COVID 19 quick help for patients and Caretakers

COVID 19 Quick help with guidelines

covid quick help from Inzinc Products and ServicesThe purpose of this webpage ” COVID 19 quick help ” is to provide a ready reckoner for patients and caretakers. This is because, there is tremendous amount of information and initiatives across the nation and this web page is to provide quick pointers to the various links already available.

Two of the three authors of this page have actually gone through the hardships and suffering due to COVID 19 and hence have shared very useful inputs that can help the readers.

While COVID 19 is a dangerous pandemic, it is important that we should not panic because many things will be in our control provided we are disciplined and alert to situations. 

Table of Contents

  1. Checklist of things to be ready at home (for home quarantined Covid patients)
  2. Free volunteer initiatives
  3. Lessons shared by Covid survivors
  4. Covid Helpline
  5. Post COVID 19 Care
  6. COVID 19 Rehabilitation Center
  7. COVID 19 pandemic terminology (Glossary of COVID 19 terms)
  8. Preventive actions to keep you and your family safe
  9. Yoga and breathing exercises – articles and videos

Checklist of things to be ready at home (for home quarantined Covid patients) – per patient

Below are the list of things to be ready with when a patient contracts COVID 19.

  1. Oximeter that is accurate to a good extent and from a good known brand – 1 No.
  2. Digital thermometer or Analog thermometer of good known brand – 1 No.
  3. Masks (Disposable and/or Washable) that can prevent virus particles and dust.
  4. Vapour rub – 1 bottle covid care checklist
  5. Thermos flask for hot water – 1 No.
  6. Supply of good filtered pure water
  7. Steam inhaler set – 1 No.
  8. Disposable plates to last for 14 days and 3 times a day – 42 Plates
  9. Hand sanitizer – 1 No.
  10. Medicines as suggested by your doctor
  11. PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) kit – 1. You can get this kit at the nearest medical store
  12. Disposable medical gloves to protect germs from contaminated surfaces. This you may need many pairs. You may consider a pack of 50 or 100 pair of gloves
  13. Garbage bags – large and medium to fit your dustbins and to last for at least a month from the date of infection.
  14. To maintain hygiene, bathe daily if you can. Wear washed clothes daily as far as possible. If you are too very tired or you are unwell, you can skip daily and do these whenever you feel like.
  15. After confirming with your Doctor, you can buy Electrolytes powder or juices to balance water in your body in case you feel weak or have vomiting or diarrhea. You can have enough packets.
  16. Fruits (check with your Doctor once as to what fruits can be taken)
  17. Vitamin supplement tablets (Only as advised by your Doctor)
  18. Ready availability of a list of nearby hospitals with their contact numbers and addresses
  19. Ready availability of a list of Ambulance and Oxygen suppliers around you
  20. Install all the necessary Grocery and Pharmacy applications on your Smartphone. This will come in handy during the span of infection and even post infection.
  21. Cleaning cloth, mop, floor cleaning solution and bucket to keep your surroundings clean.
  22. Aerosol disinfectant spray – 2 Nos.
  23. Disinfectant spray for the toilet / bathroom – 1 per bathroom
  24. A mosquito bat would be helpful
  25. A mosquito net to sleep peacefully
  26. Tissues – both wet and dry.
  27. Separate toiletries such as soap, soap solution, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, etc.

Free volunteer initiatives

Free Delivery Initiatives

  1.  Food to elderly during COVID 19Relief Riders: Relief Riders are volunteers who support the elderly in their local community by bringing the groceries, medicines, etc by riding on bicycles – Follow the link https://sites.google.com/urbanmorph.com/urbanmorph/health/relief-riders – Courtesy of Urban Morph
    Relief Riders operate in 8 cities that include Bangalore, Belgavi, Chennai, Gurugram, Mumbai, Hubli, Dharwad, Hyderabad, Jaipur and Guwahati. The above link has the helpline numbers.

Free Food preparation:

  1. Recipe of Hope: Recipe of Hope is a free food supply initiative for COVID 19 patients run by a group of nine volunteers. This initiative was started by Piyush Jain and Miti Desai. Recipe Of Hope delivers home cooked thalis to the patients across Bangalore.

You can book a meal by calling  8088407064 

Lessons shared by COVID 19 Survivors

Our COVID 19 survivors have learnt lessons the hard way. They are happy to share these lessons.

COVID lessons shared by survivorsLesson 1: Never heed to negative news. There is enough information on the social media, messengers and the web that propagate news in a negative way or in a way that you will start to panic. This needs to be avoided. Look at positive news or see something that you enjoy and laugh. This makes you feel relaxed.

Lesson 2: Keep away from negative people. When we contracted COVID 19, there were enough people to wish us recover earlier. But, without their knowledge, they were talking about the negative COVID trends in the locality or adverse happenings to their known people due to the virus. This really is not good because all you want to hear is positive news and motivation at a time when you are struggling to combat the virus. Inform such people gently that such news need not be shared at the moment. 

Lesson 3: Be POSITIVE always and DO NOT PANIC. Whatever may be the case, during the or post COVID, fill yourself with positive thoughts and never press the panic button ! Remember that you have to win this mental battle with a strong mind.

COVID 19 Quick Helpline

The fourth section of COVID 19 quick help are the useful helpline numbers as given below:

Karnataka helpline

COVID 19 Government of Karnataka helpline as per Government website https://covid19.karnataka.gov.in/

  1. Apthamitra helpline: 14410
  2. Karnataka State COVID Control room phone numbers covid helpline
    • 104
    • 1912
    • 1075
    • 080-46848600
    • 080-66692000
    • 9745697456
    • 080-1070 (SEOC – State Emergency Operation Center)
    • 9980299802 (maintained by Department of Information and Public Relations)
  3. Dasoha Food Helpline: 155214

For more details, go to link https://covid19.karnataka.gov.in/page/Helpline/en 


Pycho social helpline

To combat COVID 19, along with good physical health, one needs to maintain good mental health because this virus weakens mentally to a notable extent and if one needs support, then they can call the below helpline.
 COVID 19 – Mental Health Helpline – Toll Free Number 080 46110007 
(Courtesy of Rehabilitation Council of India – Quick link: http://www.rehabcouncil.nic.in/)


Post COVID 19 Care – Do’s and Don’ts

post covid 19 care

The fifth section of COVID 19 Quick help are the Do’s and Don’ts of Post COVID which are as follows:

  1. Do continue with breathing exercises / Yoga in a mild, moderate and gradual manner
  2. Do take balanced diet consisting of proteins, vitamins and carbohydrates
  3. Do not eat junk / oily food
  4. Do continue to wear mask
  5. Do continue with social distancing
  6. Do not discontinue steam inhalation
  7. Do not discontinue drinking warm water frequently in a day unless contra-indicated by your Doctor
  8. Do wash your hands frequently
  9. Do resume professional work gradually if health permits
  10. Do take enough sleep and rest
  11. Do not indulge in Alcohol or smoking
  12. Do take the medications if only prescribed by your Doctor
  13. Do remain Positive in life
  14. Do monitor your body temperature, blood pressure, oxygen levels and blood sugar if advised by the Doctor
  15. Do household work if health permits
  16. Do change your tongue cleaner and toothbrush

Post COVID 19 Quick help Rehabilitation Center

RASHTROTTHANA PARISHAT
If you need a center for Rehabilitation in Bangalore, Rashtrotthana Parishat in Kengeri Satellite town is providing free Post COVID 19 Rehabilitation.
 Rashtrotthana Parishat Helpline numbers :  96862 75038, 74118 18021 

Rashtrotthana Parishat have few terms and conditions such as:

  1. SPO2 greater than 88% on Oxygen less than 5L/mi
  2. Patient when not on Oxygen – SPO2 greater than 85%
  3. Patient comfortable with RR less than 20/min
  4. Patients with medical problems and difficult to maintain at home
  5. Patients < 70 years of age should be 24 x 7 accompanied by a family member, capable of taking care of the patient.
  6. Patients not on IV fluids, IV medications and have a good mentation.
  7. Basic ameneties (rooms with attached bathroom) provided for both patients and caretakers with food.
  8. 24/7 Doctors, nursing facility, Physiotherapy, yoga consultation available.
  9. In case of emergency, the family must arrange the hospital bed for further treatment. (Ambulance service to shift the patient to home or back to hospital will be provided).

Center: SBSSB – BANDE MATA, Kommagatta Main Road, Kengeri Satellite town, Bangalore – 560060

(Courtesy of Rashtrotthana Parishat)


COVID 19 pandemic terminology (Glossary of COVID 19 terms)

  • Asymptomatic infection : When a person shows no symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 but still test positive, then such persons are said to have contracted COVID 19 Asymptomatic infection
  • COVID 19 : Coronavirus Disease 2019. Coronavirus disease is caused by the SARS-CoV-2
  • Incubation period: It is the period between the time of exposure to the virus to the time when the initial symptoms of COVID 19 appear. Experts say that incubation period can be anywhere between 2 to 14 days.
  • Isolation : Isolation is a phase where a personCOVID 19 terminology glossary of terms infected with COVID 19 stays at home to prevent the spread of the virus to other persons 
  • Pandemic : A disease that occurs over a large geographical area and that affects a large number of people
  • Personal protective equipment (PPE): PPE is an equipment that is designed to protect the person wearing it from spread of infection. It includes Coverall (full body protective clothing) or it can be separate equipment such as protective face mask, face shield, goggles, gloves, helmets, aprons, shoes, etc.
  • Pre-symptomatic infection : Pre-symptomatic infection is a period where illness is present in a person before any symptom of COVID 19 appears
  • Quarantine : When a person may have been exposed to the COVID 19 virus, but yet has no symptoms and also has not been vaccinated, such person must stay at home as he / she could have been infected and could spread the virus, although they feel they are fine. Quarantine may also be suggested by notification of Government health department when persons travel to a COVID 19 infected place
  • COVID 19 RT-PCR test: RT-PCR stands for Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction. It is a molecular disgnostic test conducted on persons suspected of COVID 19 infection
  • Social distancing : Social distancing means to maintain a sufficient distance (of minimum 6 feet or 2 meters from the others) from other people in public and other outdoor / indoor places. It also means that as much as possible, avoiding places where people have gathered on a mass scale. The aim of social distancing is to avoid contracting COVID 19 by coming closer to people who may be infected.
  • Symptomatic infection : When a person shows the symptoms of COVID 19 infection, then such a person is said to have symptomatic infection

If you have questions or want more details, please follow the Questions and answers page of WHO 


Preventive actions to keep you and your family safe

There is nothing better than preventing yourself from COVID 19. Following are few preventive actions that are important to note and follow:

  • Get a COVID 19 Vaccine at the earliest.
  • Wear a mask to cover your mouth and nose completely.
  • Wear Face shield when you step out or at home when some of your own person or people are isolated. 
  • Keep washing your hands frequently with soap and water. In case water is not available, use hand sanitizer.
  • Maintain at least 6 feet distance from other persons.wash hands to prevent covid 19
  • Do not touch your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Whenever you cough, cover your mouth with a tissue. Throw the tissue into a covered bin later. You can later wash your hands / nose / mouth.
  • Whenever you sneeze, cover your nose / mouth with a tissue. Throw the tissue into a covered bin later.
  • Identify the surfaces that you touch the most. Clean and sanitize them regularly.
  • Ensure enough ventilation in your room.
  • Remain at home when you are sick.
  • If your stepping out is inevitable, still avoid crowds and mass gatherings.
  • While you meet other people, avoid handshakes and instead you can say “Namaste”.
  • Avoid traveling to other towns / cities / countries / villages.
  • Keep your rooms clean and neat.
  • Keep your bathrooms hygienic. Flush before and after use.

Yoga and breathing exercises – articles and videos

This section of COVID 19 Quick help talks about the importance of Yoga and breathing exercises during and after COVID 19. Below are very useful links to articles and videos that helps immensely:  

Articles:

  1. Dr. Arvind Kumar, Chairman, Institute of Chest Surgery, Medanta Founder and Managing Trustee, Lung Care Foundation has written this wonderful article published in the Press Bureau of India, a Government Website and through the honourable Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.  The article is titled “Do Breath Holding Exercise, Make Your Lungs Healthier”. (Courtesy of Dr. Arvind Kumar and the above mentioned Government bodies / websites).

Videos:

As a COVID 19 patient, one of the authors of this web page suggested the below videos that help a lot during COVID 19. 


Disclaimer: The above information is to the best of our knowledge and is intended to help the COVID patients and caretakers. If you want further confirmation, or if you have any doubts about any information in this web page, please consult the Doctor and Government authorities. Neither the authors of this web page nor Inzinc Products and Services are responsible for any adverse events faced by the readers with the information on this web page. Also, the web information and weblinks mentioned above may change without notice and we will put efforts to put up the updated information.