Older veterans and COVID-19; some precautions

This is far off-topic as to Tesla cars.
A majority of my friends, like me, flew the Air Force C-123 transports after Vietnam, planes the USAF used to spray Agent Orange. We've already had a cocktail of toxic exposures in life, and now here comes this COVID-19 virus to add its miseries to the mess. 
Bummer, but that's it and we'll just have to deal with it. You've all faced worse challenges and you might be old...but you're old and you're ornery, even out of a flight suit.
We need to take even more seriously than others the precautions recommended by our health officials. I'm going to stress the steps I believe we must follow. If you have instructions from your own physician, of course obey them faithfully.


Simple stuff first.
• Wash your hands several times an hour and especially when you've touched others, used the bathroom and coughed or sneezed. Wash again before you eat. It you need to scratch or touch your face, use a tissue. Wash face and hands before you go to bed because you'll touch your face while sleeping. The virus can enter via the eyes, nose and mouth.
• Eat well and hydrate to stay healthy and to be strong should you become ill.
• Avoid contact with others in every way possible. The virus is shed from one's respiratory track and travels for several feet just in the water vapor of normal breathing, and 30 feet or so in a sneeze.
• Stock up on a couple weeks' worth of supplies. That's not because society will collapse with stores overcome by insane looters....No, it is simply so you can stay home should you or your family become ill, not spread the virus to others, and have your needs for food and medicine comfortably met. Add some books and Netflix and all the better. Perhaps you'll enjoy home delivery of meals, but just ask the delivery person to leave the food outside the door. Tip generously.
• Ask your physician for a month's worth of medication. In addition, consider the discomforts COVID-19 brings and also stock up on "comfort items" to make one as comfy as possible. 
• If you're ill, don't see your doctor or go to the hospital without phoning first. Above all, we have to keep our medical folks and first responders healthy!
• If you're ill or in self-quarantine, tape a sign to your front door to that effect.
• Check on your friends and family, offering what help you can if needed.
• If you give home care for a family member who is ill or might be ill, take precautions immediately: a separate bedroom, a separate bathroom, separate meals, minimal contact if possible. The sick person should wear an N95 mask if available and everyone washes hands like crazy. Try to stay six feet apart, remembering that the virus travels even in normal breathing.
• If I were to care for a COVID-19 patient, I'd want to wear an N95 mask, goggles and gloves. Check online for the proper manner to remove after patient care.
• Clean. Clean. Clean more. COVID-19 virus can stay vaporized in the air where a sick person has breathed for about three hours. On surfaces that touching, breath or coughs settle on, it can stay active for up to three days. Yup, more cleaning. We're lucky compared to Agent Orange...no amount of cleaning could rid a C-123 of dioxin contamination, but everyday strong cleaners can tackle COVID-19 just fine.
• Ventilate the home with an air conditioner, or have a window open.

Some extra ideas:
• The COVID-19 virus affects the respiratory track so there'll be coughing and difficulty breathing at times. Have many boxes of tissues at home and discard after each cough. EVERY COUGH! 
• It is not scientific and cures nothing, but I've found Vicks VapoRub and other ointments and Halls cough tablets with eucalyptus can give some breathing comfort and help keep the nose clear.
• Keep hydrated. Consider electrolyte replacement; some folks benefit from Pedialyte or similar liquids.
• Adults can consider fever-fighting meds like aspirin and ibuprofen.
• Don't share eating utensils. Wash linens and clothing carefully, and wash your hands after.
• If caring for a family member, designate just one person to provide that care rather than everyone try to help.
• COVID-19 is weird. Older folks have more trouble with it than younger folks. Also, exposed younger folks seem to transmit the illness much more readily than do old folks. Maybe the next few weeks are not the best time to have the grandkids over to visit.

God bless us all...keep safe.
     Wes Carter, Major, USAF Retired
     Medical Service Corps