Understanding health isolation and precautions

We hear a lot about isolation and precautions with

contagious disease, with Ebola in the news.

And many wonder what happen in Texas, why did

it happen.

They had a doctor and a nurse shipped from Africa to

United States.  If you saw the news when that happen,

you saw how they treated those two people.  They came

in almost a bubble wrap. In the plane, on the gurney as

they were taken to the hospital where they were treated.

And so were the workers.

Both survived.

So what happen in Texas?  The answer .. everything...

everything wrong.  First the Dr. and nurse were already

diagnosed with Ebola. So everyone was alerted as they

arrived in the United States.  Also the hospital they arrived

in, was CDC associated.  CDC = Center for Disease Control.

The CDC has years of experience with treating very

contagious diseases.  They have the isolation routine

down pat, they have the extreme isolation.

Texas on the other hand, first messed up with the

not following thru with the man, who stated he was

just from Africa.

I am sure that person has paid dearly for the mess up.

Next, what was their procedure? I am sure they did

do at least Universal Code of isolation.  But that is not

enough. All of which they have since found out.

Had this happen say 3 weeks later, they might have

been on board.. but then again.. who knows.

See when I worked in the nursing home.. we knew the

Universal Code. We practice it over and over. But it is

no where enough for Ebola.

To start off, when I first went to work in 1986, we didn't

even use gloves. Because we washed our hand constantly.

We washed our hands when we went into the room, and

we washed them before we left the room.  We had a cleanser

that we also used that killed germs.  Much like the wipes

they sell now days.

But then along came AIDS.  Then we went for classes.

Constant updates classes.  It depend on what was needed.

Some times it was just a mask.  BUT ALWAYS GLOVES.

Then with AIDS we were trained to use gloves, mask,

a paper cover for our bodies(gown) that was tied in the back.

And sometimes even paper shoe covers.  Some of it

depended on the patient (resident, in our case). If we

were protecting them from what ever we may be carrying

in, on our shoes, our clothing, and etc.  Other times it

was to protect us, from what ever they had, so we did

not take it to other residents, co-workers or our families,

or ourselves.

Then along came MRSA..  which had no defense as it was

mostly from an over use of penicillin. Also others. But it

was arm and dangerous with nothing to kill it. And higly

contagious.

Also it isn't just the gowning up, and gloves and mask and

booties... it was the taking it off.  And you took it all off

at the door. With another aide who had a bag there waiting.

You put your booties in the bag you have. Then reversing the

gown, so not to touch the outside of that gown. Balling it

up and into the bag. Next the mask... and last the gloves.

You tied the bag up, and then put it into the red bag that

the other aide has waiting.. them holding it with gloves on.

Then it was taken to a restricted area.  Hazard waste area.

Now with Ebola.. you have to do something very similar. But

more so. They have someone help you put on the gown,

booties, mask and gloves. The mask is more than just one for

your face. It has a full over your head, down shoulder length cover.

The person helping you, tapes the wrist area where the gown sleeve meets

the glove. The booties are higher and they are taped to the pants that

goes along with the gown.  Some have booties in the pants, much like

the ones that toddlers pjs are.  NO SKIN SHOWS...  And then you

walk into the room that has the person in it.  Everything in there is

considered hazard waste. All are put in a red bag. And removed each

shift by the last one out of that room.  The removal is like what I stated

up above. With a helper. All double bagged. Second bag is red.. with

the hazard waste icon on it.  There is someone there making sure you

do it exact. Some hospitals have an external middle room between

the room and where every one exits.

Had Texas had that in place, it would have helped a lot and the two

nurses would not be where they are now.

While I would love to tell you, that they work every time....

I can't tell you that. With the scare like it is now.. you probably

have a 99.9% chance it is done right.

But in time.. people get careless. Some don't  follow the code exactly. And

that causes problems. Which is probably the best guess they are the 2%.

but if they are caught.. they can be fired.

As long as we have this on the front burner, in HIGH ALERT, you have

the 99.9% working for you.  The hospitals are on top of this. They don't

want their reputation ruin.

But in the meantime.. with cold season here, which by the way.. has

kill far more people per year, than all of the victims of Ebola over the

years.  So when you are at the grocery store.. use the wipes they

provide.. if they are out, complain.  Wash your hands, wash your

hands.. did you understand what I said.. WASH YOUR HANDS.

Wipe any phone you share with anyone.. family or not... wipe the

door knobs if you can.. carry the little bottle of anti fungus with

you or the wipes.. wipe your hands after touching anything that

is in contact with your office personal.  There are people who

will come to work sick or not... don't want to lose the money.

And if you think that is crazy?  Well we use to put up a sign on

the door of the nursing home each year... "if you have the symptoms

of a cold or flu, please visit at another time."   Yet when we workers

called in because of the same.. we were questioned.. are you sure

you are sick.. surely you can take some cold meds and come in.

Or if you were at work, you were told, surely you can finish your

shift.  Because we were always short staff during cold season.

And I am guilty as charged.. as long as I was walking, I was

working.   We even had a nurse tell a worker on the phone..

well, if you are well enough to get to the phone and call in...you

are well enough to come to work.. and she did.

So be careful out there. Ebola is not around every corner yet. And

it won't be, if everyone follows the UC, and  if you take good

care of yourself... and WASH YOUR  HANDS.