HCAOA The Voice Summer 2020

13 Spring/Summer 2020 MEMBER NEWS “KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.” That saying has never been truer when it comes to COVID-19. The more you know the better you will be able to safely and effectively provide care for your clients and maintain not only your health but also your family’s. Like measles, chickenpox and HIV, COVID-19 will continue to be a health risk for years and years to come. The pandemic may even be worse this fall. The skills you learn today, will be used from now on. Your abil - ity to care for COVID-19 clients will distinguish you and increase your value as a professional and essential health healthcare worker. The history of pandemics has shown that they don’t simply just go away. The Black Plague came back six times over 50 years. Spanish Influenza may have started in 1918 but came back in 1919 and 1920. COVID-19 will spike again this fall and winter. This time we will be better prepared with knowledge, testing and PPE. The need for qualified and trained CNA’s and home care aides will never be greater. COVID-19 is a novel (new) coronavirus. Many “common colds” are caused by other types of coronaviruses. COVID-19 did not come from or escape from a virus laboratory. The virus likely jumped from a bat to infect a human, months or even years ago. In the process, it became lethal after mutating several times. The mutations resulted in a protein spike on the outside that can firmly attach itself to cells deep within the lungs, heart and other organs in the body. There have been several mutations of COVID- 19 since it first appeared. The good news is that none of these have increased its ability to infect or kill humans. It is unlikely that that will happen in the future. One thing that hasn’t changed is how people get infected. It can only get into the body through the mouth, nose or eyes. The two most powerful tools we have against COVID-19 are washing your hands and face masks. Good old soap and water used to thor - oughly wash your hands effectively kills the virus. Wearing a face mask, even a cloth one has been shown provide protection from you getting infected and infecting others. Wear them in public and always when you are providing care to your client. A cough or a sneeze can release as many as 200 million virus particles. No one knows for sure but it’s been estimated that if you breathe in about 100,000 virus particles you’ll be infected. The virus particles ride along inside tiny respiratory droplets. Most fall on the ground within a few feet of the person. Some studies have shown that a sneeze can spread droplets as far as 22 feet. It’s also been shown that the simple act of talking can spread droplets. When you consider that as many as 40% of people who are infected with COVID-19 are asymptomatic and that people who will be sick also spread the virus before their symptoms appear, you have to keep practicing social distancing and wear a mask. This is especially true out in the community and will help protect your family. As a CNA or Home Care Aide you know that social distancing is impossible to do with your client. Most everything you do will bring you into close contact with your client for long periods of time. If you are caring for someone who had tested positive and was treated in the hospital and discharged your risk would be considered very low or none. If they are recovering and it has been over 10 days since their symptoms began they have developed some immunity and no longer spreading infective virus. For any client who has been exposed, tested positive or symptom - atic for COVID-19; room isolation, use of PPE and area disinfec - tion must be practiced. Unless you are dealing with urine, stool or other body secretions, gloves and gowns might not be necessary. In all cases though, you need to wear a face mask and face shield to avoid infection through your eyes. Before entering and immediately after leaving the clients room complete and thorough handwashing must be done. If you follow these guidelines and procedures, appropriately use PPE, handwashing and disinfection can you safely care for a COVID-19 client. The research evidence says yes. Remember, the home is not like the hospital. The patient and the things that are done to them in the hospital are far riskier. The volume of sick patients being intubated, on ventilators and undergoing breathing treatments creates a huge viral load in the air. Is there a risk and taking care of a COVID-19 client at home? Of course, but it is probably less than the risk when traveling in the community or going to the grocery store. Steven C. Fox is a licensed physician, co-founder and Medical Director at Wellspring Personal Care. COVID-19: What Every Caregiver Needs To Know By Steven C. Fox, D.O.