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#PINNED: Besides a face mask, what other things should you bring when traveling?
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Fact #1: We all miss traveling. Fact #2: As long as there’s a raging pandemic with no vaccine, international air travel is something that will remain an abstract dream for most of us. Like world peace or mass testing. However, this doesn’t mean that we should avoid all kinds of travel.
For shorter distances, travel is very much a possibility. Think of domestic flights or all the beaches in the Philippines that we all decided to collectively neglect this year in the name of public health. If we're looking for domestic travel by the end of the year at our most optimistic, then we should follow the “new normal” safety measures. After all, we cannot be too careful with COVID-19.
So, if you’re looking forward to it or already browsing those seat sale tickets, there are a few things that you have to keep in mind. Or rather, there are a few extra things that you should always have with you. Take a look at these essential items besides a face mask, of course) that we’ve listed to help you stay protected against COVID-19.
A. Hygiene kit
Maintaining proper hygiene during this time is very crucial not just in protecting ourselves but also those around us. Post-lockdown, we should start upgrading our kits that usually contain our makeup essentials to get us through the day by adding in the following basic hygiene products.
1. Soap
Make sure to bring your own hand soap at all times. I know, you always hear this, but let us emphasize it again. Please, always wash your hands. Aside from wearing face masks, this is the most important practice that you should have mastered ever since the lockdown started.
When washing, always make sure that you scrub every nook and cranny in your hands. Don’t forget your wrists! Wash thoroughly for at least 20 seconds, or sing two rounds of “Happy Birthday” to be sure.
2. Alcohol or Alcohol-based sanitizer
Alcohol and hand sanitizers also come in handy as an alternative to handwashing. The keyword here is: ALTERNATIVE. Unlike soap, alcohol and sanitizer can’t clean off dirt and grease on your hands. Nonetheless, they’re still convenient options in protecting yourself against disease-causing microbes, especially when you’re on-the-go and there is no water available.
Alcohol solutions and hand-sanitizers with at least 70% alcohol, either ethanol or isopropanol, can inactivate the virus effectively when used correctly. Just make sure to use the correct amount of product, as stated in its label, and rub it all over your hands for 20 seconds as if you were washing.
Frequent hand washing and usage of alcohol can eventually dry up your hands so you may also use a hand cream afterwards. A hand cream will make your hands smell good, which can even make you excited to wash or sanitize your hands! The Body Shop has a wide range of hand cream scents for sale.
3. Disinfectant and disinfecting wipes
Disinfect high-touch surfaces such as your desk, car, water cooler handles, stair railings, elevator buttons, etc. before and after using them. Use disinfecting wipes, if readily available, especially when cleaning electronics, such as phones, keyboards, touch screens, mice, etc.
If there you have no wipes on hand, you may use ethyl or isopropyl alcohol (at least 70%) and bleach solutions (5 tablespoons of bleach per gallon of water) as disinfectants. Just remember that bleach loses its disinfecting power over time, so make sure to prepare a new bleach solution daily.
When wiping surfaces down, be generous with the wipes you use to ensure that the whole surface gets cleaned. Afterwards, let the surfaces dry on their own. Letting the surfaces stay wet for a while, depending on the contact time found on the labels of the disinfectants, ensures that the disinfection process is effective.
4. Toilet seat sanitizer
When using a public restroom, use a toilet seat sanitizer, before and after using it. Use the sanitizer to disinfect the flush (if it’s not automatic). Try using the one from Holy Seat since it is affordable yet effective. Disclaimer though, this is just an optional item. You can always opt for your regular rubbing alcohol to disinfect the toilet. Just don’t use your bleach solution as it can harm your skin!
5. Toilet paper
Toilet paper comes in handy in a lot of ways but please, PLEASE, don’t hoard them! Use it when covering your cough or sneeze in public to keep the droplets from spreading. After washing, dry off your hands with toilet paper, since wet hands can still breed germs. Avoid contact with high touch surfaces by using toilet paper as a disposable barrier between your hands and other surfaces.
When wiping these surfaces, use them hand in hand with your disinfectant, if you don’t have reusable cloth or towel in the office. Just make sure to dispose properly right after using them.
B. Cutlery set
For the time being, you should avoid using shared mugs and cutlery in the office and even in restaurants. As a solution, you should bring your own utensils such as:
1. Lunchbox, spoon, and fork
To make the most of your lunch break, you may bring your own food. You saved time during your break and you have also avoided crowded places! Optional items you can bring, as well, include chopsticks and reusable straw. After use, wash your utensils with warm soapy water, rinse thoroughly, and leave to air-dry upside down before using the next day.
2. Water bottle
You should also bring our own water bottle. It is a good way to monitor your water intake throughout the day and boost your immune system. Don’t worry, it’s alright to refill your water using the water dispenser in the office. Just make sure not to let your bottle touch the spigot directly.
When you get home, wash them daily with warm soapy water. Don’t forget the lids! If there’s a nozzle in your bottle, it should be flushed through also during cleaning.
C. Storage bags
Extra storage is important to easily locate things without having to dig inside your handbag every time you need something. In this pandemic, we should also make use of these storage bags to segregate items and avoid cross-contamination.
1. Ziplock bags
When leaving the house, leave behind your wallets. Instead, keep your cash, credit card, ID, driver’s license, phone, etc. inside a ziplock bag. If cashless transactions and contactless payments aren’t available, you’ll have your cash and cards in a separate bag.
As for your phone being inside a plastic bag, you can still keep it there since touch screens still work and phone calls can still be taken (in loudspeaker). If you need a little more privacy and can’t take a call on speakerphone, you may use your earphones. You will be killing two birds in one stone as it also minimizes the surfaces that go near your face.
When you get home, throw away the ziplock bags or wash them thoroughly if you want to reuse them, then disinfect your things inside before using it again.
2. Garbage bags
Bring small garbage bags just in case there are no trash bins available and you have to throw away contaminated tissue, wipes, etc. Having your own plastic bag within reach makes it easy for you to throw away your waste right away and avoid others from getting exposed to it.
Garbage bags also add another layer of protection to our contaminated waste to limit the exposure to waste workers. Just throw these bags properly once you find a trash bin nearby.
While we have all these items to bring in the list, it is still important to note that proper usage of these things, together with religious handwashing and constant physical distancing, is still key to ensuring the slow spread of coronavirus.
Besides, no amount of required safety measures for the new normal of traveling can dissuade us from exploring our amazing country. Particularly our amazing beaches. The best of which we are certain to visit next summer!
