Turning Panic into Power | 5 Ways To Keep Your Family Healthy & Happy Amidst the Coronavirus Pandemic

Turning Panic Into Power

5 Ways to Keep Your Family Healthy and Happy Amidst the Coronavirus Pandemic

Overwhelmed with all of the details on the Coronavirus Pandemic?  What’s right?  What’s wrong?  And most importantly, what is the BEST way to protect the little ones that we adore.  Well lucky for us… a beloved neonatal nurse practitioner from Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital (and mother and member of our Dream Team) Nicole Harvey has simple, effective, fabulous ways to not only keep these babes healthy- but HAPPY during these wild times!  Oh and here’s my favorite picture of her with her daughter.  They are adorabs right?!  Take it away Nic!

Hi everyone!! I am blessed and honored Brittany asked me to share some insight as a medical professional during these very uncertain times when everything seems to be changing by the hour.

First and foremost, not only am I a healthcare provider, I am also a mom. These suggestions are not only recommended by myself and the medical community, but they are ones I also practice in my own home.

1. STAY HOME!! By now everyone has heard of the term ‘social distancing’. Viruses such as Coronavirus can be contagious before anyone shows symptoms. Therefore, if you wait until you ‘feel sick’ to stay home, you may have already infected people. This includes our most vulnerable population…grandparents, pregnant women, premature infants, and those with other underlying health conditions.

   

   1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1.  
2. Be an example! Use this time to explain to neighbors, family, and friends that you are choosing to practice social distancing to protect not only yourself, but your community. Encourage others to do the same!

   

3. Wash Your Hands and Don’t Touch Your Face! Washing with soap and water is the BEST way to prevent an infection. Any soap works! If there is no soap available, use a hand sanitizer with greater than 60% alcohol. 

   

4. Help your neighbors! Are you in a low risk category (less than 65 years old, no underlying health conditions)?  Offer to go to the store for people in a higher risk category and leave their bags on the front porch. Going to the grocery store, pharmacy and gas station should be done on a minimally necessary basis! Also, don’t empty shelves of food and toilet paper. We should be taking what our household needs so that there is enough left for others to keep themselves healthy as well. 

   

5. Don’t believe everything you read! True, up-to-date information should be read on websites from trusted sources. Some examples are:
   • Center for Disease Control
   • The American Academy of Pediatrics
   • Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital
   • Your State or Local Health Department

Stay Healthy and Safe!

Nicole Harvey MSN, APRN, NNP-BC

Neonatal Nurse Practitioner