15 ways to protect yourself from coronavirus at home
Isolation rooms with hand disinfecting stations, here's how to protect your house from Covid-19.
Coronavirus is easily spreadable, so even if you leave only your house a few times every week, whether to go to make groceries,to take a walk, or to support a local restaurant, you could end up being exposed to the virus. And while you may feel very careful when you leave your house, you may not take the appropriate security measuresinsideyour house. Defending your house against the virus is another essential measure in the prevention of spread and we have all the expert coronavirus at home expert advice to help you stay safe.
1 Take extra precautions to get home.
All household members who have to leave home at work or any other reason must take extra precautions when they return home, depending onSandra Crawley, Rn, medical consultant withMom loves better. They can not just go back in the house like normal.
"Take a shoes change and let the" clean "shoes in the car," says Crawley. "They should change workflow and take a shower as soon as they come home. Make sure you do not upset clothes because the virus can become a airborne. All clothes must be washed in the hottest environment and Dried. "
2 Prepare a room for isolation.
Of course, none of the preparation at home you can not fully protect each member of your household that goes outside. That's why it's also important to prepare what you will do if someone from your home doesContractual coronavirus.
"If you or a family member contracts the virus, there should be a physically limited space in which the person will remain," saidNikola Djordjevic, MD, co-founder ofHealth care. "Since Covid-19 is very contagious, an infected person should not move around the whole house and spread the virus everywhere. The room must be as empty as possible, so that the virus does not stay on the surfaces too long . Also, the room should have a window or balcony, to ensure that fresh air can easily enter the room. "
3 Designate a member of the house as a caregiver.
When someone uses the isolation room - if they have been tested positive for coronavirus or think that the only person in the House should be allowed to take care of the sick family, Crawley explains. This helps to reduce the sources that the virus can exceed. Wear gloves and face masks If possible, the designated caregiver should "maintain good hand hygiene and frequently clean up surfaces" as well as "monitor themselves and other family members for additional signs and Symptoms of illness. "
4 Wipe the surfaces of the daily house.
As the first studies showed - as this March 2020 study of theNew England Journal of Medicine-theThe virus can live on surfaces anywhere from a few hours to a couple ofdays. So, cleaning your daily home is extremely important because the first day passed between cleaning could allow the coronavirus to infect someone at home.
"Buy a lysol or an equivalent aerosol to spray furniture, bedding and daily leaves. And replace the leaves frequently," saysKim Langdon, MD, medical advisor withPod. "Clean surfaces with a 25% whitening solution (mixing three parts of water with a whitening part) for non-wood floors, furniture, painted wood, door handles, refrigerator handles, The microwave handles, the stovetop buttons, the cabinet handles and the buttons. Also clean your toaster. And can open an opening and do not forget to include external doors. for tables. Colorful wood and surfaces, use secure wooden cleaners. "
5 Configure a hand disinfecting station by your front door.
All the precautions and steps you take to prepare your home do not mean anything if the household members do not remember taking their own measures.Giuseppe Aragonafamily doctor family doctor withPrescription doctor, recommends having a "alcohol-based hand disinfectant placed on a support" by the front door of your home. It acts as an instant reminder that someone leaves or enters the house, they shouldUse the hand disinfectant and "practice good hygiene".
6 Have a separate toothpaste container for all in your home.
Unfortunately, most people forget about their dental care products when they think about the preparation of coronavirus, according toElizabeth Cranford Robinson, Dmd, withDental cranford. Most families or couples share a tube of toothpaste and normally it would be fine. But during the coronavirus pandemic, Robinson recommends that each household member have their own "paste, filter and brush" because the viruses can be removed from the use of the same toothpaste on different brushes. It also recalls everyone to replace and disinfect their toothbrushes, dental floss and containers they keep them during this period.
7 Make stocks on your pet too.
Most households do not have only man members. When you take this time to use everything your family needs shelter, remember that your pets saysRachel Barrack, DVM, founder ofAnimal acupuncture.
"As you store the pantry with your personal essentials, be sure to have enough food, medicines, cottage litter, toilet pads, and more and more. A 30-day supply is Recommended, "she says. Stocking Up will save you extra trips outside, with the potential for exposure of the virus.
Baacrack adds that "in case you can not take care of your pet, write instructions from their daily needs and designate a member of the trusted family or a friend to be an emergency caregiver. If you should worry about your pet and have contracted the disease, wash your hands before and after and wear a mask. "
8 Be very careful with the products you bring inside.
There is no doubt that you will always bring new products to your home during this period, whether they are grocery stores or other products that you ordered online. However, you must consider all these items as potential means that the virus could enter your home, according toLeann Poston, MD, a contributor withMedical vibifier. As long as there are no perishable, Poston recommends that grocery stores are ideally left outside the house for three days to prevent the transfer of viruses into the house. If this is not possible, however, it recommends doubling a bagging grocery store so that the "contaminated external bag" can be thoroughly eliminated and disposed.
9 Also wipe the delivery of food.
It does not hurt to support local food affairs during the coronavirus pandemic. And with most delivering places and new tools useful asUber Eat "Go on the door" DeliveryThis may seem like a relatively safe way to continue to enjoy your favorites. However, do not betoo much comfortable. Even if you choose the option "Leave at the door",Gary Linkov, MD, reminds consumers to wipe the external containers from all delivery or output controls. At the same time, Poston says you should also eliminate milk and fruit juices when you bring them inside. If you have clean containers to transfer food into, it and Linkov also recommend. And wash your hands well before eating!
10 Clean your car.
A car is a ship that connects your home and the outside world. So, if you do not clean it too, you risk contaminating your home. A simple key to close your car door can take a virus on your car and transfer it to the handle of your front door when you enter inside. Langdon says that before entering your car and you leave, you should always "wipe the steering wheel from the car, as well as handles inside and out."
11 Use a humidifier in your home.
While research is still underdeveloped on the coronavirus and how to prevent it, Langdon says that some early signs suggest that the use of a home humidifier can make it "more difficult for the virus to spread". After all, Director of Research on World Health Research Harvard Medical SchoolMegan Murray, MD, explained at theFoundation of abundance Higher transmission rates in similar viruses, such as influenza, occur when the air is drier. Langdon recommends using a humidifier to maintain the level of humidity in your home at about 50% possible coronavirus prevention.
12 Clean your phone consistently.
Your phone probably gets more action than normal while working remotely or you spend more idle time at home, saysAndrew Moore-Crispin, Director of content toTing Mobile. It is also one of the only things you are transporting around you even when you are outside the house. That's why Moore-Crispin recommends cleaning up your phone consistently during this period and you avoid sharing your device with other people at home.
"First, turn on your device, unplug all accessories and remove it," he says. "Use disinfectant wipes containing 70% isopropyl alcohol to get rid of the germs that have found their way on your way Phone or use a spray with a soft cloth to wipe your device. Make your own cleaner by mixing 60% water with 40% alcohol. However, do not use paper towels or other abrasive materials that may damage your phone. "
13 Wash your hands thoroughly throughout the day.
Disinfecting hands, masks and gloves work well to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. But the ultimate prevention method?Wash one's hands! TheCenters for Disaster Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends washing your hand on anything else, including hand disinfecting. They recommend washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds of time each day, including (but not limited to) when you have "been in a public place or after blowing your nose , tap or sneezing. "
14 Having sick household members wear a mask.
Anyone positive with COVID-19, presumably positive, should bemask At home, even if they are in an isolated room.
"This will limit the spread of the virus by limiting the infected exhalations in the air," said Langdon. "These droplets of saliva with the virus can remain airborne and expose the others who breathe the same air. The masks prevent this aerosol propagation from the virus when the infected person breathes."
15 Do not let others in your house.
Every new person who avoids feet in your house could potentially bring the coronavirus with them. Poston says you should limit the house toThe smallest possible social group, which will probably be the "nuclear family unit", with parents and children. Anyone who does not stay at home in the long run during this period should not be invited.
"It will be difficult, but protect your home and family of infection, limit access to the house to this social group," she says. "Speak with other family members and friends regularly online or by phone. If a family member or a friend comes, visit it in the yard or on the porch while maintaining a distance of six feet or more."