Choosing the Right Face Shield for Your Child

Adults and children who use public transport or attend crowded places such as markets or shopping centers should use a face shield as an additional protection measure against COVID-19 (coronavirus). You can get affordable face shields from several online platforms or pharmacies. The use of face shields should not replace the mask or make you neglect handwashing and basic hygiene practices. Parents should know how to choose the correct face shield for their children’s age and how to use it and when to use it.

How to Choose the Right Face Shield for Your Child

Unlike the face shields indicated for health personnel, those that the general public must use have a movable protective screen. The material can be polycarbonate or polypropylene. Both have the advantage of being resistant and easy to clean.

The face shield should be large enough to cover the entire face (down to the chin). The measurements are usually between 36 to 39 cm for an adult, with a minimum thickness of 0.3 cm. For children ages 3 to 10, the sizes should be approximately 8.5 “x 6”. Depending on the child’s age, the face shield should be adjustable for a better fit and avoid tampering.

How Should the Face Shield Be Used?

WHO indicates that the face shield should be used as additional protection, so it should always be used together with the appropriate mask for the child. First, they should wear the mask then the face shield. When removing the protection, the face shield is removed first, then the mask.

Remind children to always wash their hands before and after putting on and removing the face shield and mask. Also, keep in mind that you should not touch the protector with your hands while wearing it.

When Should the Face Shield Be Used?

The places where both you and your little ones should wear the face shield are the most crowded and have a high amount of viral load. For instance:

• Public transport: Many people need to move around the city and cities in the country’s interior, so it is necessary to use this element of protection in all means of public transport.
• Supermarkets, shopping centers, department stores, shopping malls: These places usually gather many people in closed spaces, where social distancing is difficult, and ventilation is scarce.
• Clinics and hospitals: The viral load in clinics and hospitals is very high, so protection must be maximum.

How to Disinfect the Face Shield?

You need to clean your face shield and your child’s after each use, carefully not to contaminate yourself. You can disinfect it with alcohol or a bleach solution. Be careful: you should not apply the cleaning product directly on the screen. Ideally, do it with a cloth moistened with the disinfectant.