8 Tips to Stay Healthy at Trade Shows and Conferences
Conferences and trade shows can be great opportunities to learn something new, network, and make sales.
With tons of people in small spaces, they can also be breeding ground for germs - everything from the common cold to the seasonal flu to COVID-19 (a.k.a. Coronavirus).
While we are NOT licensed doctors, we’ve been to a fair share of trade shows and conferences over the years - and have helped tens of thousands of customers prepare for events.
In this post, we’re sharing tips to help you come back from your next trade show with business cards, new connections, and knowledge and not unwanted germs and sickness.
Wash hands frequently
The best way to prevent sickness is also the simplest. Wash your hands in hot water with soap for 25 seconds. That’s about the amount of time it takes to sing Happy Birthday.
In fact, Vietnam’s Ministry of Health managed to produce a very catchy song designed to get people to wash their hands properly to stop the spread of the Coronavirus. It even turned into a viral dance challenge on TikTok.
Washing your hands frequently isn’t rocket science, At the minimum, you should wash your hands after going to the bathroom, before you eat, or anytime you come in close contact with someone who is sick.
Carry hand sanitizer
A good rule of thumb is to bring a travel-size bottle of hand sanitizer with you in your backpack or purse so you have it whenever you are in crowded spaces, such as convention centers.
As a trade show exhibitor, here are a couple of things you can do to take this even further.
- Set up free hand sanitizer dispensers at your tradeshow booth. You can also give out branded hand sanitizers to attendees.
- Encourage people to sanitize their phones at your booth with this branded UV Light phone sanitizer
Get enough sleep
Again, this is almost too obvious to include. Getting the recommended 8 hours of sleep a night will help keep your immune system strong.
Work out regularly
Exercise is another great way to boost your immune system, along with giving you more energy and increasing your productivity and mood.
Don’t shake hands
It can feel a little awkward to decline a firm handshake and replace it with a “bow” or “nod.” So, here is a fun alternative to the traditional handshake. Who knows, this might be your new signature dance move?
We think this alternative handshake might be the cutest.
Boost your immune system
There are several foods that can strengthen your immune system, including citrus fruits, bell peppers, broccoli, garlic, ginger, spinach, yogurt, almonds, turmeric, Green tea, papaya, kiwi, among many others.
In addition, you can also take Vitamin C and Zinc supplements.
Yes, you need to wear a face mask
For starters, you are probably wearing and disposing of it wrong. Doctors spend hours in training learning how to put on, secure, and dispose of their masks. Here is a detailed description from an NYU doctor.
These reusable branded face masks along with these custom face masks are some of our clients favorites.
If you are one of the thousands of people stockpiling N95 masks from Costco, Walmart, or Amazon, please stop. Leave those masks for people who really need them like healthcare workers, who are on the front lines taking care of the sickest people.
Carry travel wipes
If you are traveling to a tradeshow or conference, carry travel wipes. While airplanes and hotel rooms are cleaned regularly, it doesn’t mean that every aspect of the place is sanitized often enough.
In particular, make sure to wipe down the airplane tray table before you use it or consume any food on it. Tray tables are NOT cleaned after every flight. You may also want to avoid storing anything in the seat pocket. Passengers have been known to store everything from food to dirty diapers in there.
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When it comes to reducing your chance of getting sick at or after a conference or trade show, basic precautions can go a long way. You don’t need to show up in a full hazmat suit. Instead, wash your hands frequently, maybe carry some extra travel wipes and hand sanitizer and show off your awesome dance moves w/ your new alternative handshake.
