Face shields protect eyes, allow improved airflow

Sporting a freshly delivered face shield, Hermine Smith credited her son, who’d arranged for its shipment from his home in New Jersey. “He’s a good kid,” she said.

The 87-year-old from Rehoboth Beach sat in the shade near the Inn at Canal Square in Lewes Aug. 1, as her daughter Ronnie Smith and Ronnie’s partner Anita Gossett walked nearby, also wearing new face shields.

Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health recently suggested that wearing face shields may offer better protection for the eyes, where the COVID-19 virus can enter, versus masks, which leave the eyes vulnerable.

And, unlike masks, Hermine said, the clear shields are cooler, don’t fog Ronnie’s glasses and allow fuller views in front and below. In other words, Hermine can see her feet rather than her mask when she glances down, making it easier to avoid tripping over debris or other obstacles.

Hermine said the airflow her shield provides makes breathing – and talking – easier, though as of Aug. 3, neither the National Institutes for Health nor the Centers for Disease Control has recommended face shields for everyday activities.

Still, hers may come in handy if there’s ever a run on face shields, particularly if Hermine wants to share a sigh of relief, then thank her son.

After all, he was the one who told her, “Here, try these.”