This has been a difficult year for everyone, but especially for doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers. Looking for holiday gifts for the healthcare providers in your life? Read on for four great ways to show them your appreciation and maybe make their New Year a little brighter!
- Connect with a fun virtual party. In-person parties are a dangerous idea this year, and nobody wants to expose a hardworking doctor or nurse to COVID-19 after all the work they’ve done to help and protect us this year. Instead, replace your traditional holiday or New Year’s party with a virtual party via your favorite web conferencing or video chat app! The social connection will be critical for people who’ve been working long hours treating sick patients, and they’ll appreciate that you didn’t risk their or their family’s health by throwing an in-person party.
- Buy or make them a fun or funky mask – and one for yourself! After two decades of wearing plain paper surgical and procedure masks, I never thought I would consider face masks to be fashion accessories. But over the last few months I’ve really enjoyed picking out and making cloth masks for shopping and other out-of-house tasks. Reusable cloth face masks can be a fun way to show your personality. Buy one for the healthcare provider in your life – and be sure to get one for yourself! And don’t forget to wear it any time you spend time within 6 feet of someone who doesn’t live in your household. That fashion accessory won’t do anyone any good if it’s sitting on a shelf.
- Pick out hand sanitizer in their favorite scent – and one in yours as well! Nurses and doctors spend an awful lot of time using generic hand sanitizer. At best, it’s unscented. At worst, especially when hospitals have to buy “off-brand” hand sanitizer during shortages, it can smell Not Good. Treat them to some hand sanitizer in their favorite scent so they can smell something they like while they’re cleaning their hands. Consider one that’s moisturizing as well – all that handwashing can dry out a healthcare provider’s skin! While you’re at it, pick up a bottle or two in your own favorite scent and be sure to use it regularly.
- Get your flu shot, and make a promise to get a COVID-19 vaccine when you can. Flu shots are even more important than ever before this year, to prevent a “Twindemic” of simultaneous flu and COVID-19 outbreaks and to keep people out of hospitals and healthcare clinics where they might get exposed to COVID-19. If you haven’t gotten your flu shot yet, then get it as soon as you can. And while you may not be able to get a COVID-19 vaccine before the holidays this December, a “coupon”, I.O.U. or written promise to get one when you can would make a terrific present for the healthcare provider in your life.
If these sound like a list of COVID-19 preventive steps, you’re exactly right. Take it from your friendly neighborhood public health doctor: there is nothing I – or any other doctor or nurse I know – want more than an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. In all seriousness, while you enjoy your holidays at home with your family, I and most of my colleagues will probably spend our holidays and New Year in the hospital treating patients. If you care about the healthcare providers in your life, then save your money, cancel your parties, and do your part to slow or stop the spread of COVID-19.
š Dr. B