IT WILL NEVER BE THE SAME

 

 

From early 2020 through spring of 2021, the COVID pandemic brought about so many losses and changes… in less polite terms, COVID was a b*tch!

 

Throughout the pandemic, which affected the entire world and not just our country, we heard of lives lost (sometimes whole families!), financial difficulties, closed businesses, inadequate schooling, jobs gone, and emotional trauma that will last forever. Politics and politicians became part of the blame game. Friends became adversaries about things like masks and vaccines. Increased racism became a focus for anger, fear and blame.

 

There was so much heartache as families could not see each other, grandparents felt forgotten, children only saw friends via computerized apps, and relatives in hospitals and nursing homes were kept isolated from family and friends. Healthcare workers were overtaxed and often driven into despondency because of the emotional toll. While many workers who were still lucky enough to have their jobs worked from home, it changed the relaxing escape to go home at the end of the workday, into the feeling of “living” at your job. Snow days no longer existed since many students were learning from their own homes via computer. And areas without decent internet and computers were often left without schooling, and “ZOOM” family get-togethers.

 

According to reports, here in America, there were 621,633 COVID deaths as of July 7, 2021 — yes, SOME of those who died had “pre-existing conditions”, conditions which they had lived with for many years before COVID struck. There were many TEMPORARY business closures that turned into permanent ones, according to a recent Wall Street Journal report, “the pandemic resulted in the permanent closure of roughly 200,000 U.S. establishments above historical levels during the first year of the viral outbreak”; that is ABOVE the national rate of normal businesses that close for reasons including bankruptcy, retirement, and general demographics. Many EMTs, Paramedics, Healthcare Workers and other First Responders died, they died doing their job to help others.

 

It’s been said that US job losses due to COVID-19 are the highest since the Great Depression. Food banks were overtaxed helping to feed families who couldn’t afford groceries. Prices on certain commodities rose because of hoarding and shortages, 2020 became the year of toilet paper and hand sanitizer shortages. Our economy suffered in every conceivable area. In June of 2020 it was estimated that nearly half of all American homeowners considered selling their home simply because they could not afford the mortgage payments. Over one-third of homeowners could not afford to hire outside contractors to make necessary home repairs and had to attempt the job themselves; about 18% of those were unsuccessful.

 

But even when the COVID illness wasn’t the threat, there were many lives lost because of it. People experiencing chest pains, severe “headaches” or other sudden symptoms were afraid to call 911 or go to the hospital and the waiting game caused a higher mortality rate. People in the often-unknown stages of Dementia or other debilitating conditions were not being seen in-person by their doctors and the isolation from family members and friends, as well as the lack of personal interaction caused many sufferers to deteriorate at a faster rate. According to the Houston News in May, 2021, “Dementia diseases were the sixth leading cause of American deaths during the Covid Lockdown of 2020” due to the severity of isolation brought on by the lockdown.  

 

Things will never be the same. There is no way we can go back. Just about everyone knows the empty hole that has been left in their lives by the loss of loved ones. Families who were uprooted are trying to make their new lives with different expectations. While the major lockdown restrictions have been lifted in our country, there are still CDC recommendations to wear masks (especially if you are not vaccinated). Some travel restrictions remain in place depending on your destination and departure point.

 

We can only go on from this point as wisely AND KINDLY as possible.

 

 

 

 

 

Contagion - #MondayBlogs

As if there weren’t enough frightening things going on in the world today, we’re hearing news reports about Ebola and Enterovirus – no one feels like extending their hands In friendship for any reason.

What can we do to protect ourselves from everything contagious including influenza, the common cold, HIV, Hepatitus and TB? Know the facts, use common sense, take precautions to protect yourself AND unsuspecting folks around you, and seek the proper and immediate medical care if you suspect that you have been exposed or have symptoms.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC) offers great information about exposure risk factors for Ebola and tips to recognize symptoms at http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/2014-west-africa/qa.html

In general we should all be practicing healthy habits such as frequent hand washing, cleaning and disinfecting food preparation surfaces, sneezing into your sleeve, storing food at prescribed temperatures, get recommended vaccines, and staying home when you are sick so you don’t generously share the germs. Health care workers, although still learning, are being trained to effectively care and treat those who are ill without contaminating themselves or spreading the germs to others. It is frightening though since so much is unknown in the world of infectious diseases.

I once watched a group of teens who were receiving first response emergency medical training. Unknown to the teens, the instructor “sprinkled” the pseudo victim with glow-in-the-dark powder. Most of the teens donned gloves and even wrapped the “patient” cocoon style for transport to prevent contamination. After they were done and removed their protective gear the instructor turned out the overhead lights and the scene was unbelievable. Several of the students had inadvertently touched themselves in unprotected areas, had handled equipment and had contaminated their partners on scene – all without realizing. It was a terrific lesson which taught them to seriously use PPE (personal protection equipment) and care.

Right now New York and New Jersey are arguing for a 21-day quarantine period for anyone exposed or suspected to have been exposed to Ebola. There are those who believe this is tantamount to unlawful imprisonment while others say it is the safest way to keep from spreading any potential disease to the public and loved ones. I spoke to an EMS provider who told me of an in-house employee discussion; the majority of those present said they would voluntarily enter into quarantine and not take the chance of infecting their families. I agree. How do you think you would feel if you believed you had the potential of passing something dangerous on to family, neighbors, co-workers and even strangers on the street?

Meanwhile the rest of us need to carry on with our lives and our responsibilities. We need to follow REASONABLE and healthy routines and try our darnedest not to live in any kind of crippling fear. Learn all you can about the common diseases out there and if you are able, support research efforts into cures and prevention.

Don’t Worry, Be Happy.