A Guide To Travelling Safely this season
2020 has started with many changing their travel plans, or putting them completely on hold. However, some travel plans, such as going on work trips or attending family weddings, are unavoidable. If you must catch a flight to an overseas destination, take these travel safety precautions to give yourself the best fighting chance against falling sick! Here are 8 tips to keep in mind while you travel in 2020
1. Don’t touch your face, eyes and nose with your hands
The virus is transmitted through bodily fluids such as saliva and mucus. When people who are infected cough or sneeze, these fluids can land on surfaces. In public spaces, you might unknowingly come into contact with these fluids and become infected if you touch said surface and then your face.
So no matter how much something itches, do not touch your face and eyes if your hands haven’t been sanitised.
2. Wash your hands before you touch your face
If you have to touch your face, thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water first. Make sure to get in between your fingers, under your nails, and the back of your hands.
Medical professionals recommend you soap your hands for at least 20 seconds for a comprehensive wash. That’s the equivalent of humming ‘Happy Birthday’ under your breath, twice.
Pat dry with hand towels; hand dryers essentially splatter a ton of bacteria over your hands.
3. Carry around hand sanitiser
When soap and water are unavailable, you should use hand sanitiser. Hand sanitiser works for those who are worried that repeated and regular hand-washing will dry out the skin of their hands.
4. Keep your distance from others
Keep away from individuals who are visibly coughing or sneezing. Try to maintain an arm’s length distance from others when moving through airports or other forms of transport. Avoid shaking hands or hugging people if you can help it.
5. Wear mask if you are ill
It’s always a good idea to rest in if you are unwell. However, if you must step out, always wear a surgical mask. It can prevent the spread of viruses and offer others some protection against the suspended droplets from coughing and sneezing.
6. Make sure your mask is on properly
Make sure that the mask’s metal band pinches the top of your nose. The mask should cover your chin and there should not be any gaps between your face and the mask.
Even with a mask on, do not touch your face when travelling.
7. Don’t reuse masks
Masks lose their effectiveness after one or two uses. Repeated use also encourages bacteria growth. If your mask is wet or dirty, throw it away.
8. Get a flu jab
The methods to prevent coronavirus are largely similar to the common flu. While there hasn’t been a vaccine created for 2019-nCoV yet, it’s still important to protect yourself from the common flu and keep your body in tip top shape.
Most coronavirus fatalities occurred among the elderly, those with weakened immune systems and health complications.
Health & Safety Travel Tips 2020
While it’s always good to stay safe and prioritize your health, we understand that sometimes, rescheduling just isn’t going to work out. Instead, put these easy and helpful tips to use when you’re travelling, or even when you’re at home! If you do travel, make sure you have travel insurance to cover you and/or your loved ones. Compare travel insurance to find the most suitable travel insurance coverage, whether you’re travelling solo, as a family or in a group.
