It’s a good idea to make sure your household is prepared for a COVID-19 outbreak. We’ve gathered the most updated information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other trustworthy resources to help you prepare for coronavirus adequately.
To Avoid Panicking, Be Prepared
Panicking about coronavirus isn’t helpful and can set a negative example for your young ones who take behavior cues from you. Instead, empower yourself by preparing to the best of your ability.
As you prepare your household for coronavirus — including which supplies to have in your home — here’s what’s not helpful, and what you should do instead.
Don’t Believe Everything You Hear About COVID-19
Misinformation about coronavirus is everywhere. News and television reports about coronavirus are often dramatic, scary and may do little to actually help you prepare for the community spread of coronavirus. If you take to heart everything you read and hear about COVID-19, you’ll likely end up panicked and afraid, and without any helpful information, either.
What to Do Instead: Get Your Coronavirus Updates from Reliable Sources
We’re here to help you separate coronavirus myths from the facts, and you can count on our Coronavirus Resource Hub for regular updates, answers to coronavirus FAQs and more important resources.
As COVID-19 outbreak continues to unfold, the most trustworthy resources you can turn to include:
If You’re Healthy, Don’t Buy or Wear a Facemask
For people who are healthy, the CDC does not recommend wearing a facemask to protect against coronavirus. The CDC explains that facemasks should only be worn by people who have COVID-19 and have symptoms.
What to Do Instead: Practice Basic Hygiene
To keep yourself safe from coronavirus, basic hygiene is your best friend. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, for 20 seconds each time. Be sure to cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough, too.
Don’t Bother Buying Antibiotics
It’s a common misconception that antibiotics treat viruses, like coronavirus. Only antiviral medicines treat viruses. Antibiotics can only treat bacterial infections. They can’t help you prevent or treat coronavirus.
What to Do Instead: Inventory Your Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medicines
To avoid leaving home, the CDC recommends that you refill your medications or get over-the-counter remedies by:
- Calling and asking your doctor for extra prescription medications
- Consider switching to mail-order medications temporarily
- Have a supply of over-the-counter medicines to treat fever, and cold and flu symptoms
Additionally, you may want to stock your home’s emergency kit with over-the-counter pain relievers, vitamins, stomach remedies and cough medicine or lozenges, just to have in case anyone feels sick.
Don’t Panic About Your Water Supply
It’s not necessary (or recommended) to buy all the bottled water you can find. If you’re concerned about the water coming from your faucets, check out the CDC’s drinking water advisories.
Instead of acting instinctively or out of fear about water, follow the CDC’s guidelines on creating an emergency water supply for your household.
What to Do Instead: Follow CDC Guidelines on Emergency Water Supplies
The CDC offers guidance on how to make water safe in an emergency, and how to make a supply of water for an emergency situation, including an outbreak. To create your supply, the CDC says to:
- Store at least one gallon (think 16 cups) of water per day for each person and pet in your home
- Create a two-week supply of water for each person and pet in your home, if possible
- If making a two-week supply isn’t feasible, aim for a three-day supply for each person and pet
Don’t Neglect Your Mental, Emotional or Spiritual Health
Coronavirus outbreak is stressful for everyone and can take a huge toll on your emotional well-being. And when you’re stretched thin in mind and spirit, it’s harder to take care of yourself and the people you love. During the coronavirus pandemic, your emotional and spiritual health may need a little more TLC than normal — and it’s possible to prepare to do so, too.
What to Do Instead: Make Emotional TLC Part of Your Planning
As you stock your emergency kit with medicines for physical illnesses, plan ways to support your emotional health and that of your kids during a COVID-19 outbreak.
You can lean on trusted resources in this effort, like the CDC. The CDC has a wealth of information on mental health and coping during coronavirus outbreak, including resources for yourself, parents, children, responders and people who’ve recently been released from quarantine.
Your family can also lean on our emotional and spiritual resources created specifically for coronavirus outbreak. These include:
Here to Help You Feel Whole in Body, Mind and Spirit
At AdventHealth, we’re dedicated to helping you feel healthy, safe and well at every stage of coronavirus outbreak. We’ll help heal what hurts, ease your mind and lift your spirit, in as many little ways as we can. To learn more and see how we’re committed to your family during this outbreak, visit our Coronavirus Resource Hub.
