COVID-19 Essentials: What Should You Include in Your COVID Home Care Kit?

 

Digital thermometer

You don’t need us to tell you that a thermometer is an important basic first aid kit every house should have. Any thermometer will do as long as it can give you accurate results. Measuring your body temperature with a digital one is the easiest. Check out this non-contact digital thermometer for P259 or this Japan Digital Thermometer for P79.

 

Pulse oximeter

Difficulty breathing is one coronavirus symptom that could indicate the degree of a patient’s infection. This is why it’s important to constantly monitor the blood oxygen levels of those suspected to have COVID. You can do this using a pulse oximeter.

The small device is commonly clipped on your finger and uses infrared light to estimate what percentage of your blood is saturated (SpO2). A normal reading should fall between 95 to 100 SpO2. If your results are lower than that, you should get yourself checked at a hospital. Here’s where you can find affordable pulse oximeters:

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Paracetamol

There is no cure for the coronavirus just yet but the way doctors are treating it is as if it were the flu. Include paracetamol in your COVID care kit. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends fever-reducerslike these, plenty of rest, and plenty of liquids to combat the virus at home.

 

Medicinal gargle and mouth wash

Even if we weren’t fighting COVID, having a bottle of medicinal gargles like Bactidol or Betadine mouth wash is good practice. Bacteria and fungi can settle in the mucous membranes in our throats, gargling can prevent them from worsening into a sore throat or flu. Killing the bacteria in your throat also avoids further complications like lung infections.

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Vitamins

Now that most of us are locked up in our homes for a long time due to quarantine, we don’t get exposed to the sun making us deficient in a lot of vitamins like Vitamin D. Stock up on vitamins especially vitamin C, vitamin D, B complex, and zinc. These will help boost your immune system and keep you from all sorts of diseases.

 

Hygiene essentials + face masks

Every household needs to have a good stock of anti-bacterial hand soap and rubbing alcohol. One way to curb the virus is by frequent handwashing and using alcohol if you don’t have access to soap. You should also have a handy bottle of disinfectant in the house to keep surfaces clean and free from bacteria. And finally, include a pack of 3-ply face masks in your COVID care kit.

 

Monitoring sheet + directory of important numbers

Your care kit should also have printed COVID-19 monitoring sheets. These sheets make it easier to keep tabs on the condition of those suspected of or infected with the virus. If you’re looking for a monitoring sheet, the Office of the Vice President gave out free copies you can download.

Aside from the monitoring sheet, keep a directory of important numbers. These could be contact numbers for family members, friends who can help, the nearest hospital, employers, and local government units. Here’s a short list of emergency hotlines for COVID response in a few key cities in Manila:

One Hospital Command Center

• 0919 977 3333
• 0915 777 7777
• (02) 8865-0500

Manila City 

• (02) 8527-5174
• 0960 822 9384
• 0977 729 7572
• 0915 065 6335
• 0961 628 1414
• 0995 496 6176
• 0961 062 7013
• 0905 139 3560
• 0905 139 356

Quezon City

• 122
• (02) 8703-2759
• (02) 8703-4398
• 0915 947 4795
• 0922 411 6335

Makati City

• 168
• (02) 8236-5790
• (02) 8870-1442 to 44
• (02) 8870-1447 to 48
• (02) 8870-1959

Pasig City

• (02) 8642-7754
• (02) 8643-0000

Taguig City

• (02) 8789-3200
• 0966 419 4510

 

Oxygen tank

Another item you can include in your COVID home care kit is an oxygen tank.  These days, for fear of not getting admitted to hospitals, Filipinos are stocking up on oxygen at home. But before you purchase one, you should consult your doctor and ask them how to operate oxygen tanks at home.  Here are places where you can buy one:

• Philippine Medical Supplies
• Sugeco
• Medical Oxygen 24 Hours

 

What else should are you including in your COVID care kit?