By Mary E.

Military spouse Mary E. shares the safety tips she, her spouse and pups took during their 2020 PCS, and what changes she'd make in hindsight. Take advantage of her experience on the road to help prepare for your next PCS! Thanks, Mary!

The Good and the {Safety} Bad:

1. When on the road, keep on truckin’ rather than making frequent stops

• Map out the route for the most efficient travel plan

• Before making a necessary stop, take a gander at state and city health department websites for updates on closures, restrictions and if wearing a mask is required 

Pro’s

• Thanks to friends who sew (and Etsy crafters), we had a good supply of washable fabric face masks at the ready

• When not in use, we would lay our masks in the full sun of the front dash in an attempt to bake away any freeloading germs trying to hitch a ride

Con’s

• We travel with our pets and most every park was off limits/closed

• Mask wearing wasn’t 100% required in each city so we did face critiques here and there. But, it was our choice to be safe!

2. Before departing, stock your vehicle with supplies

• Take inventory of the emergency kit in your vehicle and keep it accessible

• Stores, shops and restaurants may not be open or may have limited business hours. Having food and drink on hand helps limit the need for grocery runs or food cravings 

Pro’s

• It was helpful to have a bottle or two of hand sanitizer within easy reach

• No matter if on a road trip or if embarking on a PCS adventure, we try to reserve ample space in the car for a cooler and a bag o’ snacks.

Con’s

• We did have to hunt through our packed car for the First Aid Kit when in need of a band aid. Will try to keep it in an easy-to-find spot, next trip!

3. When stopping for gas, be aware of the surfaces you’ll touch 

• Think about this - 

• Kiosk buttons 

• Pump lever

• Squeegee for windshield cleaning

• Convenience store door handle 

These are items that are constantly in use. It may be a good idea to apply hand sanitizer after making contact

Pro’s

• Thankfully, most gas stations are aware of the need for constant sanitizing. Attendants are being careful and keeping things clean.

Con’s

• You might feel a tingle of a burn when a gas station dispenser of hand sanitizer is being warmed by the Summer sun - Yowza!

Each month of this pandemic has been teaching our military family valuable lessons. Some tasks have become second nature by now, while other things are still a work in progress. 

When it comes to travel,

• Wear a face mask - Covering your nose and mouth

• Keep your distance - 6 feet between each person

• Wash up - Scrub your hands with soap and water (Or tidy your mitts with hand sanitizer)

• Be careful - yet kind - with those around you

No matter if you’re traveling for miles or simply going for a Sunday drive, enjoy yourself! As this quote by Henry Miller states, “One’s destination is never a place but a new way of seeing things”.

Photo by A. L. on Unsplash