essential necessities for travel post MCO Tags | Motherhood Malaysia

Though interstate travelling is not banned anymore, citizens are required to practice the new norms whenever they are, especially in crowded places. To travel safely, there are a few things which are essential for us to adhere to - be it in a group of family, friends, and even by yourself. 8 Things that You Need to Bring Along Almost Everywhere 1. Face Mask Photo credit: istockphoto Wearing a face mask is one of the most effective ways to stop this virus from spreading. Either you are sick or not, it has become a must for everyone and being in the public without wearing one will be fined up to RM1,000. Choose a face mask that is safe, breathable, and can protect you and your family. To ease the journey, you should stock up enough face masks for the whole duration of your travel prior to it - be it in your luggage, car, and handbag. Remember, the mask should be disposed from time to time so you will be needing quite a number of it. If it is a family trip, the quantity should be enough for all the family members. Of course, you can still top up your stock along the journey but in case it is unavailable, it would not be a hassle for you if you already have enough on your own. 2. Soap Photo credit: istockphoto The Ministry of Health in Malaysia has urged the Malaysian to always take enough precautions in the public. We have to observe a safe distance among us and be mindful of our actions. However, it is inevitable that we might be touching certain things such as food packaging at the mart. One way to curb this infection is by always washing your hands with soap. You should bring your own soap in a small handy bottle. It will be easier to carry around and much accessible. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), washing hands with soap for 20 seconds can effectively kill the virus. So it is advisable to always wash your hands with soap thoroughly before and after touching things. Liquid or bar soap, you decide which one is practical for you. 3. Hand Sanitizer Photo credit: istockphoto Sometimes, it is impractical to wash your hands with soap due to some circumstances. Especially when there is no water, some of us are uncomfortable to wipe the soap away with a tissue or wet wipes. In such situation, it is recommended for you to use alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% amount of alcohol in it. The usage of hand sanitizer is not as effective as soap. However, it is a good alternative if the soap is not available. Do bring an adequate amount of it during your travel especially if you have kids. It is quite impossible to ask them to stop touching things, isn’t it? 4. Disinfectant Wet Wipes Photo credit: istockphoto Along your trip, it is unavoidable to be in contact with certain things. If you are shopping at the mall, it is likely that you will be using a shopping trolley which has been used by many people. In this situation, it is best that you disinfect the trolley with disinfectant wet wipes. Apart from that, it is wise to always clean your phone especially the screen with disinfectant wipes. It is one of the surfaces that you touch the most. If you are dining anywhere and would love to sit your kid in the baby chair, do disinfect it with the disinfectant wipes first. The baby/kid is likely to touch and even put their mouth on its surface. So it is best to always disinfect it first. In addition to that, it is recommended for you to disinfect your dining table as well because you are bound to come in contact with it. 5. Disinfectant Spray Photo credit: istockphoto If using disinfectant wipes is impractical to you, its alternative would be to use disinfectant spray. Let say you are checking a hotel and unsure of the cleanliness of the stuff inside, you can easily disinfect them with disinfectant spray. Trolley, chair, table, doorknob; these all can be easily cleaned with just enough spray over the surface. 6. Disposable Latex Glove Photo credit: istockphoto While in a certain situation, wearing a pair of glove can be a lifesaver. For example, in running errands and doing laundry, you will come into contact with many things and wearing a glove can protect you from the virus. The best latex glove would be the one which is thick and stretchy. This is to prevent it from ripping and ease your movement. Also, it can be another alternative to safeguard your kids from this infection. Since they are bound to move and touch things around, sometimes it is better to have them wearing gloves in certain situation. However, do note that you have to be mindful of not touching your body or things when wearing glove and dispose it appropriately right away after using it. 7. Tissue Photo credit: istockphoto If you need something to cover your mouth when sneezing/coughing, it is best to use tissue instead of a handkerchief. This is because you have to dispose it right away after the usage. By using a handkerchief or other garments, it is much impractical as it is non-reusable and you have to keep it to wash it later. Though there is available tissue supply around, we cannot be sure of its cleanliness. As other people might come into contact with it too, it is best to just have one on your own. 8. Prayer Mat and Prayer Garment For the Muslims, it is highly recommended for you to bring your own prayer mat and garment. It is risky to use the prayer mat and garment provided as they are exposed to public use. It is wise to not share it with others and only use it for your personal use. Photo credit: alqabamuslimeen.com Though it is a difficult time for us all, we can still live our lives as usual by abiding the SOP outlined by the government. For a safe journey, it is recommended for you to equip yourself with all the essential necessities so that we can together prevent this outbreak.

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