With long, dark winter months ahead, many people are fearfully anticipating what lies ahead! Dark and gloomy thoughts are too understandable in the current situation, but they don't get us any further forwards. What does help, is to develop new habits to control the pandemic effectively.
Why we need to develop new habits
This year is different. We have to cope with a lot of restrictions and that weighs heavy on us. However, it is up to all of us to get the situation under control. Certain habits help to protect us from COVID-19 and many other easily transmitted diseases.
The importance of these cannot be repeated often enough:
- Wash your hands.
- Wear a mask.
- Keep your distance from other people.
- Ventilate frequently.
Four simple habits that save lives
As simple as these habits may seem - they save lives. For example, regular hand washing with soap and water prevents the spread of diseases reliably. That is why the World Health Organisation (WHO) stresses the importance of good hand hygiene again and again.
After all, our hands are in constant use: we eat with them, we clean things with them and we touch hundreds of objects a day. Everything we touch contains tiny micro-organisms such as bacteria or viruses, which we pick up with our hands. Anyone who touches his or her face afterwards transports germs to the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth or eyes. From here they easily enter the body and cause illness.
Interrupt transmission paths of germs with soap and water
Every time a person with unwashed hands touches door knobs, files or the coffee machine, germs are transferred to surfaces that can be touched by others. Washing hands with soap for 30 seconds helps to get rid of them. If soap and water are not available, a hand sanitiser that contains at least 60% alcohol is your best option.
Tip: employers can draw their employees' attention to the importance of washing their hands with educational posters. You can hang them in washrooms and kitchens. Also install hand sanitising stands in entrances and in meeting zones. We have developed free information material for the perfect placement.
Wearing a mask and social distancing
Let's move on to the next point: wearing a mask daily. This, too, should become a habit, as the WHO claims that if 95 percent of all people wore fabric masks, the transmission of germs could be reduced by at least 30 percent. As an employer, please make sure that your employees wear masks in their professional environment. Our tip: why not provide your employees with masks with the company logo?
Another important step: keep your distance and stay at home as often as possible. Making this a habit is not easy for any of us, but it is an effective protection. Because where people do not come together, transmission simply cannot take place. At the moment it is best for employees to work from home whenever possible.
Increasing ventilation
In environments where working from home is not possible, working spaces should be regularly ventilated, in addition to employees wearing masks. This reduces the risk of infection immensely. Ventilating the room allows fresh air into the room, which reduces the concentration of aerosols. Aerosols are tiny droplets get into the air with every breath and will stay there for a long time. The more fresh air is supplied, the more the aerosol-concentration is " thinned". Therefore, open the window every 20 minutes for 5 to 10 minutes.
Tip: as cold and dry air circulates in winter, this can dry out our mucous membranes, which makes us more susceptible to infection. To combat this, ensure a good concentration of moisture in the room. Simply place a bowl of water in your room. That's it.
Conclusion: wash your hands, wear a mask, keep your distance and ventilate. 11 words that could save your life.
Stay healthy!
