At the beginning of the pandemic, it didn’t really matter which respirator covered your face – the only important thing was that you wear mouth and nose protection. It is now clear that only the so-called FFP2 masks (without a valve) protect both the wearer and their environment from the dangerous viruses. For this reason, it is now mandatory in public facilities and means of transport as well as in the supermarket to cover your face with a respirator. That in itself wouldn’t be a big problem if most models didn’t sit crooked and crooked on the nose, constantly slipping down or pressing behind the ears. Not only is this annoying, it reduces protection. Therefore, it was only a matter of time before there would be ear-friendly gadgets that should make everyday life with a respirator easier for you.
One of the most common complaints that many people experience from wearing an FFP2 mask or a three-layer surgical mask every day is ear pain. Due to the tight (and often too tight) drawstring, the pressure on the head becomes so great at some point that you don’t want to put on a mouthguard at all. Unfortunately, this is currently not an option, so another solution must be found: You can alleviate the discomfort with a mask holder made of flexible material. It has connection hooks that you can use to individually adjust the respirator at the back of the head or neck – to reduce the pressure and the associated pain in the ears.
Another problem that many adults with narrow faces have is the fact that FFP2 masks are one size fits all. If the mouthguard doesn’t fit properly, it constantly slips off the nose – much to the annoyance of the wearer, but also to the environment. Many models usually have a sewn-in, fine metal bracket with which the mask can be pressed onto the nose. But there are also respirators that only have a fine wire and therefore offer no support. Here you can retrofit by attaching a self-adhesive nose clip made of solid aluminum to the mouthguard. This reduces the risk of your mask slipping off your nose.
Have you ever misplaced your respirator mask and almost gone mad because you couldn’t find the mouth and nose protection again? Here, too, there is a conceivably practical and useful everyday aid that should look familiar, especially to people who wear glasses: a lanyard to which the FFP2 mask is easily attached. This means you always have your mouthguard with you without having to keep an eye on it all the time. Putting it on and taking it off becomes child’s play.
Another practical helper in everyday life is the mask box. Instead of stuffing the mouth and nose protector with the flexible nose clip in your jacket pocket, you can store your respirator in a flat box. It is no larger than an ordinary FFP2 mask and so flat that it fits in any jacket or trouser pocket. The box is available in four different colors and protects your mouthguard from crumples – and dirt. However, you should take the mask out of the box at home to air it out.
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