[FamiliarFace]

Bears repeating. So here it is again for those who missed it the first time.

***Surgeon’s masks are designed to prevent bacterial spread, not viral. Huge difference in size. Not only that, but a surgeon’s mask is put on, used, and discarded in an environment specifically designed for such use. It is not designed for use outside that environment. They don’t touch the mask once it’s in position. They discard it in biohazard bins once it’s been used, not in a pocket, the dashboard, or hanging from a rear-view mirror.***

[JohnBovenmyer]

I generally figured surgeon's masks were at least as much to protect the surgeon from the patient as the reverse. Arterial bleeders can easily spray into the mouth, nose or eyes of the surgeon. Thinking back to the early days of the HIV epidemic, when everyone was still scared spitless of getting HIV, reported cases of docs getting HIV from patients were MUCH greater than cases of patients getting it from their docs. Masks will keep that potentially lethally contagious blood from getting to where it can infect you.