Keeping Yourself Safe In These Changing Times

*Disclosure – This is a paid collaboration in partnership with ARMA Health.

I think when we look back, 2020 will be a year that most of us will be unable to forget. The way that most of the population of the world has had their lives upturned. In the UK lockdown started on the 23rd of March, and five months on, we are trying to find our way in the new world.

As many of you may know, we are a heart family, my husband Craig received a heart transplant in October 2014. Along with many others, we were placed on the vulnerable list and required to shield from the rest of the world for four and a half months. Shielding has currently been paused in England and we are beginning to venture back into the outside world for both work and some much needed recreational time in the fresh air.

The guidelines for keeping safe are changing at an astonishing rate. As we learn more about the virus and its behaviour, we learn more effective ways to slow its spread. The most underlying message is that we need to wash our hands. The virus can live on surfaces for up to 72 hours when we come along and touch the same surface, we can collect droplets of the virus which can then, in turn, be transferred to our nose or mouth by touching. This is where it is extremely important to prevent the spread. By washing our hands every time we touch anything that is outside our home, we can massively reduce the infection rate.

Obviously, it is just not practical to wash our hands each and every time we touch anything. It is however imperative not to touch your face until you have washed your hands. It is also not always possible to have access to soap and water when we are out and that is where hand sanitiser is a convenient alternative. There are many different varieties of sanitisers available at the moment. Gel, foam, sprays and liquids all have different properties and all are available in different sizes and different price points. One thing I have found when using sanitisers is that they can dry your skin. Initially, I was using a moisturiser each time I sanitised, I have since switched to a sanitiser that contains an emollient like the INEOS Sterile Hand Sanitiser.

Since the 8th of August, it has become legislation in England to wear a face-covering in shops and many other public environments. A face covering is the term used for any item that covers the wearer’s nose and mouth in an effort to restrict any droplets being transmitted into the atmosphere.

I simply cannot believe just how many people are going against the rules and are out shopping without a mask. Having known someone who has had COVID and seeing how it almost took his life, I can’t get my head around how some think the virus has magically disappeared.

Some folk choose to make their own face masks with pretty fabrics and added filters, other wearers opt for disposable face coverings which can be purchased easily and conveniently from many store and online retailers. It is worth doing a little research into the quality of your face-covering as there is currently a huge demand, many items of substandard quality are flooding the market. A quick search for Type IIR Medical Face Masks gives a list of many medical equipment suppliers providing this type of mask. These masks have been subjected to comprehensive testing and are a face mask that is certified to be capable of restricting particles that would transmit the virus.

With that said,  many workers are exempt from having to wear a face-covering in the workplace. Some professions such as beauticians and hairdressers are required to wear a Face Shield. These are a thin plastic screen that is fitted to a headband and can be worn as an additional level of protection or as a stand-alone item.

Surely with a little common sense, we can all remain safe and continue to enjoy this amazing world that we live on.

How are you coping with these changing times?

Featured image source.