Essentials for home isolation
The pandemic has taken over and it’s rapidly spreading, especially in India.
Stepping out of the home is causing dread. The news updates have left us with a twitchy tummy. We’re on pins and needles all day everyday.
While social distancing, wearing a mask and lockdown has turned our world upside down, finding out that our loved ones are exposed to Covid-19 is extremely daunting.
What would be your first reaction when Covid-19 shows up at your door? Panic, anxiety and stress come dashing through as a package.
Isolation
Remember, Panic is more dangerous than Pandemic. Instead, here’s what you should be doing –
Isolate from your family members as soon as possible. This is not a punishment. You are doing yourself and your family members a huge favour by isolating yourself. Consider it an insurance protection cover for your family. If there’s anything you can do to help your family and make life easy for them, isolating yourself is the best you can do.
Read that book you’ve been postponing all your life, or do things which help you stay peaceful. Follow your passion, as long as it’s not causing any physical stress.
Essentials you need for your isolation phase –
1. Mask
Wearing a mask when somebody comes to leave food for you is extremely important.
While you may try to control your cough and sneeze, sometimes it’s unavoidable.
Changing your mask every 2-3 days is suggested. Discard the used masks safely, by wrapping it in a cover.
2. Steam inhaler
Inhaling steam every 4-5 hours loosens the mucus and clears the nasal passages.
It helps you breathe freely.
Since using boiled water from the stove cannot keep the water hot for a long time, using a steam inhaler is beneficial.
Adding 2-3 drops of an essential oil (Eucalyptus or Tea Tree) are effective in calming a stuffy or runny nose.
3. Pulse Oximeter
Keeping a check on levels is vital. A 95+ reading on a pulse oximeter is a good sign.
However, if it falls below 95, getting medical help right away rather than depending on home remedies will increase your chances of recovering quickly.
If it falls below 90, isolation centres cannot take you in.
If it falls below 80, most hospitals give up hope.
The quicker you act, the better your chances of recovery.
4. Sanitizer
Even though you’re isolated and don’t come in contact with anyone, the droplets from your sneeze or cough might linger on you.
We unknowingly keep touching our face and nose, so it’s good to keep sanitizing hands once in a while.
Taking a bath everyday and using a sanitizer keeps you healthy.
5. Spirometer
Breathing exercises help your lungs expand. This keeps your oxygen saturation levels up and healthy.
A spirometer increases lung capacity and improves breathing ability.
Even though the symptoms are mild, we have no idea how it’s affecting each individual. So, using a spirometer is beneficial for good health of your lungs.
It’s a cost effective way to improve your breathing than waiting to spend a bomb on oxygen cylinders and hospital beds.
Proning exercise is a no-cost method to regain your saturation levels.
6. Dettol
Dettol is a disinfectant. Dilute it in a bucket of water and pour it in the washroom to kill the virus and control the spread.
Since you’ll be too weak to do any cleaning and it’s not safe for others to do it, pouring dettol mixed water is an effective way to keep your isolation room hygienic.
7. Fast&Up
Zinc and Vitamin C are essential for your body. They can also be taken by non-Covid people to boost their immunity.
Fast&Up has 20 tablets. Dissolve one tablet in a glass of water and drink it everyday. It works as an immunity booster and helps you recover from weakness.
8. Multivitamins
Zincovit and Vitamin D3 tablets are used to gain back the lost energy and help you recover from weakness.
9. Essential oils
Pour a few drops of essential oils in your hot bath tub for a relaxing bath experience.
Since you cannot expect a massage in isolation, this is a convenient way to treat your body pains.
10. Water bottle
Keep a separate water bottle, preferably a flask to store hot water and a glass for you to drink from.
Hydrating yourself is of high priority.
11. Salt
Gargling with hot water and salt soothes an irritated throat. Gargle twice a day or more to get rid of phlegm and pacify throat inflammation. You can add turmeric too, as it acts as an antibiotic.
12. Dry fruits & nuts
A handful of mixed nuts – almonds, pista, cashew and dates will boost up your strength. It makes a healthy snack.
13. Thermometer
Keeping a check on your temperature will help you take medication on time. An infrared thermometer is the quickest to give a temperature reading.
14. Paracetamol
Make sure you have a stock of paracetamol handy, just in case you have a temperature.
15. Antibiotics
Stock up on the antibiotics prescribed by your doctor and keep them handy. Follow your prescription religiously, for a speedy recovery.
Eat a healthy protein-rich diet, take your vitamin supplements and other medications on time to come out healthy.
Post isolation –
1. Discard your oral hygiene gear
Continuing to use your old toothbrush and tongue cleaner might harbor the virus. So, it’s best to discard them.
2. Disinfect your home
Stay home for a few more days after isolation. Disinfect your home. If none of your family members show symptoms, it’s safe to come out, but remember that all the precautions are still to be followed, and there’s no alteration.
There’s no proof that an affected person will not catch the virus again. So, stay home and stay safe.
3. Continue Multivitamins
Continue to take your multivitamins until you regain the lost strength, and get back to a regular routine.
4. Mask up, sanitize and repeat
Continue to wear a mask when you go out. Go out only if it’s extremely necessary. Keep sanitizing yourself.
5. Physical distancing
Strictly no hugging and kissing. You never know who is an asymptomatic carrier and who is positive. So, be cautious. Maintain social distancing. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
