How To: Steps to Protect Others From Coronavirus

Updated: July 15, 2020

By Sara Butler

The coronavirus pandemic is a frightening thing. If you have a family, then no doubt one of your driving thoughts is how to protect them in these uncertain times, especially the most vulnerable members.

The good news is that there are solid steps you can take to protect your family from this illness. Learning about COVID-19 and how you can avoid it or keep from spreading it is the priority. As your partners in health, The Joint Chiropractic has gathered a few simple guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that you can put in action to protect you and your family.

How COVID-19 Spreads

The CDC states that the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to it. It’s thought that coronavirus is spread through person-to-person contact, usually by people within six feet of each other which is considered close contact. If an infected person coughs or sneezes, those respiratory droplets spread the virus either by landing in the nose or mouth of people close by or being inhaled into the lungs. It’s also thought that wearing glasses may also help prevent access to the eyes.

How to Protect You and Your Family

Part of what makes coronavirus so scary is that it’s new. At this point, there’s no proven treatment or vaccine, which leaves only preventative measures that can be taken.

According to the CDC, you and all members of your family should take these preventative steps:

• Isolate - Avoid anyone who is sick, especially in close contact.
• Wash your hands - You should wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 to 30 seconds. Make sure everyone, including kids, washes hands right away when they’ve been out in public or have just coughed or sneezed. If you can’t wash your hands, a hand sanitizer will work in a pinch.
• Don’t touch your face - Avoid touching your nose, eyes, and mouth to help prevent germs from entering your body.
• Follow social distancing measures - If coronavirus is spreading in your community, make sure to put at least six feet of distance between yourself and others while out in public.

To protect others, including your family members, you should:

• Stay home when sick - If you feel ill, stay home and isolated unless you leave the house to get medical care.
• Cover your sneezes and coughs - Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or the inside of your elbow when you sneeze. If you use a tissue, throw it away in a lined trash can and immediately wash your hands with soap and warm water for 20 to 30 seconds. You can use hand sanitizer that is 60 percent alcohol if hand washing isn’t available to you.
• If sick, wear a facemask - If anyone in your home has symptoms of illness, then they need to wear a facemask when around others. If no one in your household is sick, you do not need to wear a facemask.
• Disinfect surfaces - Any frequently touched surfaces such as tabletops, light switches, desks, keyboards, phones, faucets, sinks, handles, and toilets should be cleaned with a disinfectant each day.

Since writing this article, there have been many Local, State and Federal changes to the stance on mask use. Please stay up to date with your local guidelines as well as check reputable sites for any updates.

For Higher Risk Individuals

TThere are certain people at higher risk for complications for COVID-19. These include older adults (over 60), people with chronic illnesses such as HIV, asthma, diabetes, or heart disease, as well as pregnant women. Make sure to follow the steps outlined above for prevention if you are in contact with family members or friends who fall into these categories.

Have a Household Plan

The CDC recommends that you create a household plan in case coronavirus makes someone in your home ill or disrupts your daily activities. This plan should include:

• Supplies - Make sure you have at least a two-week supply of food, any medications you may need, and other essentials.
• Communicate - Establish a plan for ways to communicate with friends, family, and co-workers.
• Adapt -Talk about how you may need to handle working from home, homeschooling, and childcare needs.

Preparing for an outbreak  of a pandemic is probably not something you thought you’d encounter in your lifetime, but by working together we do have the power to stop COVID-19 from spreading. Do your part and encourage others to do the same. Together, we can beat this and stay healthy!

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this page are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this post is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics, including but not limited to the benefits of chiropractic care, exercise and nutrition. It is not intended to provide or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your chiropractor, physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this page.