Wash your hands!

Hello All,

I am sure you are inundated with information (both good and bad) about the Coronavirus, or what is now known as COVID-19. The absolute best source of factual and up-to-date information is the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC) – www.cdc.gov . They are the gold standard for information, and are recognized worldwide for their expertise and support. They also provide practical and easy to understand information – and without whipping us into a frenzy!

Just think about the outbreaks that have occurred just in the years between 2000 and now – Ebola, West Nile, Avian Flu, H1N1, MERS, Zika and the resurgence of the measles. Each of these was scary. With the dedication, hard work and skill of scientists, physicians, pathologists, lab technicians, researchers and numerous other incredible professionals, we have navigated these troubled waters. And we will do so this time as well!

Wash your hands. Sneeze into your elbow. Cover your mouth when you cough. All practical things to do.

This made me think about when “Universal Precautions” came into being for healthcare providers, initially those in hospitals. And, yes, I am old enough to remember this! Wearing gloves – using goggles and face shields – amazingly, these only became part of our work lives in 1985. I gave many baths, cleaned up many bodily fluids, started many IVs and made many beds without wearing gloves! In fact, initially when Universal Precautions went into effect, the regulations were met with resistance. I remember putting on gloves to start an IV, wiping off the patient’s arm with alcohol…..and then ripping off the finger of the glove so I could be sure to “really feel” the vein. Nurses today look at us “more seasoned” nurses and find that hard to believe!

Universal Precautions came about at the time of HIV/AIDS. I am sharing this because there is a powerful documentary that I highly recommend you view: Ward 5B – A Documentary of the Heroes of San Francisco General Hospital’s Ward 5B. This Incredible documentary includes the first person testimonials of the team of nurses, physicians, social workers, caregivers, dieticians, volunteers and so many others who created the first AIDS unit in the United States. The documentary shares information about our society, our political world and our healthcare system at that time. It shows people taking care of patients before it was fully understood the mode of transmission of the disease- and that it was understood that the importance of healing the mind and spirit was as critical (and sometimes more so) than healing the body. It both breaks your heart and uplifts. (I would recommend that you have a few tissues available!) It recognizes the power of people to make a difference. It displays the power of human touch, care and compassion.

No matter what we face, it is really about people taking care of people. It is about each of us!

And don’t forget to wash your hands!

Phyl