As a cancer caregiver, you may be wondering how you can protect your loved one from infection — particularly from the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
COVID-19 germs are spread like those of the common cold: through direct contact with someone who has the virus, by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching one’s eyes, nose, or mouth, or by inhaling the tiny moisture droplets that are exhaled, sneezed or coughed into the air by someone who has the virus.
So, how can you help protect you and your loved ones from COVID-19 and other contagious diseases?
Wash your hands:
The single most important thing people can do to prevent the spread of germs is to wash their hands properly and frequently.
Use plenty of soap and water and scrub all parts of your hands, between your fingers, under your nails, around your cuticles and the front and back of your hands for at least 20 seconds before rinsing.
Germs are easily spread when we shake hands, so it’s important to wash your hands after doing so.
If you don’t have access to soap and water, try to find an alcohol-based hand sanitizer instead. Apply the gel liberally, and rub it all over your hands and let it air dry. Do not wipe off the excess with a paper towel, as it takes about 20 seconds for the sanitizer to work.
If you can’t find anywhere to wash your hands and no hand sanitizer is available, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with your hands until you can clean them properly.
Prevention:
If you haven’t been sick yet this season, try to keep it that way by avoiding crowded public places and sick people whenever possible. If you are showing symptoms of illness, do whatever you can to avoid passing your germs to others. This means staying home when you don’t feel well and avoid public places until you have been symptom free for at least 24 hours.
Clean and Disinfect:
Regardless of whether you’ve been sick, it’s good to get into the habit of regularly wiping down the surfaces in your surroundings. Germs are everywhere: door handles, drawer pulls, elevator buttons, counter tops, exercise machines and on anything else that people touch on a regular basis.
Clean surfaces at work and home daily, such as light switches, computer keyboards, remote controls, and fridge, faucet and toilet handles. This can prevent people from infecting each other.