The coronavirus came to radically change our way of living, now we have to learn to take the virus seriously in order to take care of our h...
We know that not all infected people remain in hospitals. Fortunately, many of them have the opportunity to heal at home with some control measures such as isolation and taking some medications to counteract the symptoms.
That is undoubtedly a great advantage, since being in a hospital is one of the most terrible experiences that can be lived. Despite finding something positive, the pain caused to family members to find out that a loved one is fighting for his life after being infected with coronavirus is not subtracted. It is a situation that we can all experience; therefore we must be mentally prepared.
Unexpected news
Like everyone else, I once thought that this deadly virus would never touch my family; I believed it that way because somehow I had to avoid attracting those bad thoughts and because I believed that my family followed the safety measures known to all, such as: " stay home, wash your hands constantly, wear the mask and keep a healthy distance. "
However, a few weeks ago my son informed me that he felt bad, that at his work there were colleagues who were at home because their tests had come out positive. He could possibly have caught it; but fortunately, my son came out negative.
That experience motivated me to investigate the care we have to follow when a loved one is positive for coronavirus. Then I share it with you:
Caring for a sick person at home
The World Health Organization and other experts on the subject suggest applying these recommendations:
1 Insulation
It is important to choose a special room for the sick person, it must remain in total isolation to prevent being infected. Once the room is selected, we must make sure that it will be in a comfortable, clean, and disinfected place before inhabiting it.
Ideally, that room should have its own bathroom so that you don't have to go out constantly and thus avoid putting others at risk.
Being in isolation refers to the fact that absolutely no one can enter the room unless it is necessary and with the relevant security measures. It is advisable to keep the room ventilated so that the air can circulate and thus the virus does not concentrate throughout the area.
2 Control over symptoms
It is essential to monitor the symptoms of the infected loved one and of the entire family that lives in the same house to have accurate data. That is, take the temperature constantly, the pressure and be aware of new symptoms such as headache, fatigue, cough, or shortness of breath. It is convenient to register them at least once a day.
3 Have everything you need at hand
Disinfectant towels, face masks, tissues, gloves, and a spray to clean surfaces. The patient will not be able to clean his room for obvious reasons; however, the person assigned to your care must do so occasionally at least twice a day.
You must enter the room to clean and disinfect it completely, taking the safety measures known to all (face masks, disinfectant gel, and gloves).
4 Assign special dishes
It is advisable not to mix dishes, such as plates, cutlery, and glasses used by the infected person. These should be washed separately and preferably in a special place, it can be the same bathroom to prevent the virus from spreading.
According to the WHO, all household disinfectants will kill the virus. However, you should know that it can survive up to 72 hours in plastic and stainless steel, less than 4 hours in copper, and less than 24 hours in cardboard.
5 Comfort and entertainment
It is important to consider that the coronavirus patient will spend most of the time lying in bed; so it is essential to provide absolute comfort. You can use more pillows and some covers to cover yourself from the cold.
As you recover, you will want to be distracted; so it is convenient to keep magazines, books, a television, and a computer on hand to pass the time; even leaving your cell phone within reach so you can stay in touch with your friends and loved ones.
7 Healthy food
It is normal for people when we get sick to lose our appetite and as we recover we want to eat, which causes a nutritional imbalance. It is essential that from the beginning of isolation, the infected person is fed healthily. You can include in your diet foods that help improve your defenses such as natural juices, among others.
Help and emotional support are essential for the whole family, not just for the infected person. That is why it is suggested to ask for some kind of guidance in order to cope with the problem. Keep in mind that in many parts of the world the government has facilitated communication to support family members anonymously, which you should not rule out.
Having faith and not diminishing before the divine power, are basic tools that we have to strengthen in these times of pandemic. Be positive and you will see that soon your loved one will emerge triumphant from this great battle.
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