With thousands of people getting sick every day, you are probably concerned about the health and well-being of your family during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though COVID-19 is a new disease, experts have advice for making sure your home is as safe and prepared as possible for weathering the public health threat. Here’s how to get your family ready for the virus.

Create a Plan

First, having a plan of action is key to any emergency preparedness plan. An emergency response plan should include other individuals who you want to stay in touch with during the COVID-19 pandemic. Your plan should include a discussion of what actions you will take individually and as a group in case of an outbreak in your community.

Consider Others at Risk

Another consideration is individuals at high risk. Some people are at a higher risk of severe complications than others if they are exposed to COVID-19. Your action plan should include a discussion with your allergy doctor Las Vegas about the appropriate precautions you should take to protect a vulnerable family member from complications associated with the illness.

Know Your Neighbors

Getting to know your neighbors, including meeting them from a distance on social media, gives you greater access to information and resources. Meeting others in your community can help you develop a broader action plan for responding to a health emergency.

Locate Aid Organizations

Even though dealing with a crisis can be disconcerting, there are always organizations that are willing to help. Before an outbreak, it’s a good idea to make a list of the local organizations that can come to your aid if you need help during a public health emergency. This includes organizations that can provide resources or access to healthcare. You may want to add organizations that can provide food, counseling services, and mental health support as well.

Make an Emergency Contact List

Finally, it’s imperative to create an emergency contact list if you don’t have one already. Even if you do, now is the time to make sure the list is current with phone numbers and addresses for your neighbors, friends, family, health care providers, employer, and local emergency numbers such as the public health and police departments.

While you can take steps to prepare in the event of an outbreak, you can also take some measures to prevent or control the spread of disease, such as washing your hands thoroughly and designating a “sick room” to separate family members who are ill from the others. Make sure to have contact information for all healthcare providers and specialists for each family member.

If you need support during the COVID-19 pandemic, don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Tottori, an allergy specialist in Las Vegas, to make an appointment today for your allergy, asthma, and wellness concerns.