Forrest takes a Journey!

Good evening everyone;

I was requested recently to make a posting with colleagues of mine in a not for profit group I am involved in regarding COVID-19 and effective precautions you can take that can help you and your loved ones safe and healthy. ,I decided to share this information with you all this evening.

Many of us in healthcare receive updates regarding the virus daily, sometimes multiple times a day, so I wanted to share with you all some of the important facts and preventative measures you can all implement in your households. This post was created from information we received from the Washington State Department of Health and CDC.

Full disclosure, I am not an expert on this disease by any means, but we hope that the sharing of this information may help you understand the virus more and what precautions can be effective to protect yourselves and loved ones, as able. I hope this information finds you useful. 

Things to pay attention too with COVID-19 aka the Corona Virus

FOREMOST- FACTS- What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is a severe cold virus and is NOT related to Influenza. It is much more contagious then any influenza or common cold virus known to us currently.

“People may be sick with the virus for 1 to 14 days before developing symptoms. The most common symptoms of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment.

More rarely, the disease can be serious and even fatal. Older people, and people with other medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, autoimmune suppressed, or heart disease), may be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill.”

People may experience:

1) Dry deep coughs

2) Fevers (greater than 100 F specifically)

3) Tiredness/fatigue/lethargy

4) Difficulty breathing/shortness of breath (severe cases); one will feel like they are gasping for air at times. (seek medical attention immediately)

5) Significant loss in teste or smell

6) Some cases- runny nose (outside of the norm of common allergies)

7) Chest pain or increased pressure in your lungs/chest region (seek medical attention emergently)

8) Changes in your complexion or color (seek medical attention emergently)

Some cases have been passed along from individuals who have not had symptoms at all!

Please be aware of who is around you and your potential risks of exposure.

Many essential healthcare workers, grocery store staff, first responders, long term care providers, etc., hold a higher risk for being exposed.

Things you can do to prevent the potential spread or exposure.

1) Wash your hands properly (20 seconds at a time; sing happy birthday twice if need be)

2) If leaving your home to obtain household necessities; Wash your hands before going to the store or after returning from the store.

3) Sanitize your hands (if able, before trips in your car, before entering the store, and after returning to your car or mode of public transportation.

4) COVER Coughs and sneezes in the crook of your elbow/arm always. This will decrease the spread of droplets from these episodes.

5) SOCIAL DISTANCING- this is key. Avoid areas where there may be large groups of people. Some grocery stores have implemented precautions and store capacity monitoring to prevent from too many people being in their stores all at once. When out and about- maintain 6-8 feet distance from others.

6) Wipe down all frequently touched surfaces, i.e. doorknobs, kitchen/bathroom counters, railings, etc., frequently with a germicidal cleanser, such as Lysol or Bleach.

7) Wipe down media devices with alcohol pads or wipes. Attempt not to share your devices.

8) COVER YOUR MOUTH, NOSE, AND EYES when out in public. Wearing masks, even of cloth type will decrease the spread of the virus significantly. Wearing a face shield, if able will decrease the risk of droplets from entering your eye spaces.

9) If able, wear gloves when out in public, especially grocery shopping. Grocery stores are not able to guarantee that their environments have been consistently sanitize or disinfected.

If there are basic necessities you are having difficulty locating, please let one of us know. We are all taking this journey together and no one will remain hungry or struggle without basic essentials. There are people who can help! 

Here are some videos and links that may help you as well-

6-Steps to Prevent COVID-19-

For hearing impaired individuals-

What to do if you are sick?

Symptoms of Corona Virus-

Here is the link to the Center for Disease Control and Prevent:

The more you know!

Thanks for stopping by!