On Wearing a Respirator Mask: Is it the White or Blue Side that Should be Exposed?

They tell us different things. One says the white side should be exposed to prevent getting infected. Another says it should be the blue side. So, which is which? One guy told me he wears two masks at a time---one exposes the white side and the other the blue side. It pays to be doubly sure, he said. [Image above from Kamil Feczko, Unsplash].

The World Health Organization says the blue side should always be exposed and the white side should be touching your face, if you want protection from outside infection or if you want to keep others from getting your cough virus. Why? A WHO expert said the blue side is waterproof, preventing any airborne transmission from being inhaled, and the white one is absorbent to absorb what you cough. Always, always the blue side out and the white side in.

But then again a popular mayor and his vice also did a demo on mask wearing on Youtube. But they told people the complete opposite. They said the white side should be out and the blue side in to protect yourself from infection. So now we don't know what to do. No wonder some folks prefer the N95 mask which is much easier to wear because its mere appearance gives us a good idea how to wear it. You can't wear it any other way.

For your reference, watch these videos.

See the WHO video below.

Here's another one citing the WHO video on wearing respirator masks:

See this Malaysian video below:

Here's a DOH (Department of Health, Philippines) video on wearing a respirator mask but nothing is said about which side should be inside or outside.

Below is an H1N1 official on wearing a mask:

Finally, below is Mayor Isko and his vice mayor doing a demo:

Still another one:

And still another:

Judge for yourself which is right. All mixed up? Well, I think my friend who uses two masks at a time is right. One mask has the blue side out, and another mask with the white side out. 😉