Back to School: A COVID-19 health checklist for families
Sending the kids back to school in a pandemic has put parents on edge. One way to relieve the tension is to have a health plan in place. This way if there is a case of COVID in the classroom or preschool or daycare, you have aren’t left at loose ends.
Family health checklist: Five must-dos
Screen your kids daily for symptoms
By now we all know the drill: the biggies are fever, dry cough, difficulty breathing and loss of taste or smell, but more symptoms are being discovered as we move through this pandemic, so it’s best to check the BC Government screening test and have a digital thermometer on-hand to take your kids temps daily.
Stay informed
Create a window in your day for listening to COVID updates. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix provide an update to the media on COVID-19 most week days at 3 pm. They update media on the latest numbers, closures and anything newsworthy regarding vaccines, testing, symptoms and treatments.
Make an isolation or quarantine plan
What will your family do if there’s a positive case in your child’s classroom? Your family will likely need to go into isolation or quarantine.
Quick quarantine tips
- Inform your workplace.
- Create a routine for your two-week isolation and have the kids involved. If they are older and symptoms are mild, they can incorporate school work (we’ve all done this before, we can do it again)!
- Make a meal plan (use meal delivery services and friends).
- Plan on Skype, Zoom and other online chats for the kids and family.
- Have a regular movie and games nights.
- Keep frightening COVID news away from kids ears.
- Lower all expectations.
- Get out in the back yard or deck as much as possible for fresh air.
- Hang in there. This too shall pass.
Stock up on medication
Make sure the medicine cabinet or fridge is stocked with the basics: Thermometer, acetaminophen and ibuprofen, antihistamines, cough syrup, Pedialyte, Gatorade or Powerade, heat and ice packs so you don’t find yourself short-handed in the event of a COVID scare.
Contact a doctor via CloudMD
Kids not feeling well? You’re not feeling well? Need a doctor but can’t leave the house? For moms, this is the app we’ve all been waiting for! CloudMD connects you to a licensed Canadian doctor (yes even on evenings and weekends) via your phone or device so you can get a prescription or diagnosis quickly and easily. This ingenious and timely app is free for BC residents. Get prescriptions sent directly from your doctor to your local pharmacy as well as general medical advice.
This post is sponsored by CloudMD
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