Moms don’t get enough sleep as it is — thanks to breastfeeding, helping kids out with homework, house chores, and wife duties. Add in major events that could impact her family’s safety, and you’ve got a mombie who’s an expert on that topic overnight.
Perhaps, one of the scariest things that can happen for any mom is an outbreak — the spread of an infectious disease over a large area. Mainly because: (1) diseases and viruses are unseen by the naked eye, so you cannot exactly “avoid” it, and (2) babies and young kids are highly at risk during these times because of their still-developing immune system and infections can rapidly spread in their small bodies (compared to that of an adult).
So aside from putting our kids in a vacuum bubble, can we do anything to keep our kids and family safe during infectious times (e.g. SARS, nCoV, flu)? Here are a few tips:
- Stay off the panic button. Overreacting can lead to rash decisions, which can then escalate the situation unnecessarily. So stay calm and think rationally. Follow legitimate news sources to stay on top of what is happening. Follow the advice of experts to keep your family and kids safe. At the same time, be wary of unverified reports or “recommendations” that could also adversely affect your decisions.
- Watch the local news. Staying updated on the news in your locality will ensure that you know how the illness impacts your region or locality.
- Wash hands. Washing your hands properly and frequently is paramount during times of infection. Doing so can help prevent the spread of germs or viruses from others to yourself. You can also carry alcohol or an alcohol-based sanitizer at all times. At the same time, remind your family especially your kids to always wash their hands and use hand sanitizers as much as possible.
- Avoid contact with sick people. As much as possible, stay away from people who are sick or who have recently been sick.
- Understand as much as you can about the illness. Information is readily available now, thanks to the Internet. Use this to your advantage as much as possible by learning everything you can about the current infection. How it spreads, it’s incubation period, and infection rate can help you plan and make the necessary adjustments to ensure your family’s safety.
- Consider using a medical face mask. If there are confirmed cases in your locale, it might be best to use and wear protective face masks that can help keep germs and viruses from entering through your nose and mouth. Ensure that your kids also know how to properly wear one.
- Know your workplace’s policy about telecommuting. It is best to know your company’s policy on telecommuting so you know your options if ever the situation worsens. Working from home might be safer especially if your locale already has a high number of confirmed cases of the illness.
- Stock up on necessities. Stocking up on extra food, water, and other needs is also a good idea during times of an outbreak. These should last you and your family if ever you need to stay at home for a length of time.
- Stock up your first aid kit. Aside from necessities, also ensure that you have a ready first aid kit with basic prescription medications that you can use in case of an illness or injury. In the event of outbreaks, medical facilities can get busy and might be unable to handle basic care.
- Have a family emergency plan. Activate your family emergency plan and remind family members of important contact numbers and meet-up place in case anyone gets separated. Check out our tips here if you need help in coming up with one for your family.
With some planning and lots of prayers, we can ensure our family’s safety. Have faith, mommies.
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