THIS WEEK’S CHEAT SHEET
“I Survived COVID-19” (How To Prep For It)
EPISODE 336 – "I Survived COVID-19" (How To Prep For This Illness)
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David Webb’s Own Notes From His Experience
“Hospital Go Bag” Suggestions
• Current medications, dosages, and relevant
health conditions/personal history printout
• Phone numbers and contact information for
relatives and/or anyone you've given
medical power of attorney to (printed)
• Living will/Advanced Care Directives prints
• Names and contact info for your medical
service providers (printed out)
• Printed copy of your medical insurance
info/identification cards
• I keep much more detail on an encrypted
thumb drive but must be able to
communicate in person to release
password and open the info - not something
I'm willing to hand over in an open
emergency room environment.
• Small wire-bound notebook with pen and
spare pencil(s)
• Personal care/comfort items
• Underwear, pajamas, socks, shower shoes,
etc.
• Flannel shirt for extra warmth if needed
(way loose to easily fit over IV tubes, with
pockets to keep a pen, cell phone, etc.
close at hand)
• Spare cell phone charger with extra-long
charging cable
• Dental care items you prefer
• Lip balm/petroleum jelly
• Hearing aid batteries if applicable
• Storage case for eyeglasses/contacts
• Set of reading glasses if needed
• Eyeglass cleaner/wipes if needed
• Eye drops if applicable
• Hand/body moisturizing lotion
• Small pack of tissues
• Religious items
• Spare cash in small bills and coins
• Sanitizing wipes for your phone/personal
items
Isolation Considerations
Being treated for this highly contagious illness
presents some unusual factors:
• Invest in a battery-operated pulse/oxygen
level monitor. My in-room oxygen level
monitor failed (no spare unit available), and
I could have used a finger pulse/ oximeter
to better know whether I really needed to
press a nurse call button for help.
• I was constantly on house oxygen and
extremely glad that I immediately asked for
and received an in-line water humidifier. It
greatly reduced my sore throat.
• I had to constantly wear a paper mask in
my room. I had toothpaste/toothbrush items
with me but keeping my mouth moist and
my lips from chapping was a constant
challenge. Mints or hard candies would
have been nice. For me, lip balm was an
essential.
• I'm lactose intolerant and couldn't get the
hospital kitchen on board with non-dairy
menu items. Wished I'd had lactose
tolerance meds (subject to physician
approval of course).
• There were no hot tea bags available from
the floor. I don't drink coffee but I am sure
nurses could have gotten hot water if I'd
had my own tea.