COVID-19: Strategies for Preparing for Pandemic Outbreaks in Chicago - Essay Sample

Introduction

Over the past centuries, millions of lives have been claimed by disasters and especially pandemics, which have caused damage in national economies by wreaking havoc in businesses. Pandemic outbreaks, like in the case of COVID-19, have the potential of causing widespread illnesses and even deaths among individuals in Chicago and any other part of the world. History denotes that pandemic outbreaks are unavoidable hence the need for individuals to establish proper strategies of preparing for such disasters to limit their horrifying effects like suffering, economic devastation, and even tragic high death tolls(Collins, 2000). Discussed below are some of the ways a city like Chicago can adopt to help prevent the citizens from the shattering effects of a future pandemic like COVID-19.

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What Can Be Done to Prepare for Something Like COVID -19 in the Future

As of date, Chicago has better medical care compared to the past decades. However, as time goes on, more deadly strain viruses like COVID-19 keep on evolving. It is hard for these pandemics to be prevented through geographical boundaries; hence they spread very fast due to the global nature of the society. The Chicago citizens need to learn that the breeding places for such disasters include areas with a high concentration of individuals like churches, airports, grocery stores, schools, large indoor gatherings emergency rooms, doctors' offices, and any other crowded locations (Collins, 2000). By now, almost every individual in Chicago has come to understand that disasters like the COVID-19 pandemic often change individuals' lives. The sheer volume of the deceased and critically ill individuals results in overwhelming hospital, staffing shortages, and economic devastation. Personnel shortages lead to infrastructure devastation, which leads to disruption of commerce, transportation, emergency response services, public utilities like the natural gas, sewer, running water and electricity, and the government in general.

For instance, the citizens of Chicago city should always prepare themselves to self-quarantine in case such a disaster repeats itself in the future. The first offense is often referred to as a good sense of defense. An individual will be better off if they avoid getting sick above all things. In a case of a significant outbreak of a very contagious pandemic like the COVID-19, the best course of action an individual can take is isolating themselves as well as their families from other individuals (Collins, 2000). This course of action involves not going to work, church, or even attending school. For an individual to effectively do this, they must have sufficient supplies of vital things like medication, money, fuel, and food to help them stay secluded without many problems.

Just a single trip to the store in the event of such disasters means that one is exposing the entire family to the danger. Although it is important for a community always to work together and also help neighbors during such incidences, all the citizens must exercise great caution. Individuals working in critical fields like utility companies, emergency responses, and healthcare systems may be required to have to stay in different locations or their place of work to protect their families and loved ones from been exposed to the danger.

Also, the government of the city of Chicago should prepare itself to enables citizens to stock up on supplies. It very possible that pandemics may last for a year or even more. The leaders should ensure that individuals have all the necessary necessities stocked in their houses to enable them to live through the pandemic period without having to go to the stores (Collins, 2000). Individuals should not count on ordering their supplies from the online services since the chances are high that the supply networks may end up been completely disrupted. Some of the major items which the government should urge the citizens to stock up in case such a pandemic occurs again in future include;

First, personal protection equipment: when tending to any individual who is suspected to be suffering from such a pandemic in future, it is important to ensure that the health worker, as well as the patient, puts on a mask to help reduce the spreading of germs from the sick individual been tended. The government should ensure that these protection materials are readily available to the citizens to help reduce the fast spreading of the virus as in the past instances. The selected mask should be of the right quality to ensure that the patient gets plenty of fresh air without much struggle (Collins, 2000). However, in the instances where a patient is very sick to wear a mask, wastebaskets and lots of tissues should be made available in the hospital since used tissues tend to be very contagious hence the need to handle them with proper care.

Chicago government should ensure that all the healthcare facilities have disposable examination gloves, well fitted N95 respirators as well as enough surgical masks to help in dealing with disaster in case it happens again. Since the pandemic is a serious illness, individuals who are not able to afford the surgical masks can opt for some masks like the Cambridge Mask N99, which is a Washable Military Grade respirator, especially when going out in public (Collins, 2000). This mask is reusable compared to the surgical masks, and it offers great protection, and it is very comfortable to put on for a longer time.

Second, to help minimize the severe effects of such a pandemic in future, it is important to urge the citizens as well as teach them to practice proper hand washing techniques since they play a major role in trying to reduce the spread of such pandemics like in the case of the COVID-19 disease. The government should also ensure that they find ways that ensure citizens keep their hands clean even when there is limited water supply. Chicago should be ready to establish more hand washing stations to ensure that individuals keep on practicing the proper hand washing technique (Collins, 2000). There should also be production and stocking of hand sanitizers for the individuals to use instances where the hand washing technique will not be available.

Third, there should be enough medical reference materials: Chicago should ensure the purchase of quality reference books, which are helpful in diagnosis as well as in the treatment of illnesses in moments when professional help may not be available. Additionally, medical equipment should also be provided in abundance since they play a major role in accurately diagnosing and also deciding on the best course of treatment for infected individuals. Some of the vital medical equipment include; stethoscope, which is useful in listening to the lungs and heart of the patient (Collins, 2000). Digital thermometers to accurately monitor the temperature of the patients. Since viruses tend to live on surfaces for a longer period, there is a need for the government to ensure the supply of disinfectants to help individuals disinfect any place and surface, which often touched like the keyboards, remote controls, phones, gaming device handles, countertops, and doorknobs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, disaster outbreaks like in the case of COVID-19 have the potential of causing widespread illnesses and even deaths among individuals in the world. History denotes that pandemic outbreaks are unavoidable hence the need for individuals to establish proper strategies of preparing for such disasters to limit their horrifying effects like suffering, economic devastation, and even tragic high death tolls.

Reference

Collins, L. R. (2000). Disaster management and preparedness. CRC Press.