Reflecting on Fourth of July

“If eternal vigilance is the price of liberty, then chronic unease is the price of safety.” – James Reason, the father of error analysis. 

As I think about this year’s Independence Day, I’m reminded of the enormous and life-altering challenges that our forefathers faced and the resilience, courage and creativity it took for them to succeed.  Today, as COVID-19 rates rise, this country once again faces massive challenges. Economic uncertainty is mounting and, at times, conflicts with public health initiatives.  During these challenging times, Better Health Advisors will continue to honor our healthcare heroes for their resilience and courage.  We will also share photos that give us hope. We are constantly inspired by the creativity and fortitude that many Americans have shown in their efforts to stay safe and protect others. 

With all due respect to individual rights and freedoms, BHA is a healthcare firm. Keeping people healthy is our top priority. We believe in: 

Mandatory Masking: 

We have concerns about how the re-opening is being handled in many parts of the country.  We encourage legislatures and companies to create and enforce strict policies requiring masks while indoors. We applaud Pennsylvania's mask mandate, and agree with the comparison of masks to seatbelts as universal public safety mechanisms that can save thousands of lives. 

Limited Indoor Activities: 

We encourage all legislatures and companies to limit indoor activities, such as: dining, bars, movies, religious services, and others until COVID-19 rates are lower throughout the country.  

Individual Responsibility:  

When individuals or groups lose focus on the simple habits that keep the disease from spreading (social distancing, masking, handwashing), rates will increase. We need to stay the course, even if we don't see immediate results.  

On Twitter, Dr. Bob Wachter from USCF asks, “Can a democratic, individualistic society get people to reliably wear masks and take other measures without oppressive rules or returning to lock-down? Yes, but we need a different tack: one focusing on normalizing the desired behavior & (gently) stigmatizing non-adherence.” Keep wearing your mask, and urge others to wear theirs. Masks may be inconvenient at times, but they save lives. The challenges we’re facing are enormous, but we encourage everyone to be resilient, creative and focused, like our forefathers.