HOW TO CARE FOR A PERSON WITH COVID 19 AT HOME
If you are caring for a person with COVID-19 at home or in non-health care settings, follow these tips to protect yourself and others. Know what to do when a person has symptoms of COVID-19 or when you were diagnosed with the virus. You should also keep this information in mind when caring for people with positive lab tests who do not have symptoms.
*Note: Older adults and people of any age with serious underlying conditions are at higher risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19. People at higher risk for severe illness should call their doctors as soon as symptoms appear .
Provide support
Make sure the sick person drinks plenty of fluids and rest
- Help the sick person follow their doctor's care and medication instructions.
- In the most In most cases, symptoms last a few days and people feel better after a week.
- Test whether over-the-counter medicines help the person feel better.
- Make sure the sick person drinks plenty of fluids and rest.
- Help them with grocery shopping, refilling their medications, and accessing other items they may need. Consider using a home delivery service for items whenever possible.
- Take care of your pets and limit the sick person's contact with your pets whenever possible.
- Have the phone number of the doctor of the person you care for handy.
- Use the CDC self-check tool, which can help you decide if you need to seek medical attention.
- If the person's condition worsens, call their doctor. For medical emergencies, call 911 and tell the dispatch operator that the person has or may have COVID-19.
Be attentive to the emergency warning signs* of COVID-19. If someone has any of these signs, seek emergency medical services attention immediately:
- Difficulty breathing
- Persistent chest pain or pressure
- Confusion
- Inability to wake up or stay awake
- Bluish discoloration of the lips or face
*This list does not include all possible symptoms. Call your healthcare provider for any other serious or concerning symptoms.
Call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency center: Notify the operator that you need care for someone who has or may have COVID-19.
Protect yourself
Assign a separate bedroom and bathroom for a sick person
COVID-19 spreads between people in close contact (up to about 6 feet away), through respiratory droplets that a person produces when talking, coughing or sneezing. Staying away from other people helps stop the spread of COVID-19.
Whenever possible, the caregiver should not be a person with increased risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19.
The sick person should isolate themselves
The sick person should be kept separate from other members of the household. Know when and how to isolate yourself.
- If possible, the sick person should stay in a separate room and use another bathroom. If possible, the sick person should stay in his or her own "sick room or area," away from other people. Try to keep a distance of at least 6 feet from the sick person.
- Shared spaces: if you must share the space, ensure that there is good air circulation in the environment.
- Open the window to increase air circulation.
- Improving ventilation helps remove respiratory droplets from the air.
- Avoid receiving visitors . Avoid any unnecessary visits, especially if it involves people at higher risk of becoming seriously ill.
Caregivers should quarantine
Caregivers and anyone who has had close contact with someone with COVID-19 should stay home. Know when and how to quarantine.
Determining when it is safe to be in contact with other people varies depending on each situation. Know when it is Surely a sick person can end home isolation.
- Stay away: The sick person should eat (or be fed) in his or her own room, whenever possible.
- Wash dishes and utensils with gloves and hot water: Use gloves when handling plates, cups/glasses, or cutlery used by the person who is sick. Wash them with soap and hot water or in the dishwasher.
- clean your hands after removing gloves or handling used items.
Sick person
- The sick person should wear a mask when you are around other people in the home and when you go out (even before entering the doctor's office).
- A mask helps prevent a sick person from spreading the virus to others. Contains respiratory droplets so they do not reach other people.
- Children under 2 years of age, people who have trouble breathing, and those who cannot remove the covering without help should not wear a mask.
Carer
- Put on a mask and ask the sick person to put on a mask before entering the room.
- Wear gloves when touching or coming into contact with blood, stool, or body fluids such as saliva, mucus, vomit, and urine from the sick person. Throw gloves into a lined trash can and wash your hands immediately.
- Implement everyday preventive measures To avoid getting sick: wash your hands often, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, and clean and disinfect surfaces frequently.
Note : During the COVID-19 pandemic, medical-grade masks are reserved for healthcare workers and certain emergency response personnel.
- Wash your hands: Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Instruct everyone in the household to do the same, especially after being around the sick person.
- Hand sanitizer: If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover the entire surface of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry. View product
- Do not touch: Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth without washing your hands first.
- Learn more about handwashing .
Clean and disinfect “high-touch” surfaces and items every day
At home
- Clean and disinfect “high-touch” surfaces and items every day: This includes tables, door handles, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks, and electronic items.
- If dirty, clean the area or item with soap and water . Then use a household disinfectant .
- Remember follow label instructions to ensure you are using the product safely and effectively. In the case of many products, the recommendation is to keep the surface damp for a few minutes to eliminate germs. Many product manufacturers also recommend wearing gloves, ensuring good air circulation, or removing the product with a cloth or rinsing it after use.
- Use products included in the EPA List N: Disinfectants for Coronavirus (COVID-19) external icon following the manufacturer's instructions on the label.
- To clean electronic items , follow the manufacturer's instructions for all cleaning and disinfecting products. If instructions are not available, consider using an alcohol-based spray or wipes from the EPA List N: Disinfectants for Coronavirus (COVID-19) external icon .
- Learn more about how to clean and disinfect your house.
Room and bathroom
-
If you use a separate room and bathroom : You should only clean the area around the sick person when necessary, for example when it is dirty. This helps limit contact with the sick person.
- If they feel well, the sick person can clean their own space. Give to the sick person personal cleaning and disinfection items such as disposable tissues, paper towels, cleaners and products endorsed by an institution.
- If they share the bathroom : the sick person must clean and disinfect it after each use. If this is not possible, wear a mask and wait as long as possible after the sick person has used the bathroom before entering to clean and use the bathroom.
- Do not shake dirty clothes.
- Wear disposable gloves when handling soiled clothing.
- Dirty clothes from a sick person can be washed with other people's clothes.
- Wash clothes according to label instructions. Use the maximum allowable water temperature.
- Remove gloves and wash hands immediately.
- Dry washed clothing, on hot setting if possible, and completely.
- Wash your hands after putting clothes in the dryer.
- Clean and disinfect laundry bins. Wash your hands when finished.
Wear gloves when handling trash
- Throw away disposable gloves and other contaminated items in a lined trash can.
- Use gloves to remove trash bags, and to handle and dispose of waste. Wash your hands when finished.
- Throw away all disposable gloves and masks, as well as other contaminated items, in a lined trash can.
- If possible, use a lined trash can just for the sick person's items.
- Caregivers should stay home and monitor their health for symptoms of COVID-19 while caring for the sick person.
- The symptoms They include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, but other symptoms may also occur. Difficulty breathing is the most serious warning sign that you may need medical attention.
- Caregivers should continue to stay home after completing care. Caregivers can leave their home 14 days after their last close contact with the sick person (based on the time it takes for the illness to develop) or 14 days after the sick person turns 14. Criteria for ending home isolation.
- The best way to protect yourself and others is stay home for 14 days if you think you were exposed to a person with COVID-19. Check your local health department's website for information about possible options in your area to reduce the quarantine period.
-
If you have trouble breathing, call 911.
- Call your doctor or the emergency room and tell them about your symptoms before you go out. They will tell you what to do.
All CoinMed products have certifications --> See products for COVID-19
Source: https://espanol.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/care-for-someone.html