Happy New Year (!) The shit has really hit the fan across the
country. This is obviously quite terrifying for many, and especially the more
medically vulnerable in our community.
What can you do to get ready for what is starting to feel
like the inevitable?
The first, and most obvious, is to get vaccinated AND
boosted, if you can. The stats are showing on the whole pretty clearly that the
sickest folks are those who are not vaccinated AND boosted.
Get yourself TWO kits together to prepare, and consider including
these things.
FIRST: “At home with covid kit” –
- Thermometer,
- Pain medications, electrolytes etc to manage dehydration due to throat pain and/or diarrhoea, and throat gargle.
- N95 masks, gloves, PPE,
- Fingertip Pulse Oximeter (make sure you research or get support on how to use these appropriately – poor readings are common, so make sure you know how to use them – https://youtu.be/ifnYjD4IKus this video is from the UK, so note that our emergency phone number is 000, not 999!),
- Print up this resource on managing Covid at home (from the RACGP) https://www.racgp.org.au/clinical-resources/covid-19-resources/patient-resources/managing-mild-covid-19-at-home (this includes a symptom diary and managing your symptoms list) (I am still trying to source an Easy English version – please let me know if you have one!)
- A freezer full of food, plenty of pet food, continence/PEG supplies etc,
- Sanitiser (wipes, gel and spray),
- Air purifier (if you’re lucky enough to afford one),
- Rapid Antigen Tests (if you can get your hands on them).
- At home activities (streaming subscriptions, music, crafts, jigsaws)
- Child and pet care plans and contacts
- Emergency phone lists for people who might be able to help you out
- List of which of your support workers are willing to work if you are covid positive
- Emergency contacts for your disability support providers
- Bin with a lid for used PPE
SECOND: “Gotta go to hospital kit”
- Hospital admission plan – including a one pager
of key info about you/person you love
- Hospital go-kit – key medication list and
medications, essential equipment, comfort stuff, list of behavioural
triggers/supports, key support plans (eating/continence etc)
The Queensland government have put together a useful COVID
Care plan for carers of disabled people and/or children at https://www.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/230604/A4_COVID-Care-Plan-for-Parents-Carers-and-Children_23-12-21-INTERACTIVE.pdf
There are also a bunch of FREE disability and Covid19
related useful resources at https://www.thegrowingspace.com.au/covid19/
