10 Basic Medical Instruments You Must Have at Home for Covid-19 Help
Why would anybody reiterate the basic medical instruments you must have at home for Covid-19? Only because we are in the midst of a global pandemic and having the basic medical instrument is the ‘Astra’ at your disposal to combat Covid at home.
Now, as data have suggested that around 90% of Covid patients recover without much severe illness, it is imperative that we must find a way to combat Covid in our own house. For this, we must be ready with proper tools and instruments at our disposal so that the Covid battle gets not only easy but you could put a tab on your health. As the current pressing health infrastructure scenario of Nepal has rendered us with much insecurity, taking care of you and your loved ones is pivotal and thus we reiterate the necessity of ‘Basic Medical Instruments You Must Have at Home for Covid-19’.
Lists of Basic Medical Instruments You Must have at home for Covid-19
1. Masks
Uses: Mask is a mandatory medical tool/requirement to battle with Covid. As we all know how the health order passed by WHO and countries all over the world have issued the Mask Mandatory order to suppress the spread of the virus.
Now, what sort of mask can you use. Mostly if you have a surgical or N95 mask it’s better but if you don’t have one or if in any instance there is a shortage of masks in the market you can use any face-covering masks say a cloth mask works fine too.
Price: The surgical mask comes around Nrs.10 and the N95 mask is priced around Nrs.200. You can get these masks from the nearby medical store.
2. Sanitizer
Uses: Sanitizer is another mandatory medical tool/requirement. As Covid spreads through the contact and surfaces, you must regularly sanitize the surfaces of your house like door handles, wash basins and the like along with your hands. Sanitizing helps to eliminate the virus from the surfaces and reduce the risk of contamination or spread.
Price: A 500 ml of sanitizer costs around Nrs. 300-400. You can get the sanitizer at your local medical store. Also, make sure you check the Alcohol concentration level of your sanitizer. If the sanitizer has less than 90% of alcohol concentration level, do not buy those products.
3. Oximeter
Uses: Oximeter is used to calculate the level of oxygen concentration in your blood. The normal oxygen level is which is also called SpO2 level falls between 95-100.
Price: The price ranges from Nrs. 1000 to Nrs. 4000. Get your pulse oximeter in your nearby medical store or follow this link to buy online.
4. Thermometer
Uses: Thermometer is used to check your body temperature. A German doctor in the 19th century set the standard at 98.6 F, but more recent studies say the baseline for most people is closer to 98.2 F.
Price: The price differs from the type of thermometer you are purchasing. If you are purchasing a regular manual thermometer it costs much less like 50 bucks to 100 bucks. If you want to purchase a digital thermometer it costs anywhere from 400 to 1500 bucks.
Follow this link to buy online.
5. Gloves
Uses: As we have already mentioned, the Covid transmission is primarily caused due to contact. Thus, in order to reduce the risk of direct contact, mostly for the medical staffs, wearing gloves is a must.
Price: A box of medical gloves costs around Nrs. 1000. Get the medical gloves in the medical stores or buy online by following this link.
6. Steamer
Uses: A steamer or Steam Inhaler can be used to relieve yourself of cold, flu, and Covid related symptoms. For instance, if you are having a sinus in your throat or nose, using a steamer will help relieve your symptoms.
Price: If you feel comfortable with taking hot water steam, you get it for free. However, the electric steamer is handy, simple to use, and effective. If you want to buy the steamer online, go to this link.
7. Oxygen Concentrator / Oxygen Cylinder
Uses: For mild to severe Covid patients oxygen is the lifeblood. As of May 9, 2021 Government has restricted Oxygen manufacturers to sell oxygen cylinders without approval. Go to this link for further information.
Price: As there is little to none directives from the government, there is no clear cut way of determining the price of the Oxygen cylinder.
Regarding the Oxygen concentrator, as the demand is high and few vendors are selling it, so it might be tough for you to get it sooner. Go to this link and contact the distributors for further information.
8. Face Shield
Uses: As the new strain of Covid is getting much stronger in its capacity to spread, the chances of aerosol spread has significantly increased. In such case, you must have a face shield to cover your face to reduce the risk of transmission.
Price: The face shield cost ranges from Rs. 50 to Rs. 200. You can get the face shield from the medical store or buy it online. Go to this link to buy online.
9. PPE kit
Uses: PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is a must for medical professionals and if you are caring for your loved ones at home. The PPE kit will provide absolute covering and protection which significantly reduces the chance of transmission.
Price: The price ranges from Rs. 900 to Rs. 2500. Go to this link to buy online.
10. First Aid box
Apart from the medicines and medical tools in a normal First aid box, you might need to add more just to customize it for Covid. The following are the lists:
Paracetamol
Uses: Paracetamol is used to cure your fever and headache.
Price: A normal paracetamol costs around 10 to 20 rupees. You can get the paracetamol from the medical store/clinic.
Betadine Gargle
Uses:
Betadine Gargle and Mouthwash contain povidone-iodine which kills a wide range of germs
including bacteria, viruses, fungi, spores, and simple organisms. Before buying and using make sure you read the label for directions for use or consult the medical practitioner or pharmacist for more information.
Price: Betadine costs around Rs 150 to Rs 200. Get the betadine from the nearby clinic or medical store.
Jiwan Jal
Uses: The Jiwan Jal contains electrolytes which maintains your body’s hydration and acid-base balance or PH balance. Usually, Jiwan Jal is given as a preliminary medicine in case of Diarrhea.
Price: A pack of Jiwan Jal costs around Rs.10 and you can get it from the clinic or a medical store.
Cough Syrup
Uses: The cough syrup eases your throat and lungs from cough and infection.
Price: Cough syrup can cost somewhere between Rs.200 to Rs.300.
Vitamin C, Zinc tablet, Multivitamins, Vitamin D
Uses: All of the medicines above are the supplements which you can use to boost immunity.
Price: The price ranges from Rs. 50 to Rs. 100.
Sancho/Zandu Baam
Uses: Used to ease flu symptoms, aches and inflammation.
Price: The price ranges from Rs. 60 to Rs. 200. Sancho is more expensive than Zandu Balm.
Detol Hand Wash
Uses: Dettol is used as a disinfectant. Use detol hand wash to prevent yourself from the contamination and transmission from the Corona Virus. For this make sure you wash your hand frequently.
Price: Price ranges from Rs. 100 to Rs.150.
Before we go
There goes the list of 10 Basic Medical Instruments You Must Have at Home for Covid-19.
As we have already highlighted before, we are deemed to battle Covid in our home as around 90% of Covid illness is not that severe, its imperative that we have the basic Medical instruments and tools to prepare and battle against Covid at home.
Stay Safe!
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