The coronavirus pandemic has become part and parcel of our lives, and we have been forced to learn how to live with it. When this virus was first detected, no one really knew how to deal with it, and as a result, so many lives were lost. Doctors and nurses were overwhelmed and some of them even succumbed to the disease while trying to cater to patients. It is now two years since the onset of the covid 19 pandemic, and now we can comfortably care for infected members of our families at home without risking the lives of others. This blog obtains major insight on how to care for covid 19 patients at home.
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Isolate the Patient
This should be the first step immediately after you find out that one of you has tested positive for covid 19. One person being sick means that you have all been exposed, so it is wise for everyone in the household to take a covid 19 test just to be sure. Once you establish who is sick and who is not, you will be able to separate the healthy from the infected. You can use the guest room or the servant’s quarters to isolate the sick to keep others safe and give them ample time to recover. Ensure that they are comfortable and entertained, so they do not get bored and start stressing about being sick.
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Ensure the Patient Hydrates
One of the ways of managing the symptoms of the coronavirus is through hydration. You have probably heard people saying that they drank lemon water to help them fight the virus. Even as you isolate the patient, ensure that they have an adequate supply of water and food at all times. To avoid having to go to the room to give them water, you can put them in a room equipped with the best Indian butterfly valves for the plumbing system so as to ensure that they have water at all times.
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Strict Mask Wearing Policy
As you cater to the patient, ensure that you have your mask on at all times to avoid the risk of getting infected as well. They should also wear their mask whenever you are in the room to protect you. Advise all the other members of the family to always have their masks on when in public areas to avoid bridging a new infection in the home. The only thing worse than having one covid 19 patient at home is having two or even more. If you can, ask your friends who might want to visit to stay away until your home is covid19-free.
Make frequent handwashing a rule, especially for the young ones who like to touch everything and anything. Hand sanitizers should also be on standby in case anyone needs to use one. The goal is to have the patient come back to a safe environment when they recover and prevent anyone else from contracting the disease.
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Oxygen Tank for Emergencies
Covid 19 patients are advised to go to the nearest hospital whenever they start to experience breathing difficulties. However, it doesn’t hurt to have an oxygen tank at home just in case of such emergencies. Oxygen used in oxygen tanks is generated using a powdered molecular sieve, and it is completely safe for use by covid 19 patients.
You might not be able to connect the patient to the tank if you have zero medical background so always ensure that you have your family doctor on call for any kind of medical emergencies. To avoid such extremes, make sure that the patient’s room is well ventilated with adequate air circulation.
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Provide Symptom Relief Medication
It is true that there is no cure for coronavirus, but just like all incurable diseases, there is medication for the management of symptoms. Some of the most prevalent symptoms of covid 19 include headaches, chest pains, painful coughs, and fever. You can provide the patient with pain medication such as paracetamol to help them ease their pain and relieve fever. Vitamin C and zinc have also been used by coronavirus patients to fasten their recovery process. Just make sure you provide the patient with everything they need to be comfortable and speed up recovery.
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Stay Home
We cannot stress this enough. A sick person in a household means that you have all been exposed. Even with negative tests, you still cannot be sure until the patient recovers completely. Going out in public places is not advisable as you are risking other people’s lives. A caregiver can easily get infected or even reinfect the patient if they do not take maximum precautionary measures. So to be safe and to ensure the safety of the patient and everyone else in the home. Stay Home!
Conclusion
Covid 19 is still here with us, however much we want to believe otherwise. The virus just keeps on mutating and coming to us stronger and deadlier. With the onset of the Omicron strain, there is no telling when this pandemic will come to an end. Scientists are working day and night to find the cure for the virus, but it is completely up to us to learn how to manage and control the disease. Adhering to the set safety protocols is the only weapon we have against the disease so let us use it. Ensure that you spread awareness to those who might not be aware of the adverse effects of this pandemic so we can all fight together.
