11. Getting back on track

After long and challenging weeks, countries all over the world are starting to lift the lockdown. Gradually, we can get back to a - more or less - sense of normality.

With a need for our economy to be up and running, so many companies are reinventing themselves and finding new ways that support both their community as well as the economy.

But we also have a strong desire to reconnect with our loved ones. To be able to enjoy some of our social and emotional needs, we might have to adjust to new ways of interacting. Next to a safe distance and basics hygiene rules, the use of face masks and shields will provide a safe way to interact with others.

Creativity thrives!

We just love creative ideas, especially when it comes to making a personal face mask that matches your personality and uniqueness. From discovering a new purpose for bandanas to more effective solutions, we are resourceful when it comes to finding ways to deal with this current situation.

Agreed, all these attributes are not the coolest accessories of our dressing, however, our health and well-being are now our main concern. So why not make these accessories cool, at least, we are showing up for what we believe or stand for in an original way.
 
This too made us reflect and ask ourselves: how can we help? With the need of the community to get back to work and school in a safe way and interact socially in a responsible way, we introduce TheOneO8 Face Shield.

Why a face shield?

In order to be able to appreciate life without self-quarantine, we need to learn to be accountable, especially in the ways we interact with others. No need to say, we love our independence. Being an example and showing others what the options are, we will eventually be enjoying a normal life again. However, this can take some time

Until a long term solution is available, we should consider how we can get our lives back on track or should we say, back on a new track. By getting ready now for the upcoming fall season (and flu-season), we will be prepared and save ourselves a lot of last-minute stress.

While face masks are an excellent start, sometimes it can hinder us to communicate with others. The use of a face shield is also a reminder to maintain some distance and allows visibility of facial expressions and lip movements for speech perception*.

Here are some of the main benefits of using face shields:

• It provides greater facial surface area coverage than masks by protecting all of the areas where the virus enters the body (the eyes, nose, and mouth);
• Face shields appear to significantly reduce the amount of inhalation exposure to droplet-spread respiratory virus**;
• More comfortable to wear than a mask;
• For extra protection while traveling by bus, train or airplane;
• Easy to wear (soft foam for comfort)
• Easy maintenance! Clean carefully with soap water before and after every use;
• Reusable when handled with care;
• Supports the US-economy: made in the USA (Illinois)

A ripple effect with environmental and economic losses.

Some businesses are more affected than others by this crisis. Hospitality and tourism are most likely to be the last ones to be able to offer full services. 
 
This is how our friends of Il Ngwesi in North Kenya are experiencing economic losses due to the Covid-19 crisis. While no major outbreak has hit the country, their biggest economic resource, being eco-tourism, feels the devastating effect of this crisis.
 
It ripples wide and far, in more ways than one can imagine. With safari-trips canceled, lodges forced to close down, a lot of people are unemployed. Unfortunately, poachers may take advantage of this situation. Wildlife conservancies and national parks across the African continent are noticing an increase in the unauthorized killing of endangered species.

This puts at-risk animals like rhinos, elephants, and lions amongst others and brings back the efforts and hard work that these natural parks and conservancies have been doing for so many years. That includes the park rangers of Il Ngwesi too.

A win/win situation

From TheOne08, we are using the resources available to us so we can increase our security and well-being as well as supporting the local economy. We introduce a face shield, manufactured in the USA. 
 
With the benefits of sales of our face shield, we will be able to economically support the rangers of Il Ngwesi. This is our way to contribute so they can continue and guarantee the protection of the wildlife of the conservancy.

#GoodLooksGood

 If you buy one of our face shields, you:

• support the local US-economy (Illinois, USA);
• provide extra protection for front-line workers;
• ensure the operational side of the protection of wildlife at the Il Ngwesi Conservancy (North Kenia).

Your purchase will go a long way!
Click here to order your TheOne08-branded face shield.

Sources:

(*) Eli N. Perencevich, MD, MS1,2; Daniel J. Diekema, MD, MS2; Michael B. Edmond, MD, MPH, MPA2.  Moving Personal Protective Equipment Into the Community, Face Shields and Containment of COVID-19.  April 29, 2020. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.7477.
(**) Lindsley  WG , Noti  JD , Blachere  FM , Szalajda  JV , Beezhold  DH .  Efficacy of face shields against cough aerosol droplets from a cough simulator.   J Occup Environ Hyg. 2014;11(8):509-518.