Respiratory protection indoors and spacing are a matter of course. But spacings are a bit of a problem if you drive in a car with someone else who doesn’t live in the same household with you or who you don’t know very well. Autoklub ČR thus recalls the rules that should be followed.
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The most fundamental is, of course veil or respirator for all crew members. A government regulation also imposes an obligation to wear protection if we are driving in a car with someone else who is not a member of the common household.
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However, if we drive alone in a car, wearing such protection is nonsense. “If you drive alone in a vehicle, the curtain is not only unnecessary, but its presence can also endanger you. When breathing with a drape, up to a third of the exhaled carbon dioxide is inhaled again, ”says Jan Hart from the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague.
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According to him, inhaling such a large amount of carbon dioxide increases the acidity of the blood, which prolongs the driver’s reaction time and slows down reflexes. It can also cause anxiety, nervousness or panic. “That’s why it’s important to have a veil only when it’s really necessary, to change it regularly, and to keep it clean,” concludes Hart.
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If you prefer respirators, it is necessary to keep in mind that the FFP2 and KN95 classes are not completely interchangeable, at least according to Tomáš Dudák from the company SPUR, which is engaged in the development and production of nanomaterials.
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Veils or respirators hung on a mirror are a common occurrence, but they impair the view from the vehicle and their rocking can distract the driver.
Photo: Profimedia.cz
“The FFP2 type respirator is composed of several layers, most often five or six, and is therefore stronger, at first glance more robust in volume. However, the most important thing that ensures the protection of health is hidden in the human eye in the inner filter layers. In order for the FFP2 respirator to comply with the European standard, its composition must logically be significantly more sophisticated and the individual layers significantly of higher quality than the KN95 type certified according to the Chinese standard. However, this of course has a significant effect on the final price, ”explains Dudák.
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Of course, respiratory protection is not everything – it is important as well air exchange in the cabin. With the ventilation circuit open, air is drawn in from outside and does not pose a high risk to passengers from coronavirus infection. In addition, due to the low overpressure, air from the interior is forced out of the vehicle.
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However, when you turn on the internal circulation, air is drawn in from the cab and the exhaust in the dashboard returns through the fan and evaporator. “Due to the fact that there is water condensate on the evaporator, dust particles from the cabin are captured here and it is highly probable that virus particles, if they are contained in the air,” explains Pavel Svoboda from the University of Pardubice.
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Disinfecting the car interior is not without rules.
Photo: Mitsubishi
It is also important disinfection interior, but you have to be careful with it. “The greater the effectiveness of the product, the greater the risk of surface damage. Preparations with a required alcohol content of at least 72 percent have a degrading effect on plastics and cause their premature aging, ”explains epidemiologist Ivan Kareš from the Tomas Bata Regional Hospital in Zlín. He recommends paying more attention to personal disinfection – pay attention to hand disinfection and wiping surfaces in the car, eg with disinfectant wipes.
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According to older information from the Škoda carmaker, the most suitable disinfectant is isopropyl alcohol, which does not harm ordinary surfaces in a car. The carmakers themselves also use it for cleaning. However, do not rub too hard, as the discoloration of the material may be damaged.
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Places to disinfect are the steering wheel, gear lever, parking brake, cranks, handles or radio and infotainment controls. But there are also important levers under the steering wheel, cruise control, armrest, seat adjustment control, door frame or handles from outside the car, or even the luggage compartment handle. Just anything you could touch.
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If you take over the car for another driver for a while, the best solution is disinfection ozone, which is performed by a number of car repair shops and companies specializing in car interior cleaning. Its price is usually in the order of hundreds of crowns.
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Poll
Are you worried about driving with strangers because of an infection?
Yes, I wear protective equipment
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Yes, I always disinfect the car
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No, but I’d rather protect myself
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I don’t drive a car with strangers
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A total of 22 readers voted.
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