What does Cholera, the Bubonic Plague, HIV and COVID-19 all have in common?
You guessed it, they’re all worldwide pandemics. After centuries of studying and testing the healthcare system has developed vaccines and medications for multiple diseases which save thousands of lives every year. That doesn’t mean everything is preventable. Most recently COVID-19 has become a fast spreading illness with no cure.
Since late December the virus has been growing and shows no signs of slowing down. As active members of society it is our duty to limit the spread of disease and ensure safety to more susceptible individuals. People who are most at risk include:
- older adults
- people with chronic medical conditions (ex. Cardiac diseases, pulmonary diseases and diabetes)
- immunocompromised people
- Individuals in highly dense populations
The mode of transmission for this virus is droplet/contact, which means you can pick it up by touching infected surfaces and ingesting infected materials. A few common signs and symptoms include: fever, cough and difficulty breathing. In order to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and eventually eradicate it we need to do our on own part to help the community. Here are some recommended guidelines to follow:
- Wash your hands and reduce touching your face
Washing your hands is the easiest and simplest technique to stop the spread of the virus. Since our hands come into contact with just about everything in our environment, we need to be extra cautious when interacting with others, eating and touching our own bodies. A simple 20+ second lather under warm water with a generous amount of soap can immediately cleanse your hands free from any infectious germs. If you are not able to wash your hands right away, refrain from touching your face as this can transfer the virus from your hands into your body.
- Avoid contact with infected individuals and limit space between others
You might be thinking obviously I won’t be interacting with anyone who is sick or infected, but this virus can lay dormant for up to 14 days with no signs or symptoms. So analyzing who is sick and who is healthy can be difficult which leads to more people becoming infected. Since the virus is spread through droplet/contact keeping a safe distance (approximately 1 meter) from everyone is highly recommended. After interacting with individuals washing one’s hands should be your next step.
- Eat healthy, drink plenty of water and use medication as directed
Our bodies are like machines and they require fuel to ensure safety and resilience from sickness’s like the Coronavirus. Eating a proper nutritional diet and drinking enough water can significantly help fight off any unwanted pathogens and speed up recovery times. Tylenol is an antipyretic (fever reducing) medication that can be an effective tool used to combat severe cases which include fevers (a body temperature above 37.5 degree Celsius). Medications are only used for their intended purpose and should be taken as directed from a healthcare practitioner or as directed on the bottle.
- Clean commonly touched surfaces
Whether it be a door handle, your cellphone, countertops or bathroom sink the reality is all surfaces have to possibility of becoming infected. Routine cleansing of common surfaces can reduce the spread of infectious microbes and keep not just yourself but everyone around you safe as well. Clean hands are great but once they encounter unsanitary surfaces, we become vulnerable immediately.
- Self isolate
If you have been out of country, in contact with suspected carriers or have symptoms you should be isolating to a confined area, such as your house, for up to 14 days. Self isolating not only reduces the chance of spreading the bug to others but is an effective way to determine if you are infected. While in isolation practice good hygiene, eat properly and stay updated with the progression of the COVID-19 epidemic.
What to do if you suspect you’ve come in contact with Covid-19, or develop symptoms.
- Self-isolate immediately
- Call 811 to report symptoms
- Follow the directions of the 811 Triage Nurse
- Avoid taking NSAIDS (non-steroidak anti-inflammatory drugs)
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- With those affected with COVID-19 some experienced worsening symptoms. Use Tylenol or products with Acetaminophen
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- Advise your place of employment.
In order to end this pandemic and return to our normal routines it will take everybody to join together and help stop the advancement of this disease. As a community we can ensure safety to those more susceptible and slow the progression of the disease by taking immediate action.
Written By: Kyle Popkie, RPN (CTE CHC Pembroke, ON).