How to Have a Safe Meal at Work in the Pandemic?

12/25/2020

Nelson Song Luo

Hi everyone,

It is Christmas today. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

I hope everyone stays safe during the pandemic. This pandemic has been going on for nearly a year. It seems that there is a second round of attacks in the world. I have posted a few blogs in the hope that people can work safely. Please pay attention to the sequence of procedures and the reasons behind them. I hope these procedures can minimize potential risks. Today, I want to share how to eat safely in a medical environment.

Background setting: You are wearing gloves, a mask and a face shield in a medical environment. It's time for lunch now.

1. Wash gloved hands with soap and running tap water for 20 seconds.

2. Remove your face shield and mask in order, and hang them in an open and ventilated area. Ensure that the inside of the face shield or mask is not contaminated.

3. Take off the gloves and put them on the edge of the table without contaminating the inside of the gloves.

4. Wash your bare hands with soap and running tap water for 20 seconds.

5. Heat the lunch box in the microwave oven for 2 minutes.

6. Before lunch, wash the area around the mouth with soap and running hot tap water for 20 seconds.

7. Brush your teeth with running tap water or rinse your mouth with running hot tap water.

8. Take the lunch box out of the microwave oven, do not touch the inside of the lunch box or food with your fingers.

9. Stand in a ventilated area and eat lunch outdoors. Stay at least 6 feet away from anyone during lunch.

10. If you want to sit at an outdoor table for lunch, please make sure to disinfect the seat and table first.

11. After lunch, wash the area around the mouth with soap and running hot tap water for 20 seconds. (You don’t want to stain the mask with food)

12. Brush your teeth with running tap water or rinse your mouth with running hot tap water.

13. Put on the previous mask first, and then wear the face shield for airway protection.

14. Wash bare hands with soap and running tap water for 20 seconds.

15. Dry both hands in the air. It is best not to use any unsterilized paper towels.

16. Do not touch the outside of the gloves when wearing the previous gloves on the table.

17. Wash the gloved hands with soap and running tap water for 20 seconds.

18. It is time to serve your patients now.