During this international health crisis it can be difficult to know what to do. Many people are sick, terrified, or struggling financially. But many of us are not. The Serenity Kids team feels super blessed to be in good health, to have access to healthy food, and to be able to keep our jobs through remote work. Though most of us are at home and not on the front lines, there are still things we can do to help.
Well here are six things we can do:
1. Maintain 6 feet of distance
Just because we're young and healthy doesn't mean we're not at risk. We likely wouldn't die, but being hospitalized for weeks is no fun. Plus, there is a serious risk that we will overload our hospitals and have an even bigger crisis. Additionally, we can spread coronavirus without knowing it and we MUST stop the spread to flatten the curve. Staying at least 6-feet away from people you don’t live with is one of the most effective ways we can avoid contracting or spreading coronavirus.
2. Wash hands correctly
This seems so simple, but the USDA found that Americans wash their hands incorrectly 97% of the time! And it's one of the most important ways to avoid getting sick. Here are the 3 easy steps:
1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap and scrub for at least 20 seconds (sing happy birthday or your song of choice twice)
3. Rinse your hands well under clean, warm, running water.
Teach your kids, but more importantly, MODEL it for your kids, especially after going to the grocery store or being in close contact with others. And spread the word!
3. Wear a mask
There was a rumor that masks don't help reduce exposure but it's not true. The countries that have successfully contained coronavirus have introduced widespread mask-wearing. They're easy to make from household materials, see our video tutorial, and are totally appropriate given the current risk. We need to make mask-wearing cool! Always wear one while out and spread the word that they work! Contact your local agencies if you have an excess and donate them to help with the shortage of PPE affecting hospitals, nursing homes, and the like.
4. Order takeout & tip generously
If you're blessed enough to still be making income, support your local restaurants! The service industry is being hit HARD, so if we want our favorite restaurants to still be open after this crisis, we need to help! Delivery and pickup has never been easier. And remember to TIP WELL!
5. Pay service workers in advance
Hourly and contract workers like house cleaners, chiropractors, and nannies are being hit hardest in this downturn. If you normally utilize these services, consider helping float them by paying for a week or a month in advance.
6. Share gratitude for healthcare workers
It is easy for us to take doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers for granted. We rarely recognize that they literally risk their lives on a daily basis to keep our country healthy. Never has this been more true! It's awesome if you can somehow support the PPE donation campaigns, but even sending a heartfelt thank you to healthcare workers you know personally can go a long way! I texted this to my aunt who is a nurse:
"I wanted to reach out & express my gratitude to the service you're providing our country right now. It is easy for us to forget how hard and dangerous your job can be, and it's times like these that remind us that our society would not be able to function without medical providers like you. Thank you for putting your life on the line every day to help us all stay alive & healthy!"
She said it touched her so much she shared it with her entire floor and made everyone feel good. Feel free to copy paste!
We maintain hope that our society will learn from this crisis and become better because of it. In the meantime, we can all do our part to get through the challenges.
Much love,
-Serenity and Joe
