things. For example, a surgical mask is designed to keep away dust particles, whereas a medical mask keeps viruses off your skin.
Next, you need to find a place where you can buy one. Many places sell face masks, such as supermarkets, pharmacies, and hospitals. You can usually find them in the first aid section. However, you don't always need to go to a store to buy one. Some companies offer free samples online. Just enter your email address into the form, and you'll receive a link via email. Once you download the sample, follow the instructions to apply it correctly.
Finally, once you have the correct mask, you need to put it on. First, take off your clothes and shoes. Then, fold up the edges of the mask, making sure that none of the material touches your eyes. Next, pull the mask over your head and adjust the straps to fit comfortably. Finally, put the clips on your ears and tighten them. Now you're ready to go!
In this guide we'll look at 4 benefits of lanyards for masks and a face mask lanyards purpose regarding small children.
1. Better Hygiene
As we all know, kids pick up germs like magnets and inevitably pass whatever they pick up onto unsuspecting adults around them. Throw masks into the mix, and you have just one more item that can spread germs.
Kids are prone to setting their things anywhere they please, which means masks could be deposited on tables, couches, even the floor! Save yourself the agony of finding a mask sitting next to the art supplies in a classroom by instituting a mask lanyard requirement. Rather than depositing a mask on a community surface, a mask lanyard paired with a breakaway lanyard lets a kid dangle their mask around their neck when they’re not wearing it, sparing it from unnecessary exposure to filth and germs.
Specialist ID’s specially designed kids mask lanyards are perfect for just this very thing. Made for small faces, they not only fit well, they come with breakaway clasps on the back to ensure safety should a lanyard get tangled up and a child or adult needed to pull it off in a hurry.
2. Diminished Face Touching
If there’s one thing the CDC has hammered home this year, it’s to avoid touching your face unnecessarily. But try explaining that to a five-year-old! Kids mask lanyards help prevent unnecessary touching without a child even realizing it.
Thanks to the lanyard at the back of the head, a child can remove their mask just by pulling off from the lanyard. That means no fingers near their eyes, nose, or mouth, all concerning locations for aerosol spray that could contain the virus. The purpose of a mask lanyard is to keep the child from touching and losing their mask.
3. Quiet Reminder
Children inherently want structure, according to Aha Parent. Routines help them feel secure, and in difficult and scary times like this pandemic, having the structure of the daily reminder to put on their face mask lanyard can help them feel safer while actually keeping them safer at the same time.
Soon enough, it becomes routine to get up each day, get ready for school and make sure they have their face mask lanyard, which is not only an enormous benefit for students but also for the teachers and faculty who work with them. The purpose of the mask lanyard is to help children remember their masks.
At the same time, the feel of the mask lanyard around their neck is a subtle reminder to put their face mask on before they exit the bus or car to head into a school building, rather than simply shoving a mask in a pocket or backpack before they head in.
4. Helps Them Keep Track of Their Mask
Misplacing items is part of being a kid. Heck, it’s a big part of being an adult too. That’s why contraptions like keychain alerts and cellphone finds have been developed, to help us keep tabs on our most important items.
Masks are just as vital, arguably more so right now. And while schools that are open and operating in-person often have disposable masks for kids should they forget theirs, who wants to keep buying their kid additional face masks because they keep losing them?
Instead, a face mask lanyard helps a student hold onto their face mask at all times. That spares teachers class disruptions, keeps everyone safe and healthy, and prevents unnecessary spending on this important piece of PPE.
Which is to say, investing in an affordable Specialist ID kids mask lanyard is a no-brainer. Rather than run the risk of additional exposure, unnecessary face touching, loss of a mask, or increased germ risk, outfit your students in face mask lanyards. These indispensable tools not only fit well and are comfortable, they’re the subtle reminder kids need to keep a mask on at all times. The purpose of a mask lanyard for small children is to keep them from touching their face and ensure that they never lose their mask.