This was shared by a campus pastor at one of our ELCA Campus Ministries. For students returning to campus this fall this is wise advice. While we pray for the safety of all students, faculty, and staff we also should prepare for the reality of Covid-19 spread. Our prayers are with all our parents and students in the difficult choices they are having to make this fall.
COLLEGE PARENTS: If you have a child going to college and living in a dorm, have them pack an emergency COVID-19 bag in case they test positive and have to quarantine.
The possibility exists that your child may test positive, and have to leave his or her dorm for a quarantine location. It’s probably a VERY GOOD idea to have a pre-packed quarantine bag in his or her closet. It would be so much easier to ask a roommate to grab “the blue Nike bag in the closet and my laptop” than to try to figure out what he or she will want/need for two weeks.
COVID-19 QUARANTINE BAG:
*Extra cell phone charger
*List of important peoples’ phone numbers written out,
*List of any allergies
*2 or more complete changes of comfy clothes: sweats, PJ Pants, T’s, Fuzzy Socks
*Fleece throw (take the tiniest one in the house and squish it into an XL Baggie, then force the extra air out.)
*Thermometer
*Body Lotion/baby oil
*Feminine Hygiene/Special Hygiene stuff,
*Toothbrush, Toothpaste,
*Shampoo/Conditioner,
*Hair comb/brush, Hair Ties
*Cough Drops
*Tylenol to bring fever down, help with aches
*Vicks Vap O Rub
*Prescription medications (optional Mucinex DM or Robitussin Cough & Chest Congestion)
*Tissues
*Snacks
*A few Masks
*Some sort of distraction-even a coloring book and crayons or a deck of cards,
* Powdered Gatorade to mix in water may be a great idea