A Whole New World

There’s no denying it, we are living in uncertain times due to the coronavirus COVID-19 worldwide pandemic. Dallas – Fort Worth has it’s share of those infected and we’ve been issued a “shelter-in-place” order, with Dallas County even prohibiting citizens from leaving the county. All of this in hopes of stopping the spread of the coronavirus.

What Can You Do as a Coronavirus Caregiver?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has put forth guidelines for caring for yourself or someone at home during this time of self-quarantines and social distancing. Their website notes:

Older adults and people of any age with certain serious underlying medical conditions like lung disease, heart disease, or diabetes are at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness and should seek care as soon as symptoms start.

If you are caring for someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, the CDC recommends the following:

• Have the person stay in one room, away from other people, including yourself, as much as possible.
• If possible, have them use a separate bathroom.
• Avoid sharing personal household items, like dishes, towels, and bedding
• If facemasks are available, have them wear a facemask when they are around people, including you.
• It the sick person can’t wear a facemask, you should wear one while in the same room with them, if facemasks are available.
• If the sick person needs to be around others (within the home, in a vehicle, or doctor’s office), they should wear a facemask.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after interacting with the sick person. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Every day, clean all surfaces that are touched often, like counters, tabletops, and doorknobs
• Use household cleaning sprays or wipes according to the label instructions.
• Wash laundry thoroughly.
• If laundry is soiled, wear disposable gloves and keep the soiled items away from your body while laundering. Wash your hands immediately after removing gloves.
• Avoid having any unnecessary visitors.

If you, yourself, start to develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19, you should seek medical attention immediately.

Emergency warning signs include:

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion or inability to arouse
• Bluish lips or face

All of this and more can be found on the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/care-for-someone.html.

All of us here at Trinetic Healthcare wish for the safety of your families and the swift return to normalcy for both our country and our world.