Face Coverings in Schools FAQ's
Holly Polston, CAS
Marketing and Branding Expert with 30+ years in the Promotional Marketing Industry.
Helping schools with recruiting, retention, and reputation for over 30 years.
Garment Graphics partners with many schools to provide logo’d and licensed apparel and we are eager to help you transition safely and healthily back to school this fall. There are still many unknowns related to COVID-19, but wearing masks seems to be effective in slowing the spread. We want to provide you with the most helpful information and options to help you reach informed decisions for what is best for your school. The following is for non- medical options and is additional information.
- Which children should wear masks?
- Where should children wear masks?
- Will teachers be wearing masks?
- What if students are scared?
- What options are available? - for adults and for children.
- What do the cost?
- Which style is best for children?
- What decoration is available for face masks?
- Technical Information and additional sources.
Which children should wear masks?
The CDC is recommending that all children should wear masks when in close proximity to other children. However, they do list a couple exceptions:
- Children under two should NOT wear masks .
- Children who are incapable of removing masks by themselves should not wear masks .
- Children who have respiratory conditions.
Additionally, if a child touches their face more often while wearing a mask it may be best to reconsider them wearing a mask.
Where should children wear masks?
The CDC is not enforcing cloth face coverings as a requirement for students and teachers, but they do recommend all who are able to wear masks when possible. It is recommended that children wear masks whenever they are unable to maintain six feet distance from other children. During the school day students and teachers are often not able to maintain social distancing, so the wearing of cloth face coverings will likely be recommended. School areas where social distancing is least probable are buses, hallways, classrooms, and computer labs.
Will teachers be wearing masks?
It is unsure to know if teachers and school staff will be required to wear masks, but the CDC has provided these recommendations:
“When Physical Distancing is Not Possible In cases where physical distancing will not be possible, LEAs will want to consider implementing other mitigation strategies, such as cloth face masks, hand washing, and sanitization. This will be especially pertinent for bus aides, paraprofessionals working with students with disabilities, or in any case where physical contact is required.”
As more research on wearing masks comes out affirming their effectiveness, it is probable that they will be used in many school systems.
What if students are scared?
Some parents and students may express fear about wearing masks, which can be expected because it is unfamiliar. There are many resources that provide strategies to make the wearing of masks more normal for students. Here are a few:
Explain the “why” for masks in kid-friendly language
- Allow them to ask questions .
- Make them fun with designs .
- Have teachers and parents model how to wear them .
These can be implemented both in schools and at home to help students feel more comfortable with this “new normal”.
What options do you provide?
For Adults:
3-ply USA Made 100 Cotton Mask
Three layers of ring-spun cotton with ear loop attachment. Available in Navy, Red, White, Grey, Black and Charcoal. Immediate stock available and low minimum of 12 pieces.
Single ply USA Made Cotton Mask
Made from Bella/Canvas fashion cotton t-shirt material these are soft and lightweight. Behind the ear with two openings for sizing. Available in Black and Navy we have immediate stock. Minimum 50 pieces
3-ply Cotton Pleated. (Port Authority)
Designed for maximum comfort, the Port Authority® Cotton Knit Face Mask goes beyond standard cotton masks thanks to our partnership with Sciessent, a U.S.-based global provider of antimicrobial solutions, to incorporate its Agion® treatment into the fabric. Red or Navy - 100 piece minimum, other colors available at higher minimum.
Tie back, 2 tone masks with filtration pocket (made in the USA)
A premium option is this tie back 2 tone mask. Minimum order is 24 pieces, choose your trim color, our favorites are red or navy. A great option is the pride trim (multi-colored). With all the design and features this USA made mask is a value for the features starting at $15 per piece with one logo location included.
Features include 4 layers of organic cotton with a built in filter pouch. The filter pouch can be used for additional filtration like a coffee filter or PM2 filter
Full Color - Youth & Adult Styles
An exciting style for both youth and adult is our full color sublimated styles. Performance polyester in either single-ply or three-ply styles are lighter weight, easier to speak while wearing and may be a great option for sports. Then the exciting part is the full front of the mask is available for design to create a great piece of spirit wear. Performance polyester styles are also available in solid colors with transfer decoration.
For Children:
Youth Face Mask - The Next Level Youth Face Mask is a reusable, eco-friendly, and sustainable 2-ply mask made of 70% recycled material. Each mask is made from approximately 1 recycled poly (RPET) water bottle. Moisture wicking fabrication is washable and breathable. Features a double layer fabric that wraps around the ears, one size fits most.
Eco Performance 40% Recycled Poly, 30% Recycled Cotton, 30% Cotton. 145g/4.3oz.
What do they cost?
The cost depends on the following:
- How many do you need?
- How do you want to decorate?
- Which style you select
- Packaging options
So pricing can range from $2.00 per mask (blank single ply) to $20.00+ per mask (tie-back style with multi-decoration). We can help you consider the options.
Which style mask is best for children?
There is no information that points clearly to whether ties or elastics are best for children. For simplicity, I would suggest elastics for children. The tie back masks may be tempting to play with or untie, requiring assistance to put it back on. The elastic masks are very comfortable, less distracting, and easy to take on and off.
What decoration is available for face masks?
Our preferred decoration method is custom, full color transfer prints. We selected this style for a variety of reasons.
- The material is approved by the Consumer Product Commission for use in children’s apparel, one of the most stringent qualifications for decoration.
- We’ve opted to stay away from screen-printing (even though we are a screen-printer) because during that process additional chemicals may be applied to the garment, like adhesives. Because this item is covering the face of the individual, we decided screen-print would not be the best method, although some printers may opt to do this.
- A popular method for mask decoration is sublimation ( a full-color, all over process), which requires polyester material. Performance polyester masks are also available in solid color and then decorated with full color transfer.
Our standard decoration heat transfer logo is on the left, right or both sides of the mask. We do not recommend any design that covers a person’s airflow for a variety of reasons. Other locations like over the nose or along the bottom of the mask could be considered.
Technical Information:
This information was pulled together to help you make an informed decision about your transition back to in-person education in the fall. We are not making any claims of protection and would recommend doing your own research regarding masks. Guidelines from the CDC and various government entities are recommending the use of non-medical styles for everyday use. The guidelines vary by situation, you should consider your situation to make an informed decision.
For more information regarding children in masks and education visit these websites:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/schools.html
We thank you for your business and look forward to starting a project with you soon!
We are ready to help with your masks!
Let us help you with the decisions and branding of masks for your school. Similar to a school uniform or spirit shirt masks are a great opportunity to build community and culture.