This article brings you a COVID-19 alert and answers to, “What is the meaning of Universal Precautions?” These are known to make a marked difference especially in this pandemic.
We often hear that we should wash our hands and cover our coughs and sneezes. COVID-19 has brought on additional precautions such as wearing a mask and keeping at a distance from others.
The medical industry across the board agrees that handwashing is the number one universal precaution. We are surrounded by germs … bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses.
We can reduce the risk of becoming contaminated by practicing universal precautions.
The Meaning of Universal Precautions
Universal Precautions means treating everyone as though they were infected. It is not always possible to tell when someone is a carrier of a disease. Their symptoms may not be evident.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is responsible for introducing these precautions during the AIDS epidemic in the mid 1980s.
Asymptomatic individuals, unknowingly, have infected others while going about their daily tasks. Fortunately, some diseases are not life threatening. Other cases have turned out to be fatal.
Even in mild cases, time and income may have been lost and medical expenses accumulated. There are also general setbacks associated with illnesses.
Doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, paramedics, and all other medical professionals are familiar with personal protective equipment (PPE).
PPEs include non-porous protective clothing, gloves, goggles, face shields, and headgear which protect workers from the likelihood of coming in close contact with harmful substances.
Some of these substances are blood … especially contaminated … all other body fluids, airborne and blood borne pathogens.
Wearing PPEs when necessary along with handwashing make up universal precautions and should be taken seriously.
These practices help to protect workers so they are better able to care for those in need and also keep their families and others safe.
COVID-19 Alert … Be Proactive!
For the most part, we all are tired of being masked, shut in, and having our hands dried out by constant washing and applying sanitizers … except for those of us who already lead an OCD lifestyle.
“Prevention is better than cure” is not to be taken lightly. It can save lives. Everyone, not only medical professionals but also the rest of humanity, needs to practice universal precautions.
To be proactive …
- Wear a mask: It may not be the absolute panacea, but it does play a part in reducing the risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus.
- Wash your hands: As mentioned above, this is top of the list. We are touching areas others have touched thus increasing the risk of spreading various diseases.
- Keep at a safe distance: Airborne pathogens have the potential to travel several feet throughout the atmosphere. They even stay suspended on environmental particles after being dispelled.
It is easy to get contaminated from an infected person from coughing, sneezing, and close interactions.
This is not an article about living in fear. On the contrary, it is to encourage you to do what is necessary to potentially avoid the real fear of becoming affected.
Protect yourself; protect others. It is also a good idea to set up boundaries.
Meaning of Your Boundaries:
What are boundaries? Boundaries are what we set to let others know how we will allow them to treat us. There are limits as to how far we allow them to go.
This is important as we explore the definition of universal precautions because we have to determine how we will allow people to behave around us.
Their behavior could be critical to our health. It could also destroy relationships when things go wrong and the blame game sets in.
All of us should respect the boundaries others have set in order to protect themselves emotionally, physically, and spiritually. This is critical for healthy relationships.
If you have been put down by controllers in your life, you know how debilitating it can be. Their negative behaviors towards you can hold you back for a lifetime …
… only if you let them!
There’s no age limit to those who will try to or successfully control you. This selfish side of human nature rears its ugly head at any age.
Set and enforce your boundaries before it’s too late!
If you are a controller, you know quite well you dare anyone to cross your boundaries. Be considerate for others; it could take care of stressful situations in your life.
- Set Personal Boundaries
Protect Yourself … Protect Others!
You could adapt the healthcare principle to “First, do no harm” by taking universal precautions seriously.
Sometimes we take things lightly disregarding precautions we need to take to protect ourselves. Ultimately, this could result in protecting those we come in contact with.
People sometimes end up having regrets after the fact. They contract and pass on diseases to loved ones they care about deeply.
This could result in fatalities especially for the most susceptible, the elderly with underlying conditions.
Even if and when this happens, those who feel responsible will need support to live healthy lives after their loved ones have passed on.
The feeling of guilt can have devastating effects on the welfare of some individuals. No one needs to be left to go through that agony, especially alone.
If you are already in that position, be encouraged that you can have the support you need to get past this feeling of guilt.
If you are a family member or friend of someone who has passed on due to what may or may not be someone else’s mistake, take the initiative to extend love and support.
It will take time to heal, but do it together. We are all in this pandemic and other situations together. Remember, also, perfect love cast out fear … the fear of going through life with guilt.
What are you doing to protect yourself and others?
Universal Precautions for COVID-19. Time to Wrap Up.
COVID-19 Alert: Practice Universal Precautions! That’s the message here which is accepted and resounded universally with more emphasis during the pandemic.
This practice applies to medical professionals and everyone in general, without exception, as a way of helping to keep the COVID-19 virus in check.
Go over the checklist of what is essential. Spread the word to others who may be reluctant to take precautions. We should all be proactive and set boundaries to protect ourselves and others.
If we feel responsible for others getting ill or, worse, passing away, it is important to seek and get support from others for our overall wellbeing.
On the other hand, we need to offer and show love and support as we would like to have that ourselves.
Let us know how you are playing your part. It may be an encouragement to other readers. Please share your story.
I hope this article, “What Is the Meaning of Universal Precautions? COVID-19 Alert!” has been helpful to you. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. I will be more than happy to serve you.