COVID-19 Prevention: Tips to Protect Your Family

The whole world is facing a new challenge together. Coronavirus, or COVID-19, presents more questions than answers, and that is making everyone uneasy. But it doesn’t mean that nothing is known or that nothing can be done. New information about vulnerable populations, treatment options, prevention strategies, and work toward possible vaccinations is amassing quickly. 

But what’s happening at the global level may seem distant and unrelated to your day-to-day life and how you and your family can stay safe. That’s why our team of expert health care providers at Orthopaedic Associates in Albany, Georgia, has compiled this list of very practical and vitally important things you can do to keep you and those around you healthy during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Educate yourself

The first step in protecting your family from coronavirus is to research and understand exactly what you’re protecting them from. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are two trustworthy resources. Here are the basics of COVID-19:

• The virus is spread from person to person through respiratory droplets
• Sneezing and coughing are primary delivery systems of the infected respiratory droplets
• Droplets can land on or be transferred to surfaces like keyboards and doorknobs

It’s important to know the way the virus is transferred so you can take precautions, like keeping a safe distance (six feet) from others when possible and washing your hands frequently. If you or someone you love does start to feel ill, recognizing the exact symptoms of COVID-19 can put your mind at ease. COVID-19 symptoms include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath

COVID-19 does not cause a runny nose like the common cold, or an upset stomach like the regular flu. But if you experience chest pain or bluish lips, call 911.

COVID-19 protection starts with a clean home

You’ve heard it before, but it especially applies to dealing with the coronavirus. A clean home is a healthy home. Next to avoiding close contact with others during this time, the most important thing you can do is disinfect surfaces often.

Clean phones, doorknobs, faucets, toilets, sinks, chairs, etc. — everything your family touches often. Use a diluted bleach or alcohol solution (see the CDC’s recommendations here).

Wash your hands often and teach your kids to wash their hands frequently as well. It takes a good 20 seconds (it’s longer than you think) to kill all the germs and bacteria and viruses that may be hanging out on your fingers. To keep your hands soaped up for the maximum time, try singing the Happy Birthday song or reading a favorite 20-second poem, prayer, or verse out loud.

Stop the person-to-person spread of COVID-19

Staying home all day, especially when you feel fine, is inconvenient, boring, and disruptive for many people — but it saves lives. And one of those lives may be yours or that of someone close to you. The medical experts recommend these tips for reducing or stopping the spread through person-to-person contact:

• Stay home if you’re ordered to do so, especially if you’re sick, which means it’s time to call your doctor
• Cough and sneeze into your elbow or a tissue and throw the tissue away, then wash your hands
• Wear a mask if you or someone you’re caring for is ill (no mask necessary otherwise)

If someone in your family is over 60 and/or has a chronic illness such as diabetes or lung or heart disease, they should stay home and avoid crowds. 

Staying healthy is easier than you think if you practice these common-sense preventive measures.

Keeping your kids safe from COVID-19 

Although there have been some reported cases of coronavirus in infants, it primarily affects older adults. Children who contract the virus generally have mild symptoms that resolve naturally. 

Children should follow the same precautions as adults. Additionally, make sure you wash all their toys, including stuffed animals. Speaking of animals, your pets should be safe, as no known cases of pets with COVID-19 have been reported.

Make a COVID-19 plan

As we’re already witnessing, precautionary measures to stem the spread of COVID-19 may  disrupt your everyday routine. Although some discomfort may be necessary, you and your family can avoid panic and emergencies by taking a few simple steps now.

• Make sure you have a two-week supply of all necessary medications on hand
• Have enough food and supplies for two weeks
• Know how to get food or supplies delivered
• Know how to reach extended family members 
• Strategize how to work from home
• Make arrangements for child care if necessary
• Use online resources for continuing your children’s education
• Stay informed by monitoring trustworthy reports from the CDC and WHO

With a calm approach and reliable information, you can keep your family safe from COVID-19. But if you or anyone in your care does contract the virus, you can make wise decisions and take timely actions that will help them recover.

If you have any health care questions or concerns, call our Albany, Georgia, office at 229-883-4707. You can also book an appointment online, or send a message to the team here on our website. Together, we can care for our families and communities one handwashing at a time.