In the midst of this global pandemic, healthcare workers are finding themselves overworked and stressed beyond belief. While you may want to do something to alleviate their burden, you might not know exactly what you can do. This guide will help you discover little acts of kindness that can go a long way for our healthcare workers.
Donate Supplies
If you have an excess of any sanitary supplies or personal protective equipment, your local hospital or clinic will happily accept them. Currently, there’s a shortage, and supplies are often diverted to metropolitan areas with a greater need. Donating just a few supplies will be greatly appreciated by suburban and rural hospital staff.
Buy Them Lunch
Now that dine-in eating is out of the question, a large number of restaurants have turned to deliveries to help them to continue operating. However, buying lunch for your favorite hospital staff members shouldn’t be a surprise. Call ahead to find out how many are on the ward and ask what special sanitary precautions will need to be taken.
Offer Your Babysitting Services
Many doctors and nurses are single parents, which is especially challenging with schools closed. You can offer to babysit a caregiver’s kids for free. It’s something simple, yet it will alleviate a big worry from those single parents.
Donate Groceries
If you personally know a nurse or doctor, buying their groceries will save them precious time. Between working long hours and trying to catch up on sleep, they may not be able to get to the grocery store at peak hours. This makes it more difficult for them to get essentials before they’re sold out. Ask a caregiver friend what they need and volunteer to pick those items up for them.
Report Symptoms First
If you begin feeling ill and develop COVID-19 symptoms, try to resist the urge to rush to a hospital to get tested. Instead, call your nearest hospital or clinic and ask for advice. Since there is a shortage of testing kits and other equipment, they will likely tell you how to care for yourself at home should your symptoms be mild.
The best way to help healthcare workers is to reduce your exposure to the virus. This means staying at home as much as possible and only buying the supplies you truly need for yourself and your family. This will help flatten the curve, so healthcare workers will see fewer serious COVID-19 cases.