As Australian children continue attending school during the Covid-19 pandemic, adults should continuously monitor their children’s health and keep them home with even the slightest of flu symptoms.

Parents and guardians should teach good hygiene and health practices to their children, including wearing a facemask, appropriate handwashing, hand sanitising, coughing and sneezing into a tissue or elbow, and avoiding touching face, eyes, mouth and nose.

Face Masks for Children During the Covid-19 Pandemic

A medical mask controls the spread of the virus and protects the wearer. Face masks provide a physical barrier that blocks germs from your body through your mouth and nose while also preventing germs from spreading from your body to others.

The incubation period for children is the same as in adults. The time between exposure to COVID-19 and when symptoms start is commonly around 5 to 6 days and ranges from 1 to 14 days.

WHO and UNICEF advise that children aged 12 and over should wear a mask under the same conditions as adults. However, in countries like the USA, which have higher cases, children aged two and above must wear a face mask. In particular, children should wear face masks when a 1-metre distance from others cannot be guaranteed, or if there is widespread transmission in an area.

Children who are in general good health can wear a non-medical or fabric mask. But it is important to note that not all coverings are effective such as scarfs, bandanas and face shields. You should make sure the face masks you use for children are medical-grade fabrics to certify maximum protection.

The adult providing a face mask to a child must ensure it is the correct size which sufficiently covers the child’s nose, mouth, and chin. At Biomed, we proudly hold one of Australia’s best medical grade textile ranges for reusable face masks. Using complex and sensitive fabric combinations, our designs provide maximum comfort and versatility, perfectly comfortable for any age.

Our range of face masks are available in various sizes, layers, and specifications. Biomed can assist with custom designs such as logos, colours or prints, which might be more attractive for children. We offer five types of reusable medical masks which suit different price ranges and different usages.

Children’s Support Braces

Besides the medical accessories that safeguard children during a pandemic, Biomed also specialises in mineral embedded health care fabrics that aid injuries and assist in a fast recovery. Using nanotechnology to infuse medical materials with coppers and silvers, the minerals have an abundance of health benefits.

Biomed has introduced a new range of sporting compression goods with embedded mineral fabrics, to help you and your children recover faster and perform better. The most significant benefit of copper fabric support braces is FIR reflection, which promotes blood circulation and increases oxygen levels in the blood.

Relieve pain in your child’s spine or knee with our light, elastic and breathable back support braces and knee support braces.

Sleep Disorders in Children

It is expected that young children go through phases of difficulty sleeping; however, this period should be temporary. When sleeping disorders in children are not fixed, they can have permanent effects on their general well-being and functioning. It is best to see a paediatrician if your child exhibits extended signs of sleep problems.

Depending on the type of sleep disorder – parasomnia or dyssomnia, the length and severity of the condition, will affect what treatment is best suited for the child.

Specifically, if a child’s sleep disorder is caused by obstructive sleep apnoea, CPAP therapy is a standard treatment which alleviates discomfort. Biomed offers three variations of CPAP therapy, including full face masks, nasal pillows and nasal masks. Biomed also provides a range of CPAP accessories that will improve the effectiveness of CPAP therapy and are very cost-effective ways to provide comfort to patients.

Keep Children Safe with BioMed

Biomed’s mission is to create high-quality medical textiles, which is why we ensure that our business operations always align with our ISO 9001 certification for quality management. Our dedication to strict Australian standards demonstrates our products’ reliability and our commitment to providing our customers with superior products that offer a high comfort level by minimising skin irritations, alongside antibacterial and hypoallergenic properties safety and comfort.

By preventing germs and bacteria, the life of medical products such as CPAP masks can be prolonged. The build-up of bacteria and germs can cause fabric that is not of a medical-grade to deteriorate over time and become unsanitary and uncomfortable to wear.

At Biomed, we have a longstanding partnership with ResMed to supply medical grade fabrics for their products, which have offered superior patient comfort for decades. To find out more information on our full range of medical-grade fabrics, please contact our team of Biomed medical fabrics and materials experts on (02) 9758 3855.

Even though 60% of Australians have private health insurance, the truth is most of us do not use the extras we pay for. Roughly 4.5 billion dollars of extras go unclaimed every year.

While health services such as physios and chiros are the go-to’s, health products are often overlooked as items to claim. For example, ‘back care’ items, such as supporting braces and compression garments that help you relieve constant pain or recover from injuries, can be claimed through health insurance.

Obviously, the rebates you receive will depend on your private health care provider. We recommend contacting your Fund prior to purchasing, to clarify if you are eligible.

Health Care Fabrics

Biomed specialises in mineral imbedded health care fabrics, with the use of nanotechnology to infuse medical fabrics with coppers and silvers. The minerals have an abundance of health benefits, aiding your injuries and helping you to recover faster.

The fabrics help to kill bacteria, make clothing odour-resistant and provide superior insulation. It is possible to get self-cooling fabrics, which have been proven to lower body temperatures between 1-2 degrees, thus increasing your ability to perform. Our range of sporting braces ranges from compression goods, knee braces, elbow braces, wrist braces, ankle braces, back support braces and full bodysuits.

Support Braces for Sport

Biomed has introduced a new range of sporting compression goods with our imbedded mineral fabrics, to help you recover faster and perform better. The biggest benefit of copper fabrics is FIR reflection, which promotes blood circulation and increases oxygen levels in the blood.

Back Support Braces

Relieve pain in your spine with BioMed’s light, elastic and breathable back supports, to align your lumber spine and relieve pressure from the intervertebral discs. Our anatomically contoured corset supports back orthosis, while an individually adjustable compression acts upon the lumbar spine to control motion and limit pain. Dual adjustable velcro allows the brace to easily adapt to any body shape, providing the perfect fit.

Knee Braces

Relieve pain in your knees, with BioMed’s corrective support straps. Our knee brace stabilises the kneecap and activates the musculature, to accelerate your healing process and achieve faster mobilisation. If your knee feels weak, swollen or painful, the knee supporting brace can help you.

CPAP Supplies

For sleep apnea sufferers or loud snorers, CPAP therapy is a common treatment to alleviate discomfort. There are three variations, including full face masks, nasal pillows and nasal masks. Biomed also offers a range of CPAP accessories that will improve the effectiveness of your CPAP therapy, and are very cost-effective ways to provide comfort to patients.

CPAP headgear is used to keep sleep apnea masks secure whilst you sleep. Our mineral imbedded health care fabrics increase your comfort and eliminate skin irritations, with stretchy and durable latex-free fabric.

BioMed’s CPAP Chin Restraints for Sleep Apnea encourage soundless sleep by ensuring the mouth does not fall open during sleep. Chin Straps are most beneficial to patients who snore, as more than 80% of people snore more intensely when their mouth is open.

BioMed’s Mission

Biomed’s mission is to create high-quality medical textiles, which is why we ensure that our business operations always align with our ISO 9001 certification for quality management. Our dedication to strict Australian standards demonstrates the reliability of our products and our commitment to providing our customers with superior products that offer a high level of comfort, through the minimisation of skin irritations, alongside antibacterial and hypoallergenic properties for safety and comfort.

Through the prevention of germs and bacteria, the life of medical products such as CPAP masks can be prolonged, as the build-up of bacteria and germs can cause fabric that is not of a medical-grade, to deteriorate over time and become unsanitary and uncomfortable to wear.

At Biomed, we have a longstanding partnership with ResMed to supply medical grade fabrics for their products, which have offered superior patient comfort for decades. To find out more information on our full range of medical-grade fabrics, please contact our team of Biomed medical fabrics and materials experts on (02) 9758 3855.

Face masks/healthcare masks help to prevent the spread of bacteria and respiratory infections and have become crucial in reducing the spread of Covid-19. The Victorian Government along with many retail stores, in some states, have now made it mandatory for people to wear face masks, in an effort to slow the spread of Coronavirus.

Not all face masks are the same, with different types offering different levels of protection. So how do you choose a face mask and what makes a face mask effective?

When selecting the best face mask, it’s important to first understand what the purpose of wearing a face mask is? Respiratory illnesses such as Covid-19 are spread via coughing, sneezing and speaking. The particles that are released into the air and onto surfaces are highly contagious, meaning that people are able to contract the virus through close interaction with someone who is infected, or via touching a surface that has been contaminated with the virus. The role of a healthcare mask is to prevent people who have contracted the virus from spreading it within the community, by forming a barrier that limits the amount of particles released.

In the case of Covid-19, carriers of the virus are not always aware, with some people proving to be asymptomatic. This means that they do not experience any symptoms to alert them to the fact that they are ill. Therefore, wearing a healthcare mask is highly beneficial in slowing the spread of Covid-19, as anyone could be carrying the virus.

What type of mask should you use to protect you from coronavirus?

When choosing the best face mask, you should consider the following factors:

• Is the face mask the correct size? Healthcare masks generally come in different sizes, ranging from small through to large. It’s important to choose the right size for your face so that you can achieve a snug fit. If the face mask is too small, it may not cover your mouth and nose effectively. Whereas, if the mask is too large, it will allow particles to escape, which could potentially spread the virus.
• Is the fabric breathable? For a healthcare mask to be effective, users must keep the face mask on. However, this won’t be possible if the fabric isn’t breathable, therefore rendering the mask ineffective.
• Is the fabric medical grade? Medical grade fabrics have antibacterial properties, making them suitable for use over long periods of time. Medical textiles are also designed to be breathable and comfortable to wear.
• Is the face mask reusable? Rather than having to throw away your face mask after each wear, which negatively impacts the environment, it’s a good idea to find a reusable face mask. Reusable face masks can be washed multiple times, making them a more environmentally friendly and convenient option.

Biomed is a leading medical fabrics company, who has been providing quality medical textile products for decades as well as many other industry sectors. We understand the importance of robust and safe fabrics which ensure maximum comfort and reliability. For more information on our range of medical textile applications and reusable face masks, please do not hesitate to contact the Biomed team on (02) 9758 3855.