For those who are deemed essential for delivering patient care and lifesaving services.
Essential healthcare workers are those who are deemed essential for delivering patient care and lifesaving services. These are the front-line workers responsible for saving lives during the COVID pandemic. Without them, the death rate would most certainly skyrocket. As such, they are critical to our very survival during this once in a lifetime health crisis.
Unfortunately, the dedication to their work is costing many of these healthcare professionals more than just their time. In many cases it is taking a toll on their mental and physical health.
Consider this…
From June-September 2020, Mental Health America (MHA) hosted a survey to listen to the experiences of (essential) healthcare workers during COVID-19 and found:
- 93% of healthcare workers were experiencing high levels of stress
- 86% reported experiencing anxiety
- 77% reported frustration
- 76% reported exhaustion and burnout
What this tells us is that aside from the rigors of their job function during COVID, many are more than just overwhelmed by the sheer volume of cases and lack of resources. Most essential workers are also stressed out, anxious, frustrated and burnt out.
As the services these heroes provide is absolutely necessary, there is only so much the general public can do to help alleviate their strain, aside from social distancing and wearing a mask. However, there are other outlets (that do not expend a lot of energy) for essential workers that can help to reduce their mental suffering, while also brightening their daily outlook.
This includes enjoying the fresh air and sunshine while zipping around town on a light electric vehicle (LEV) such as an e-bike, e-scooter or e-moped.
“Those who use e-bikes (or e-scooters and e-mopeds) on a regular basis benefit … not only in terms of their fitness, but also in terms of other factors such as blood pressure, fat metabolism, and their mental well-being,” according to Forbes. And this certainly makes sense.
LEVs not only provide exhilaration and enjoyment, but they also open a world of possibilities in terms of commuting efficiency, staying healthy, maintaining a positive state of mind and exercising. There is truly nothing like the feeling of cruising down the street effortlessly with the push of a button, twist of a throttle or with the aid of mechanical pedal assist.
Regarding e-bikes, many might think that they are all fun and require no effort. This is not the case. In lighter pedal assist modes, one can most certainly get some exercise – with a heart rate of 120-130 beats per minute (BMP) or even higher, depending on terrain.
The beauty of pedal assistance is the essential worker can choose the level of assistance they want. If they worked a double shift the day before but want to get out and move their legs, they can select a pedal assist level that only requires 10 percent effort, for example.
If they have more energy and want to get their heart rate going, they can select a level that requires 70-80 percent effort, while battery power makes up the rest. You see, battery power provides flexibility and options that manual transportation does not.
Light Electric Vehicle Benefits for Essential Healthcare Workers
The many benefits of personal electric vehicles can be broken down into health, economic, fun and convenience. Here is more insight on each factor.
Health – According to Johns Hopkins, there are several benefits to elevating one’s heart rate during exercise, including lowering one’s blood pressure, controlling weight, strengthening muscles and reducing stress.
Economic – Commuting to and from the hospital or clinic every day can take a financial toll. The average gallon of gasoline alone is hovering around $3.00 a gallon right now, and UBERs can be quite cost restrictive especially when used frequently. Investing in a long-lasting ebike, e-scooter or e-moped, on the other hand, will pay for itself in no time at all. No more gas, insurance or routine maintenance. Just plug in the device to charge it up and then head out. It is that simple. Once the initial investment has been made, there are few if any additional costs associated with personal electric vehicles.
Fun – It is quite exciting to feel the power of an electric vehicle effortlessly propelling you forward. What is more, there is no loud engine noise or exhaust fumes to deal with. It is virtually silent and clean.
Convenience – e-Bikes an e-scooters can be light enough to carry into one’s apartment if necessary. They can easily be taken up a flight of stairs or in an elevator. Some of these devices even fold up to make their transport that much easier.
As you can see, there are a myriad of advantages to riding an e-bike, e-scooter or e-moped. Not only do they provide substantial entertainment value, but they also offer value in the areas of mental health, physical health, commuting convenience, and more.
Power on.
