So, I didn’t want to have to do this, but as a person who’s been in healthcare for 7+ years, I feel it’s necessary for me to reach out an let y’all know the insider view.
First of all, this shit is scary, I’m not gonna lie. A healthy dose of fear would do everyone good. (Notice I said HEALTHY dose, more on that later.)
I know a lot of people (healthcare workers and not) that are uneducated and suspicious of the information they are getting and are just completely ignoring warnings to self quarantine. DO NOT ignore these warnings! The only way we can flatten the curve is to avoid contact! If you are young and healthy, you could be in the early stage of the virus and not be symptomatic while still spreading it to those at risk of becoming very sick/dying from this pandemic. Something as simple as brunch with friends can turn into multiple people dying within less than two weeks. Do NOT risk it. Not for yourself, not for those you love.
I know that times are tough and we all want to visit our parents, grandparents, older relatives, and friends. But it is literally a life and death situation for some of them. You might come through this just fine, some of them will not.
The strain on hospitals is real. I work at a Level 1 Trauma center that is used to mass influx of patients on a daily basis. But, if this gets out of control, we are not equipped to handle it. I’m just being straight with you. No bullshitting, no hospital executive bluffing - we literally do not have the capacity to deal with a mass COVID-19 outbreak and the masks, gowns, critical care nurses, ventilators, respiratory therapists, and doctors that it would take to cover these patients.
My hospital is ususally full to capacity with regular, everyday patients - car accidents, gunshots, broken bones, cancer patients receiving treatment, other emergent surgeries that are considered routine and everyday (gallbladder and appendix removal, etc); not to mention the elective but still necessary surgeries that we do.
Everything you do other than self quarantine adds to this strain.
Every time you are in a car and risking getting in a car wreck, you risk taking up a potential bed of a sick person.
Every time you hang out with your friends and risk getting a cold or the flu (not to mention COVID-19) you risk taking up the bed of a sick person.
In a system that is already stretched to capacity, please do not tax it.
I’m not saying don’t go to the ER or the hospital if you need to (if you need to go, you need to go and please seek emergent care if needed), but also please don’t put yourself at risk of needing to unnecessarily.
Things are only going to get worse in the coming weeks unless we take action now.
Please don’t put your loved ones at risk.
Please support your local business - I’m sure a lot of them are offering delivery and/or curbside pickup.
Please don’t stock more than you need.
Please look out for each other.
Please pay special attention to your friends and family that need help (you can still socialize and help through many forms that don’t involve contact).
I know there are people out of work.
I know the people who still have work are facing unexpected changes in their workplace routines and duties.
But we CAN get through this.
The how and the how soon depends on what actions we take RIGHT NOW.
Listen to the CDC, listen to the WHO, listen to local authorities.
DON’T take your health or the health of those around you for granted.
But also, take care of yourself mentally. I know it’s hard, I’ve been struggling for a while but it’s gotten worse the past few days. Self-care is so important! Reach out and form support groups, (the silver lining of this is that online friends are used to never seeing each other face to face!) Read a book, learn that skill you always wanted to learn, practice yoga, exercise, veg out to hour long tik tok compilations, whatever you need.
Worry enough to stay safe but don’t worry to the point of insanity. No matter what happens, there is only so much that you as a person can control - own that, but let the rest go!
Together we (but separate), we can make it through!
andulkaphoto
stormborns
theartofmadeline
turnnoffyourmind
titsay
2087
