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About this document: home contingencyFor some of us, it has become important to make plans for if we become ill. With that in mind, I’ve prepared a home contingency document.This is a contingency plan for home if any one (or more) of the household gets ill. It sets out:How we can care for each other whilst minimising risk of cross infection.How we can manage illness as far as possible at home and absolutely minimise the need for hospital treatment.This example document relates to mine and my family’s needs - but if it is useful to you, please adapt to fit your circumstances. (We are single parent, young adult child, both at elevated risk, child has assistance dog, part-time PAs, but otherwise we have relatively straightforward care needs; plus an elderly parent living alone at a distance).Comments welcome in The Bunker on how it needs amending, or how you are adapting it to your own situation.Wishing you well.Changes to text in this amended version are in purple.Note that Bunker Admin are not medically trained and are issuing this example document based on our best interpretation of the risks of this health emergency to disabled people. Use at your own risk.Home contingencyRespiratory consultant’s observations of the pattern of illness (18/3/20): “one week of fever, a few days of dry cough and then sometimes breathlessness on day 8 or 9. Most people are fine to stay at home and recover in about 10 days. If it is going to be bad it is around day 9 or 10 and the breathlessness gets rapidly worse.”If still ill, with raised temperature, after one week, call 111.Even if you feel better, you may be infectious for fourteen days.If I get illIf I think I am going down with something, I will go straight to my room and close the door.You need to let [family member] know.I will need you to wear a mask and gloves (especially if my stuff is in a room I’ve spent time in) and bring me my computer, cable for computer and phone, blankets, flannel, bath towel, bell [list items]. Leave them outside my door.Twice daily, you need to make a note of the date, my main symptoms and state of health, and my temperature.You need to be able to check how ill I am and whether you need to call 111, etc.I stay in my bedroom, door closed.I use the bathroom. You use the downstairs loo/kitchen.I will stay out of the rest of the house, so you will need to do your own food and drink.But you will also need to provide me with food and drink:Food is likely to be bouillon in hot water, oranges/satsumas.If I am very ill, I will need you to provide me with at least one jug of water daily.Also Lemsip, paracetamol. Possibly hot water bottle or bowl of hot water for steaming.You will need to leave these things outside my door.Put aside two sets of crockery for me. Keep them separate from the rest and label the so no one else uses them. Soak them in Milton after every use.We will communicate mainly by text and skype, or from behind closed door.We can also ring the bell.If there is any reason for you to come into my room, we both need to wear masks.You also need to wear gloves, which you need to remove after without touching the outside and double-bag for disposal. Use fresh gloves each time.If you touch anything that I have touched (door handles, crockery, etc), you need to wash your hands immediately and before touching anything else.All tissues and other waste needs to be double-bagged and then put in wheelie bin. If you have to handle any of it (only as last resort), immediately wash your hands.You need to text any PAs and tell them I am ill with the virus. Explain level of illness and that I am using two upstairs rooms only. Give them the option to stay away. If they come in, they can concentrate on sterilising downstairs touch points and airing the house. If they can sterilise any of upstairs (bar my bedroom), that would also be ideal. Make sure they have a mask and gloves available for use on entering the house.If you are feeling lonely or worried, contact someone on the list below, facetime [name], email [name]. I will be as in touch with you as possible, whilst minimising risk. See ‘other good people’ below.[Family member] will text you each day to check you have taken your pills. Text back once you have to confirm.Once I am well, we need to wash all bedding and linen you have been in contact with, wearing gloves to load the washing machine. Do not shake dirty laundry. My room will need airing and deep cleaning using dilute bleach solution.If you get illIf you think you are going down with something, go straight to your room and close the door.You might not recognise your own symptoms, so I might need to prompt you.Twice daily, I need to make a note of the date, your main symptoms and state of health, and your temperature.I will check how ill you are and whether I need to call 111, etc.I will bring you blankets, facecloth, bath towel, bell [list items] and treats and treat ball for [assistance dog]. I will leave them outside your door.You stay in your bedroom, door closed.Use the bathroom. I use the downstairs loo/kitchen.You will need to stay out of the rest of the house, so I will prepare food and drink for you.Also Lemsip, paracetamol; I will deliver you the correct dose. Possibly hot water bottle or bowl of hot water for steaming.I will need to leave these things outside your door.I will put aside two sets of crockery for you.I will make sure no one else uses them and soak them in Milton after every use.We will communicate mainly by text and skype, or from behind closed door.We can also ring the bell.If there is any reason for me to come into your room, we both need to wear masks.I will also wear fresh gloves each time, which I will remove after without touching the outside and double-bag for disposal. Use fresh gloves each time.If I touch anything that you have touched (door handles, crockery, etc), I will wash my hands immediately and before touching anything else.All tissues and other waste needs to be double-bagged and then put in wheelie bin. If I have to handle any of it (only last resort), I will immediately wash my hands.I will take over feeding dogs and cats.I will let any PAs know: explain level of illness and that she is using two rooms only. Give them the option to stay away. If they come in, they can concentrate on sterilising downstairs touch points, airing the house. If they can sterilise any of upstairs (bar my bedroom), that would also be ideal. Make sure they have a mask and gloves available for use on entering the house.If you are feeling lonely or worried, FFS tell me. I’m pretty sure I’m incapable of leaving you ill and alone behind a closed door anyway! XxxOnce you are well, we need to wash all bedding and linen you have been in contact with, wearing gloves to load the washing machine. Do not shake dirty laundry. Your room needs airing and deep cleaning using dilute bleach solution.[Assistance dog] arrangementsAnyone in contact with [A-dog] must wear gloves.If she is showered, wear gloves, mask and eye goggles.[Named people] could walk her. Begin with brisk walk on lead (not off-lead). If graduate to off-lead, exercise on top field only.Refill treat ball and leave outside bedroom door.If we are both ill at the same time!We will have to do our best to look after each other.At least we will be able to be in the same space and not bother with masks or gloves if there is no one else around.PAs will still need to be told and advised to stay away. If there is stuff we need, they can bring it to the front door and then leave.If [grandparent] gets illHer intention is to stay at home. She intends to avoid hospital and very likely should except in extremis.111 could advise (her and us), bearing in mind that she lives alone.Her neighbour and contacts list is:[list]If she needs food, they could deliver to her doorstepWe need to facetime her at least daily.At least daily, we need to make a note of the date and her main symptoms, state of health and temperature.We need to send her nice or funny emails, texts, and lovely things (Kindle token, etc)Contingency for dog walking[Names and contact details]Other good people[Names and contact details]Local mutual aid volunteers on FacebookCat and dog feeding (twice daily)[amounts] ................
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