Be Prepared: Kidney Patient Prep for Coronavirus

[MarissaA_NKF]

Considering the news surrounding Coronavirus (also referred to as COVID-19), we have prepared a guide for people with kidney disease that highlights the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations to prevent spread of the virus as well as emergency preparedness and nutrition tips. kidney.org/contents/be-prep...

CDC recommends:

•Stay home if you feel sick or have any symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills).

•Avoid others who are sick. Limiting face-to-face contact with others as much as possible.

•Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw it in the trash can. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.

•Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

oIf you don’t have soap and water, use hand sanitizer with 60%-95% alcohol.

•Routinely clean frequently touched surfaces and objects

•Avoid touching your face, especially your nose and mouth.

•Wear a facemask if advised to do so by your healthcare professional or by a public health official.

The Kidney Coalition for Emergency Response (KCER) is also monitoring the situation and posting updates at kcercoalition.com/en/alerts.... Information for people on dialysis, including hotlines and additional preparedness tips can be found at kcercoalition.com/en/patients/

[cs65 NKF Ambassador]

Thank you. As a hemodialysis patient in center we have been told by our hospital system to call the dialysis center and speak with the charge nurse if we have COVID-19 symptoms ( cough, fever, or shortness of breath). The nurse will talk to us and determine if we can come to dialysis or go to the Emergency Department. If we are allowed to come to dialysis we must wear a facemask. As a PAC Representative at my dialysis center, I have also received CDC guidelines to abide by and to share with the staff. Please encourage all dialysis patients to check with their dialysis centers for further guidance.