The pandemic has woken us up to our vulnerability. Here are some things that you can keep in your car or bag that will help you stay well

1. Masks
We all know masks form the crucial first layer of protection in the fight against COVID-19. There are different kinds of masks in the market, from disposable to surgical ones. While surgical masks and N95 respirators are used by healthcare professionals, some good cotton and washable masks also work for regular use. Masks are very effective when a person washes hands regularly with soap and clean water.

World Health Organization gives these guidelines on how to wear a mask:

• Make sure that your mask does not have any holes or tears.
• Before putting on the mask, wash your hands with soap and water. Or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• Cover your nose and mouth with the mask. Make sure there are no gaps between the mask and your face.
• Avoid touching the mask while wearing it as touching the front when wearing could defeat the purpose of using it. The front of the mask is exposed to the environment where the virus particles float.
• If you do touch your mask, wash or sanitize your hands immediately.
• If your mask is damp, replace it.
• Do not reuse single-use masks.
• Remove your mask from behind rather than touching the front of the mask.
• The mask must fit the wearer properly.

2. Hand Sanitizers, Sprays, Wipes
While I prefer to wash my hands with soap, but sanitizers are handy. You don’t need to carry a towel, soap and containers on trips. Sanitizers have a form of ethyl alcohol which acts as an antiseptic. There are different kinds of hand sanitizers now available in the market. Himalaya Hand Sanitizers have herbs such as neem, lemon and a softener called hrivera. Sanitizers by Himalaya come in different variants such as strawberry, litchi, green apple, orange and plain. You just need a drop and the price starts from INR 60.

VLCC has introduced VLCC Advanced Germ Kill Sanitizing Spray and VLCC Advanced Sanitizing Wipes. The non-aerosol formulation and pocket size packaging make the spray easy to carry. The Wipes can be used to instantly and effectively cleanse, and protect against germs and bacteria while simultaneously moisturizing the skin. Both the products are free of alcohol, SLS, parabens or sulfate and can be uses on the face as well. VLCC Advanced Germ Kill Sanitizing Spray, 75 ml bottle pack, price is INR 149 and the Advanced Sanitizing Wipes are priced at INR 110 for a pack of 30.

3. Pee Safe Toilet Seat Sanitizer Spray, Intimate Wash, Moskito Safe Scare-Away Patches

Public toilets are infectious places and here Pee Safe Toilet Seat Sanitizer Spray comes handy. The Sanitizer Spray cleanses, deodorizes, sanitizes the toilet seat and ensures protection against 99.9%  of diseases like Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) or diarrhea to name a few, that are caused by germs and bacteria commonly found in public restrooms. This sanitizer spray is a rubbed IPA formulation that sanitizes the area within five seconds of application. The fragrance deodorizes the surrounding areas, thus eliminating foul odour found in most public toilets.

And an intimate wash turns also is a good solution. During menstruation, the constant flow of blood is a discomfort, sometimes there is a pungent smell too. It’s alcohol-free, paraben-free, sulphate-free and has witch-hazel and tea tree essential oil. This is an Ayurvedic formula with no chemicals. All this means that the freshness lasts longer and it’s not harmful to the sensitive area. The bottle being small, it’s also easy to carry around. Besides, you only need a few drops and it lasts for a good 10-15 days. Price: INR 180 for 105ml

The mosquito patches are made up of citronella, lemongrass and other essential oils. They don’t have a pungent odour nor are they harmful. The effect of one patch lasts for 12 hours which means you can easily sleep the night away. This would prove really useful for those who love camping and hiking. It’s also safe for children and is DEET free. They can be stuck on any surface such as clothes, bags, strollers and cots.

4. Life Straw GO Personal water bottle

Despite the numerous drinks and juices that are available, the elixir of life has always been crystal clear water. Making this water safe to drink is LifeStraw bottle by Swiss company Vestergaard. The bottle is a portable straw water filter, created to clear out the contaminating particles within seconds and make the water safe for drinking. It removes 99.999% of bacteria such E. coli and Cholera, 99.9% of parasites such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia and particulate matter This award-winning technology has been successful in Kenya. In 1994, Carter Center approached Vestergaard to develop a filter that could remove Guinea worm larvae from water. The company designed a cloth filter which evolved into a more effective pipe form in 1999. LifeStraw in its current form came into being in 2005. This personal “straw-like” filter was designed for people in developing countries or where there is lack of access to safe drinking water.

Features

• Weighs only 168 gm
• Requires no electrical power, batteries or replacement parts
• Can store up to 0.65 liters
• Chemical free and has no aftertaste. It doesn’t use iodine or iodinated resin chemicals
• Has a flip-top bite valve and carabineer for attaching to the backpack
• The life of the filter—when you can’t suck any more water, then the filter needs to be replaced.
• It filters around 1,000 liters of water.

Maintenance

After every use, remove the top of the bottle and back-flush your LifeStraw Go by blowing a breath of air back into the mouthpiece to purge all remaining water trapped within the filter. If you have access to clean water, suck some into the filter and back-flush it again. Leave the cap of LifeStraw Go open until the product fully dries before storage.

Price: INR 1,790.00 for Life Straw GO Personal Water Bottle; INR 1,145.00 for Life Straw Personal Water Filter