From a simple scraped knee to a broken bone, one thing is for sure: Accidents happen. But you can be prepared by adding a few items to your home care arsenal. A well-stocked first-aid kit can help you respond effectively to emergencies. Keep at least one first-aid kit in your home and one in your car. Having a fully stocked first-aid kit is the key to being prepared for emergencies and injuries, so it’s important that yours is properly stocked and tailored to your family’s unique needs.

Here is a list of new items that you can add to your first-aid kit :

1.  The first item that you can refresh your first-aid kit is pulse oxymeter. Pulse oximetry is a test used to measure the oxygen level (oxygen saturation) of the blood. It is an easy, painless measure of how well oxygen is being sent to parts of your body furthest from your heart, such as the arms and legs. If you have an emergency that requires monitoring of your SpO2 levels, a medtech OG-01 fiingertip pulse oxymeter will be a value addition to the first-aid kit.

2. Maintaining a healthy blood pressure is key to staying healthy. Therefore, monitoring yours on a regular basis can be a life-saver. You can stock up your first-aid kit with Dr Morepen BP-02 Blood Pressure Monitor. Long-standing high blood pressure can cause damage to the small vessels in your body and also cause the heart to thicken and stiffen. Checking your blood pressure can help you and your doctor figure out if you need medications or that your medications are working. 

5. Portable Oxygen cans are the new must-have products in every home medical kit. This is a life-saving product that is significant to keep handy than anything else in their medical kit. gO2therapy is essentially a high-purity (99%+) portable bottled Oxygen can, which is highly useful in our day-to-day life situations like pollution & emergencies. Not only can they come in handy for high altitude sickness treatment, but they can also be used to perform oxygen therapy at home to help the body fight ill-effects of the city’s pollution, improve health and well-being, improve immunity and increase mental &  physical performance among the fitness enthusiasts.
4. During CPR the chest compressions squeeze the stomach, and it’s common for patients to vomit by reflex. IndoSurgicals CPR pocket masks have a one-way valve that stops vomit, blood, and body fluids in their tracks, keeping your mouth isolated and vomit-free. For a travel or portable first aid kit, a CPR mask is a must.

By Dr Sandeep Patil, Chief Intensivist, Fortis Hospital, Kalyan 

The wait is finally over, Mumbai’s lifeline – our local trains will resume for all fully vaccinated citizens from August 15, 2021. This brings a new lease of life to officegoers and workers who spent months finding alternative ways to commute to their workplaces.

Previously, the train services were only open to civic employees and essential service staff. As per the latest state government mandate, local trains will run for the general public only when vaccinated with two doses against COVID19. Every commuter must maintain a gap of 14 days after the second dose to travel via local trains. Individuals will need a rail pass to board the local trains, which you can register for on a specially created app. You can either collect it from the ward offices or download it from the app.

While this news brings hope for life getting back to normal, we cannot let our guards down, especially in view of the potential third wave. Travelling in local trains in Mumbai isn’t a cakewalk. It involves close contact with several people and increases one’s risk of contracting COVID19. As eager as people are to travel on trains again, they need to be conscious of their health and take appropriate preventive measures.

BEFORE TRAVEL:

• Register for the railway pass on the app and download it. If you don’t have a smartphone, you can collect it from your municipal ward office or the nearest railway station
• Always wear double masks, carry a hand sanitiser, a few disinfectant wipes and spray with you. Make sure to carry a few extra masks in a sealed bag
• Wear gloves before stepping out. Before you travel, wash your hands with soap water and then wear your masks. Once worn, don’t touch or remove them until you arrive at your destination

DURING TRAVEL:

• Follow the government mandate strictly. Stand at least 6 feet apart from other commuters and avoid gathering in groups. Follow signages put out by the railway authorities indicating where to stand, sit, queue-up and the exit signs
• Avoid touching surfaces such as ticket machines, handrails, elevator buttons and as much as possible. If you do touch these surfaces, immediately wash your hands with soap water or use a sanitiser containing 60% alcohol
• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after using the public bathroom
• Avoid spitting and littering

UPON GETTING TO WORK:

• After reaching your workplace, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Wash your hands from time to time during the day
• Remove the masks you wore during your travel and replace it with a fresh ones. The previously worn masks can be placed in a sealed bag to wash or dispose
• Avoid over-crowding at cafeterias and maintain a safe distance. If possible, avoid eating together during break time

Following all COVID19 protocols, precautions and hygiene etiquettes will keep you safe even if you get exposed to the virus.