Covid-19: Personal Safety Gear

Today, the Corona Virus (Covid-19) is a virus that is affecting many people in diverse areas of their life. It is a virus that originated in China and has found its way to many countries that lay beyond its borders; including the United States. Furthermore, it is affecting the way in which people within society interact with each other; both in small and large groups. Today, I will present some researched suggestions for personal safety gear that may be used to help protect both you and the people around you.

Covid-19
The Corona Virus (CV) is now known to be spread in the form of droplets. Those droplets are hard to see with the natural eye, so it is encouraged that people wash their hands often and avoid touching one's face (especially areas around the mouth, nose, and eyes). In addition, it has been discovered, that depending on the region or area where people live, some people may be more susceptible to be infected by the CV. In some places, children have been found to be more susceptible, while in others, it has been people who are in their elder age.  Yet there is a third group that has been affected, people with a pre-existing medical condition; they hold a greater chance of contracting the CV. Lastly, there are people who may be carriers of the CV and not even know it. They may show little to no symptoms. Hence, I encouraged you to wear some form of personal safety gear (PSG) to help reduce the chances of contracting the CV.

Personal Safety Gear
Personal Safety Gear (PSG) is nothing more than a barrier between you and the Corona Virus as you traverse through the course of a day and interacting with people.  It is by no way a guarantee that you will not be infected by the CV and show any of its signature symptoms.  However, becoming a practitioner of personal hygiene, as well as wearing some PSG will reduce the chances that the CV will infect you. Unfortunately, there are people, "professionals", who are trying to persuade the general public to avoid using some components of PSG in order to increase the dispersed allotment of supplies to emergency first responders as well as healthcare workers. Although I firmly believe they should have a priority to the PSG, I am against the un-spoken message that is also being communicated through this belief; that the CV discriminates between both emergency first responders and healthcare workers, from people who are in the general public. This hidden message is not true. The CV does not differentiate between a person's rank or role in society, race, color, nor religion. It has been noted that the CV has already attacked prominent leaders, entertainers, healthcare workers, local law enforcement officers, and many more. Everyone needs to use PSG.

Personal Safety Gear should begin with apparel.  When going out to a work site, buying groceries, fuel-up on gasoline, or visiting someone less fortunate than yourself, you need to wear apparel that will serve as your PSG.

Pants
An area of vulnerability that is often overlooked is the legs. It is to a person's benefit to wear apparel that covers their body as much as possible.  You don't know if the skin of your leg will come into contact with a shopping cart, a car or truck, or another person.  Furthermore, you may accidentally trip and fall to the floor, then scrape or cut yourself; opening a pathway to microorganisms; such the CV. In addition, covering up your legs will also help create a barrier between you and insects that are known to bite humans and exchange some bodily fluids in the process.     

Socks and Shoes
Don't overlook your socks and shoes. The area that they cover does not only help to protect you from insect bites, but also accidents to your feet and ankles. Take for instance that you are walking through a parking lot and have sharp pebbles arise from their place and land between your sandal and sole of your foot. Such an injury could open a pathway to microorganisms. Another reason for wearing socks and closed-shoes is to help protect you from accidental spills of liquids or bodily fluids. 

Gloves and Shirts
Gloves and shirts help to protect your arms and hands. Wearing gloves has always helped to add an extra layer of protection to a person's hands. Although it would be preferable to wear disposable gloves, there is a shortage of them on the market. Hence,  I would encourage you to wear reusable gloves.  Now any gloves will do; if you clean them often.  However, there are also reusable gloves on the market that are made of a breathable fabric material while at the same time having a layer of rubber, latex, or polyurethane to cover the side of the palm.  All of these layered materials can be cleaned with disinfecting products as well. You can find these types of gloves at stores that sell hardware materials and tools, automotive parts, gardening, or sporting goods, to name a few. 

As for the arms, I would recommend wearing a long sleeve shirt on its own; especially if you live in a hot climate area. However, you may also choose to layer a long sleeve shirt over a short-sleeve shirt.  Doing so will add a layer of protection from insects, UV rays, but also making contact with objects or people as you carry out the course of your day.

Hat and Glasses
Historically, the head is one of the most protected areas of the body. It has been protected from the battlefield to the emergency room.  I encourage people to wear a head covering, such as a hat or a cap when going out in public; especially when visiting places where there will be a multitude of people who you may not know nor their health status.  The benefit is that it will keep your hair and head from brushing up against objects or products when you go out shopping for resources. 

Eye protection is important.  I wear eyeglasses, and although their surface area is not very large, they do help in keeping my eyes safe from particles. If you wear eyeglasses, be sure to clean them well before going out, so you don't have to take them off to clean and run the chance of contaminating them with something you may touch with your hands.  However, if you don't wear eyeglasses, you can try to purchase some plastic safety glasses used by both the construction and automotive industry, landscaping, and sports. If this is not possible for you, I would also recommend using sunglasses.  Try to pick a pair that holds a light tint, otherwise, you will have a hard time navigating through a store when shopping for resources.  Another alternative is to use a face shield.  A settle approach is to use one that is made of light-weight flexible plastic or Plexiglas. Some of these are already found to be used by people who work with power tools. Some people may think of it as an exaggeration for the general public, but when there are limited resources, it is a great alternative; protect your eyes.

A Mask
Protecting the entry of both your mouth and nose is important.  Unfortunately, there is a controversy between the "professionals" and the general public. The "professionals" believe and try to persuade the general public, that the use of a mask (like the ones used by surgeons or N95) should be limited in use by emergency first responders and healthcare workers. However, even the news media has both observed and shown that the public at large is vulnerable as well.  One such example is employees within their own industry, especially at warehouses and large box-stores that carry groceries and other resources that need to be restocked often have been found to be infected with the CV. Based on my personal research, it is my opinion that if an emergency first responder and healthcare worker wears a mask to help protect themselves, so should everyone else; the virus does not discriminate between them and the general public. In addition, there are also increasing reports of people who have been caught coughing or spitting on perishable food products while at grocery stores; and some have been found to have the CV. 

Do you have to go and take away a product that could benefit emergency first responders or healthcare workers? No, you can use something that you may already have within your workshop, gardening shed, or emergency kit.  Be responsible for your well-being, and learn how to clean the media of your mask; know that it will wear down over time and will eventually have to be replaced. Yet, if you follow the precautions of only going out as needed, then the duration of your mask will be extended. In addition, there are multiple people and organizations that are arising with innovating ideas and materials to use in making masks.  I encourage you to do your own research through this avenue and pick an option that best suits your needs. Please cover both your mouth and nose.

Protect Your Castle
Just as the capitol building is the castle of a nation's leader so is the home the castle of a person, family members, and close friends. The strength of your home is not limited to brick and mortar, it involves points of entry, at all levels.  Now is a great time to check the seals of your home; the perimeter of windows and doors are the most common points.  Other points of interest are chimneys, ventilation systems (like for a stove, bathroom, and garage) as well as a heating and air conditioning system. Some of the mentioned systems, do have a filter media to help keep things clean; clean or replace them as needed with the adequate filter. Although the CV has not yet been addressed as a virus that travels through the air, there is always a chance for a mutation. I also encourage you to clean the points of entry to your home that may be touched often, such as the doorbell or knocker, the door, doorknob or lever and deadbolt, the door frame, entry wall, locking mechanisms from the inside, as well as the light switches. The more people that live in your home, the more conscious you should be of maintaining these areas clean. Keeping the CV out of your home is not an easy task. However, there are practices you can try to reduce the chances of keeping your home clean; apply them with regard to your case.

In closing, although I am not an "expert" nor "professional" within the healthcare or medical field, I do personal research to increase in both knowledge and safety for myself, family members, and close friends. I in no way guarantee you that my recommendations will keep you from being infected by the CV. However, I do perceive, that the recommendations that I have presented should help to protect you and reduce the chances of becoming infected by the CV.  I encourage you to do your part in protecting yourself and leave the rest in the hands of Jesus, who is at the right hand of God. He once told His disciples, "without Me, you can do nothing".  Put your trust in Jesus, and He will guide you through this challenging time in your life. Amen.