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What's New at Guardian Nurses?
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What's New at Guardian Nurses
We Are On the Road
in Seattle
Last Monday, February 3, our new fleet of four nurses (and their new Ford Fusion Hybrids) 'hit the roads' in the Puget Sound area to great fanfare. (We were the ones in Bellevue honking the horns!)
With only one week under their collective belts, the "Trailblazers" have done multiple hospital visits, accompaniments to physician visits and even a few home visits.
The brightly colored 'creamsicles' can't be missed among all the gray skies and weather in Seattle.
With thanks to Sound Health & Wellness Trust, and the team at Zenith Administrators, for choosing Guardian Nurses!
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There goes the neighborhood!
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Though it is cold and flu season, you can't go too far these days without seeing images of or reading about the novel (new) coronavirus called 2019-nCoV which has been spreading in China and has now reached multiple other countries, including the U.S.
C
oronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
(MERS-CoV)
and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
(SARS-CoV)
. A novel coronavirus
(nCoV)
is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans.
Obviously, given the spread already in China, the potential public health threat posed by 2019-nCoV virus is high, both globally and to the United States. More cases resulting from person to person spread are likely to be identified in the coming days, and likely in the U.S.
This issue of
The Flame offers a basic primer on the coronavirus and includes links to the CDC website for more information.
WASH YOUR HANDS, Please.
Betty
Betty Long, RN, MHA
President/CEO
Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates
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About the Coronavirus
The 2019-nCoV is spreading from person to person in China and limited spread among close contacts has been detected in some countries outside China, including the United States. At this time, however, this virus is NOT currently spreading in communities in the United States. Right now, the greatest risk of infection is for people in China or people who have traveled to China. Risk of infection is dependent on exposure. Close contacts of people who are infected are at greater risk of exposure, for example health care workers and close contacts of people who are infected with 2019-nCoV.
Public health screenings for travelers have been put into effect at several U.S. airports, including Los Angeles International Airport and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Young children, older adults, and individuals with other health conditions and/or already weakened immune systems are at higher risk. Symptoms include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
There is currently no vaccine to help prevent Novel Coronavirus. The following daily actions, however, can help prevent infection:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the "Happy Birthday" song from beginning to end twice. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Treatment
There are no specific antiviral treatments recommended for Novel Coronavirus. People who think they may have been exposed to the virus should contact their health care provider immediately.
What to Do if You Get the Novel Coronavirus
- Stay home, except to get medical care. Do not go to work, school, or public areas, and do not use public transportation, Lyft or Uber.
- Separate yourself from other people in your home. As much as possible, you should stay in a different room from other people in your home. Also, you should use a separate bathroom, if available.
- Call ahead before visiting your doctor. Before your appointment, call your provider and tell them that you have, or are being evaluated for Novel Coronavirus. This will help the provider's office take steps to keep other people from getting infected.
- Wear a facemask when you are in the same room with other people and when you visit a health care provider
- Avoid sharing household items such as dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, bedding, or other items with other people in your home. After using these items, you should wash them thoroughly with soap and water.
- Avoid contact with pets and other animals.
Be aware that this is a serious health condition, but that people in the United States are currently at low risk. As recommended during cold and flu season, wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands.
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