Author: Heather Scrooby

Sending our children back to school during these times is quite scary.  We are torn between keeping our children safe and wanting them to get back to learning, living a normal life and routine.  Covid-19 has also brought into question some of the foundational virtues we have been trying to instil in our children – such as ‘Sharing is Caring’.

There is no doubt that we are in unprecedented times.  Even adults are finding it hard to choose the best and safest way forward in this difficult situation. It must be so much harder for our children; Some of whom are too young to understand the implications of what is happening around them and indeed the world.

Covid-19 has put everyone in a precarious situation.  Especially parents who are trying to tread that elusive line between informing their children of the consequences of not adhering to the guidance from the HSE and making them terrified of catching COVID-19 and putting the whole family in danger.  It is a huge responsibility for children to shoulder no matter how mature they might be.  The pressure is particularly high in homes who are caring for elderly or vulnerable people along with young children.   It is hard to find a line between letting children play and act as nature intended and protecting vulnerable family members.

Keep ‘Sharing is Caring’ going

But there is a lot more at stake than we first think…  Covid-19 is forcing us to do a u-turn on many things we have been teaching our children for years – such as caring for others and sharing.  Since birth our children have been told that ‘sharing is caring’, and now we are telling them that they must not share.  What lesson is this sudden and emphatic change of ideals teaching our children?

This is one of the reasons I am glad to let you know that ACRA is selling individually packed wet wipes and sachets of gel.  This means that if a child loses or forgets their hand sanitiser at home they have a backup, but it also means we can still allow our children to share with others.  If another child is in need of wipes or sanitiser your child can give them a packet or two of their backups without posing any risk to anyone.  Sharing is caring is an important virtue to instil.  What are we teaching our children if we abandon the ‘sharing is caring’ philosophy now?  Especially when it is possible that sharing a packet of hand sanitiser or a sanitising wipe from a backup stash might just save a life?

Get your travel pack by CLICKING HERE or get the individual sanitiser sachets by clicking here or individual wipe sachets by clicking here.

We see more and more people wearing facemasks. When and why you should wear a facemask is important to know.  Wearing a facemask all the time is not only pointless, it can also be unhealthy.  On the other side of the coin, not wearing it when you should puts others (and yourself) as unnecessary risk.

So when and why should you wear a facemask?

First we need to determine which individuals who should not wear masks. The HSE have provided a list of people who they deem should not wear a mask:

• Cloth face coverings are not advised for children under 13 years of age;
• People who have trouble breathing;
• Individuals who are unable to remove the mask without help;
• People with special needs who feel upset or uncomfortable wearing a face covering.

If you do not fall into any of the above categories, then you should be wearing a facemask in certain situations.

When you should wear a facemask

While wearing a facemask is important, you should not wear it all the time.  So when should you wear one?

The HSE have the following recommendation for situations where you should wear a facemask:

• when staying 2 metres apart from people is difficult – for example, in shops, shopping centres or public transport;
• if you are visiting a home of someone who is cocooning;
• if you are visited in your home by someone who is cocooning.

Now we know the when, what about the Why?

Why you should wear a facemask

Many people are in confusion about the benefits of wearing facemasks.  Especially since we were originally advised not to wear them as some evidence suggested it could actually contribute to the spread of the virus.  We were also told that wearing a mask provided a false sense of security.  So why the change of tune and what should you believe now?

Apparently there were original concerns that the general public did not know how to correctly put on and take off masks.  This could cause an increase in the spread of the virus that would outweigh the benefits of wearing a mask.  There was also concern that a false sense of security by those wearing masks would reduce wearers partaking in other recommended actions to reduce the spread.  The debate was never that facemasks were not beneficial; they would not be used by medical personnel if they were not.  The debate was about the users, not the tool.  You can rest assured, that used correctly, a facemask is definitely beneficial.

Not sure how to correctly use a facemask?  No problem, we wrote an article to help you with step by step pictures you can read it by CLICKING HERE.

How does a facemask protect you

Once you understand more about the virus and how it spread (click here to read a previous article on this issue).  The benefits of wearing a mask are two fold.  It not only helps protect you from contaminated droplets entering your mouth, it also protects others from you.  Many people display only mild symptoms and if asked would never think they had COVID-19.  Unfortunately, while these people do not feel sick, they can make other sick.  If we all wear masks in the situations as recommend above, even if we feel well, it will help stop the spread of this virus.  If we all do our bit we will be able to go back to our ‘normal’ lives much quicker.

So don’t delay, get your facemask from our store (CLICK HERE) today.

Photo by Roger Bradshaw on Unsplash

Going back to work after Covid-19 can be quite scary.  We have all been living in the relative safety of our homes.  At home we have been able to live without fear of what we touch while we have been in lockdown.

But going back to work changes things dramatically.  Not only do we have to interact more closely with our colleagues and customers, we also need to deal with the potentially unseen dangers on files, papers and common areas.

We have already dealt with travelling to work (READ IT HERE).  Another previous post describes how Covid-19 is spread (READ IT HERE).  And we also covered how and why washing our hands helps (READ IT HERE).  But very few people have a private bathroom at work where they can continually wash their hands…

So how do the rest of us protect ourselves when we go back to work?

The dynamics of a working environment make going back to work post Covid-19 a risk.  There is no getting around this fact, but that does not mean we cannot substantially reduce the risk by following a few simple guidelines.

Your employer will implement general social distancing and other safety aspects so we do not need to cover them here.  We will rather focus on some less conventional precautions.

Taking extra precautions when going back to work after Covid-19

When you get to work, if you cannot leave your personal belongings in your car, ensure you put them in a place they cannot be touched or exposed to any droplets from others coughing or sneezing.  If you feel the need to put them in a plastic bag, that will work too.  Just make sure the plastic bag stays at work.  Taking it home spreads the risk of contamination to your home and family.

Use a surface sanitiser (CLICK HERE) to spray your chair, desk and other contact areas in your office.  Use paper kitchen towels to spray the surface sanitiser on so you can use it to clean your mouse, keyboard, telephone, calculator and other devices.

If your work provides clear Perspex divisions, make sure you correctly utilize this tool.  Ensure you place the division in front of where people mostly speak to you – generally directly opposite where you sit.  If you do not have a division, ensure you have clearly marked areas in line with social distancing requirements.

Have an in-tray where your colleagues and customers can place any files/documents/items to avoid possible contamination of your desk.  If possible use gloves and always ensure you sanitise your hands after dealing with any of the items.

Limit contamination points

Have an easy to sanitise working area on your desk for dealing with these items.  If you have a large calendar pad for your desk, they normally come with a plastic backing.  Remove the calendar part and use the easy to sanitise plastic backing to place these items on when you are working with them.

Do not be tempted to lean your arms on this working area/pad.  If you find you do this, push it further away from you so you lean on your desk instead.

After you have dealt with an item sanitise your hands and your pad/working area before dealing with the next item.

Ensure you keep your personal belongings off your working area/pad to prevent their possible contamination.  Always sanitise your hands before touching anything personal after dealing with something in your working area.

By doing this, you will limit potential exposure and will be keeping you, your work and home area safe.