We all want to keep the germs to a minimum and avoid getting ill if we can. Here are a few helpful tips to stay healthy while out in public, especially indoors and in close contact with others.

The importance of social distancing

Maintain proper social distance from other people in lines, waiting rooms, and other public spaces. If you are more comfortable waiting in the car, say so and ask them to call you when your appointment or order is ready.

How to wear a mask to protect your health

Steps for Proper Mask Hygiene:

Wash your hands or use a hand sanitizer and rub completely in until it is dry.
Put your mask on and fit to your face ensuring that there are no holes for air to escape through the sides, top or bottom. If there is space for air to escape, fold the material in a way that closes off the gaps, pinch the material around your nose, and tighten the straps around the ears so that the mask is snug. You may have to tie the ear loops in a knot to tighten them, but not too tight or it will irritate the area behind your ears. If you wear glasses, place your mask near the tip of your nose so that the top of your mask and your glasses are not touching. This will allow most of the air to escape in front of your glasses, not behind them.
Wash or sanitize your hands and rub hand sanitizer in until it dries.
Do not touch your face, this includes touching your mask. If you feel that you need to adjust your mask for any reason, please sanitize or wash your hands before and after you do so. This includes taking your mask off to eat, removing it because you are no longer in close contact with others, or adjusting a child’s mask.
Wash or dispose of your mask when you are done wearing it. Masks should not be used multiple days in a row. If you take your mask off between appointments or during errands, store your mask in the same place so that it doesn’t come in contact with multiple surfaces to reduce risk contamination.

See the CDC’s guidance on reusing masks for more information.

Seek out medical attention as necessary: Don’t wait too long

Avoiding necessary treatments and evaluations because you are concerned about exposure may increase your health risks in other areas. Discuss your concerns with your medical provider to come up with the best possible solution for your situation.

Washing your hands, yourself, & your mask to prevent illness

Wash your mask and wash your hands after your outings, and use hand sanitizer when you return to your car. If something can be washed, wash it. If “it” happens to be your body, make sure to utilize skin moisturizing lotions to reduce risk of drying out your skin. With washing our hands so much during times of illness or close contact with others, an effective moisturizer can prevent development of cracks & cuts.

Address multiple dimensions of wellness to maintain a healthy lifestyle

Keep your body and mind in a good place. This includes sleep, nutrition, exercise, sunlight exposure, and proper hydration to boost your body’s natural immune system. Check out the video below to get moving with three easy exercises.

3 Exercises to Keep Yourself Upright & Prevent Poor Posture

If you are feeling overwhelmed or anxious, talk to your medical provider about speaking with a counselor for additional stress management techniques.

Keeping yourself and your family healthy throughout the year will help to keep those around you healthy as well. This is not only true in a pandemic, but for all seasons of illness. Check out my blog post here where I go into detail about 3 ways to stay healthy during the pandemic.

A note from Seacoast Mobile PT

At Seacoast Mobile PT we reduce your chances of exposure to COVID-19 and other pathogens by eliminating the need to wait in a waiting room or be treated in a crowded clinic. We take all precautions recommended by the CDC and WHO in regards to cleaning, PPE, and proper hygiene to ensure that your interaction with us is as safe as possible.