The first thig to remember is that only about 20% of covid patients require any special treatment. Contracting Covid-19 is not a death sentence. That being said, there are a number of inconveniences contracting the disease can cause. Temporary job loss, self isolation, and of course, trying not to infect your family. Have you thought about what you can do to prepare in the event that you contract the disease?
First off, let’s get the morbid stuff out of the way. Get your will done or updated. Doing this won’t help you one bit, but will make things easier on your loved ones in the event of the worst case scenario. While you’re at it, make sure you have a living will set up too. Having someone ready to legally step up and take charge of your medical decisions is just a smart thing to do. Make sure this person knows your wishes. On top of all that, keep these 2 words in mind…LIFE INSURANCE.
Unless you live alone, self isolation may require setting up a sick room. This will isolate you, as much as is possible, from your family in an attempt to prevent the virus from infecting them. In all honesty, this will be easier said than done. Setting up a sick room is well beyond the scope of this article, but you can check out this post for more information.
Either way you slice it, a positive Covid-19 test is going to put you out of work for a while. It may be a couple of weeks, it may be for months. No matter how long it is, your income will be affected. Get your financials in order! Have cash on hand and enough savings to pay the bills for at least a couple of months. Honestly, this should be a priority for any prepper, but is often overlooked.
Since there is no cure for Covid-19, treatment is limited to managing symptoms, many of which are common to the flu. Make sure you are stocked up on typical flu medications such as cough suppressants, fever reducers, and hydration fluids. Dr.Bones & Nurse Amy from Doom and Bloom have a great recipe for making your own oral rehydration fluids:
- 6-8 teaspoons of sugar (sucrose)
- 1 teaspoon of salt (sodium chloride)
- ½ teaspoon of salt substitute (potassium chloride)
- A pinch of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
Add this to one liter of water for adults, and 2 liters of water for children.
Now would be the time to go over your food storage and fill any gaps. Make sure you can go without a trip to the grocery store for at least a month, more would be better. Check perishables such as dairy and bread. You can buy extra and freeze it, or look into non perishable options such as powdered or canned milk.
If you have school aged children, check with your school about home learning options and any emergency closure procedures they have in place. You may need to dedicate an internet capable device such as a laptop or tablet for them to continue their studies from home until everyone has been cleared to resume normal activities. A supply of basic school supplies (paper or notebooks, pens & pencils, calculator, geometry set, etc) would also be a wise investment.
PPE will be important, both for the patient and the caregiver. Typical procedure masks are for the patient while the caregiver would need N95 or better masks along with medical gloves, goggles or face shield, and disposable gowns. Get more than you think you will need, these items get used up faster than you think. If you are in contact with a patient 10 times a day, multiply that by 14, 21, or even 28 days. You get the idea.
Lastly, have an idea of what to do if you can no longer provide proper care. If symptoms worsen or breathing difficulties arise, you should at least know who to call to get your patient into a hospital.
