(Snippets from the frontline)
COVID-19: Wear a mask, yet be careful
Forty years ago while operating on a trauma victim who fell asleep at the wheel, I became more tired than usual despite the adrenaline-rush to save a life. After completing surgery and removing the mask, I was wide awake again.
At that time physiologically, it was explained to me exhaling into the mask made it more likely to inhale my own expelled carbon dioxide (CO2). Most of the time this is not a problem, but since surgery took 6 hours, it was thought using a mask exposed me to higher CO2 concentrations.
With the COVID-19 crisis, it is now recommended to wear a mask outside most of the time.
Be aware though, usage of a mask might cause some to have increased CO2, or possibly even decreased oxygen. If you experience sleepiness, tiredness, or even mental confusion, find a safe place to remove it for a while.
Using masks are critical for all of us because the benefit far outweighs the risk.
Should you be wearing one, please be especially careful when driving, so you don’t fall asleep at the wheel.
Gene Uzawa Dorio, M.D.
Thanks for that info Presumably it’s standard knowledge in the medical world, yet I’ve not seen it mentioned in the many COVID-19 bulletins being sent to the public. I’d suppose it mainly a hazard with lengthy, continuous wear, but that could be emergeny workers and others traveling long distances in a vehicle. So it seems it should be mentioned in the COVID-19 advisories.
Very considerate, Thank you much