As we adapt to our new “normal” in stage four of the re-opening process, it’s imperative that we don’t become lenient with safety precautions.

As of June 24, 2020, Indiana reported 522 new cases of COVID-19. Although this is a significant drop from our highest report of new cases in one day—946 on April 26—we must stay vigilant.

We’re discussing the simple steps you can take when going out in public to help flatten the curve and stop the spread!

Safety Precautions

Here are five safety tips for going out in public: 

1. Always wear a face-covering over both your nose and mouth.

The CDC has advised everyone to wear a mask when around others, as it’s an easy and effective way to deter spreading the virus. “The virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity—for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing—even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms.” Read the CDC’s full advisory statement on face coverings on their website.

Having backup safety resources is always a wise idea.  Learn how to make your own face-covering out of household products here.

2. Wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water frequently, and use hand sanitizer if those things are not available.

Keeping your hands clean is a simple, yet sometimes lifesaving act. Surfactants, a class of compounds found in soap, neutralizes germs like SARS-CoV-2. By lathering and scrubbing your skin for 20 seconds you reduce the bacterial count by approximately 90 percent. Hand sanitizer that’s made up of at least 60 percent alcohol is a useful option if a sink is unavailable. Again, this is something you can conveniently make at home. For a hand sanitizer recipe courtesy of Healthline, click here.

3. Limit how many things you touch—keep your phone, keys, and wallet in your pocket or purse.

On average, you come in contact with around 300 surfaces every 30 minutes, which exposes you to approximately 840,000 germs. The less surfaces your items touch, the safer they are from germs and bacteria. By keeping loose personal items tucked away, you can avoid unwanted exposure to potential illnesses.

4. Wipe down your area—grocery carts, steering wheels, phones, tables, chairs, etc.

It’s inevitable that you will have to touch some things while you’re out. But in an effort to keep your hands as clean as possible, disinfect the surfaces around you before touching them. Another smart way to avoid skin contact is to use your sleeve to press buttons and your shoe to push open doors.

5. Keep a safe distance of six feet between you and other people.

The six-foot recommendation is taken from the CDC’s guidelines for medical providers when treating infectious respiratory diseases. In addition to wearing a mask, six to ten feet was determined the safe amount of space to prevent the spread of respiratory illness. The studies conducted to determine this, found that droplets can travel as far as 2 meters, or about 6 feet, from a sneeze or cough.

If you have a fever or feel under the weather, we encourage you to stay at home and self-isolate. If you’re experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, give us a call at 219-554-9911.

 Doing Our Part

As healthcare has become more patient-oriented, the practice has adapted. Our facility is conveniently located in a neighborhood setting to offer quick and compassionate care at any time of the day or night. In the time it takes to drive to a neighboring ER, and in most cases, wait a considerable amount of time to be seen, you could have already been treated, back home from our hospital, and resting.

For years, Micro-hospitals and freestanding ERs have been extremely beneficial to the healthcare industry, but we have become crucial since the spread of COVID-19 in America. Micro-hospitals provide a safe environment, away from the possibility of contamination and infection.

We take the health and safety of our patients extremely seriously and have elevated safety precautions to the highest level to lessen the risk of contamination. Whatever the medical need, virus-related or not, we are here to help! Visit our facility, open 24/7, 365 days a year.

Nutex Health, Inc supports you and your family’s health. NW Indiana ER & Hospital delivers the emergency care you deserve, 24/7, 365 days a year.

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Disclaimer: As a service to our readers, NW Indiana ER & Hospital and Nutex Health state no content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinicians.