WELLNESS TIP OF THE WEEK

Pentucket Medical Has Established a Respiratory Illness Clinic

Pentucket Medical has established a Respiratory Illness Clinic (RIC) to eval­uate patients with respirato­ry symptoms and to determine whether they can be treated safely in the outpatient set­ting. Since March 16, over 1400 patients have been well cared for at the RIC.

Patients need a referral from their primary care provider before coming in. Once the referral is made, patients will be tested via drive thru testing or evaluated in the clinic with testing. For more information, click here.

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WELLNESS AROUND THE WEB

On With The Learning

The weather grows warmer and our patience grows shorter. So, we adjust our face masks and patiently await May 18. This time has not only been a true test of how we adapt under pressure, but of our ability to endure the most unusual, frightening circumstances. Our collective safety and sanity remain paramount, and we’ve got just that in store for you this Wellness Wednesday.

Schools may be closed, but work hasn’t has stopped for middle school science teacher and founder of Whiz Kids, Mark McKellar. Whiz Kids began as a way to bring the wonder of science right to your home by offering STEM-based birthday parties for children between the ages of six and 12. 

Like many local businesses across the Merrimack Valley, Whiz Kids has ceased operations during what would be a busy season of spring birthdays due to the effects of COVID-19. However, McKellar, who goes by “Metric Mark,” has persisted with remote learning videos to help continue bringing  science to children throughout this new normal.  “I’m trying to support our parents who suddenly have the job of ‘teacher’ thrusted upon them,” says Metric Mark. “Many parents are struggling with supporting their kids with remote learning and keeping their kids engaged. What we’ve been doing is posting short videos of easy, interesting experiments parents can do with their kids.”

These video experiments, called “Saturday Morning Science,” encourage children to use household items in place of scientific equipment, such as test tubes or flasks. These videos cover a wide range of scientific topics, from growing plants at home to air pressure to the electrolysis of water. They can be accessed here.

Check out our interview with Metric Mark on today’s episode of The 495 podcast at 12:30 p.m.

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Enjoy Less Traffic, But Remember to Drive Safe

While quarantine means that your morning commute might be swifter, the roads are not any safer. In fact, they might be more dangerous. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, some states, including Minnesota and Louisiana, are experiencing an increase in traffic fatalities during the COVID-19 crisis. While there may be less congestion, it is important to pay attention and drive safely at all times.

Using Technology Wisely

Quarantine doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom. Thanks to technology, we can lift our spirits and connect with friends while remaining safe and socially distant.

Are you missing out on a birthday celebration during quarantine? These days, we can remotely celebrate with apps such as Zoom and FaceTime. Bianca Rodriguez from Marie Claire offers ten ways to have a virtual birthday party. Even if you’re not celebrating a birthday, there’s still reason to come together. Rodriguez wrote another piece with advice on throwing a virtual game night, which can be found here.

If it seems as if you have tried everything to keep busy, add taking a virtual tour to your quarantine activity list. Yahoo offers a list of numerous virtual tours which you can find here. From art museums and national parks, to pyramids of Giza and even outer space, you can explore the world from the comfort of your couch.

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On Food and Preserving It

Adjusting to this new normal may have made you a bit sluggish and more dependent on the morning cup o’ Joe. For a healthier substitute that helps calm the mind and boost the immune system, Real Simple encourages you to try a tisane made with peppermint. An added bonus: it helps freshen morning breath.

Have you been trying to avoid the grocery store? As lines outside many local Market Baskets have been out the door and down the sidewalk, it is important to only take necessary trips during this time. HuffPost offers ways to keep your fresh food lasting longer. Not only will these simple tasks save you money, you won’t be running to the grocery store as often!