As schools across the country continue to gradually reopen and resume classes, students can finally get their education back on track in a more structured environment.
However, it’s unfortunately not all good news in the education sector, as several students reportedly died while wearing their masks during a PE class.
Even though the spread of the virus has been contained in mainland China, people are still required to wear masks in certain spaces. This is particularly seen in sports centers and other public parks, where people partaking in physical activities do so while wearing their mask, which cuts their breath short in moments when they need it most.
One of the students was a 15-year-old boy who suddenly fell after long running around in his school’s playground during his PE class, which was confirmed by the surveillance camera replayed by his father, Mr. Li. According to his parents, the young boy showed no vital signs when he was admitted to the hospital.
「It was a hot sunny day, and my son’s class was taking place in the afternoon,」 Mr. Li said. 「Children should not be wearing masks while playing, or they will be short of breath very quickly.」
Sadly, this was not the first case of a young student’s death in such conditions. Several media channels have already reported the death of other middle school students, who were wearing N95 surgical masks while long running during their PE class, which caused a cardiac arrest.
While N95 masks are highly recommended as effective masks to protect ourselves from the spread of germs and COVID-19, they are not suitable for highly-intense physical activities, and should not be worn for more than four consecutive hours, which concerns adults as well.
It has been shown that the prolonged use of N95 masks can cause lung damage, especially for children who may suffer from hypoxia — a condition in which the body or a region of the body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply.
Knowing this, how can children partake in their PE class if wearing a mask, which is preferred while the virus may still be a potential threat, can cause serious health problems?
Schools in Shanghai have already taken steps to improve the way they teach their own PE classes by asking students to take their masks off when outside and ensuring they keep a one-meter (3 ft) distance between one another.
Here are a few tips for when it is best to wear a mask:
● In confined spaces such as the subway, train, etc.
● In crowded public buildings such as hospitals or schools;
● When in close contact with people for a longer period of time given their job responsibilities.