What should be inside a COVID-19 care kit?

It is important to be prepared when household members feel the symptoms of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), especially now that hospitals are full.

Part of this is having a “COVID-19 Care Package” that contains certain medications and devices that can be used when a relative feels symptoms. In the Sakto program, Dr. Raymund Paul Baello, a cardiologist discussed what should be included in your COVID-19 care package.

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According to Baello, the bag should contain only medications for mild symptoms, such as the following:

  • Paracetamol
  • Loperamide (LBM drug)
  • Anti-histamine (medicine for allergies)
  • Medicine for cough

He explained that it can help those with mild symptoms such as coughs, colds, diarrhea, or headaches. It is also important to have a face mask, thermometer, disposable bags, and disinfectant such as alcohol inside the kit.

“Dapat i-monitor ano ang kailangan [gaya ng] pulse oximeter, ito y’ung pag-check ng oxygenation blood pressure kailangan ‘yan sa mga may sakit at altapresyon. Kailangan ang thermometer dahil isa sa mga mild cases ang fever. Kailangan natin ng disposable bags kasi if may mga gagamitin tayo gaya ng tissue dapat may proper bag,” said Baello.

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What should be inside a COVID-19 care kit?

In addition, there should be a pulse oximeter inside the care kit to check the oxygen level of those affected by COVID-19 symptoms. An oxygenation level of 94 percent should be tested.

According to Baello, once the patient’s breathing is less than 30 breaths per minute, he or she should be rushed to the hospital.

Baello also advised that 60 -year -olds, smokers, and the obese should not be placed in home care.

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Last week, it was reported that the oxygen supplies in NCR are running out due to the increase of COVID-19 cases.

For Dr. Anna Ong-Lim, who is part of the technical working group of the Department of Health, storing oxygen tanks is not a bad idea.

But other experts of the Health Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19 (HPAAC) also reminded that medical supervision should be accompanied by this.

As many as 8,751 people tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Department of Health.

There were 165,534 active cases, of which 96.9 percent experienced mild symptoms.