quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen


Then there is the matter of exposing 3.2-3.7 million U.S. teachers to a deadly virus.

quote:

ORIGINAL: bohumm


70% alcohol is fine, and actually much better for surfaces, etc.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bruce Johnson

unome is my hero, especially since my wife works for Walmart.

There seems to be too much a way of thinking today of sacrificing the future for today. Let's spend money we don't have and ask our grandchildren to worry about it. Let's sacrifice children's education so that I can be safe. It reminds me of Neville Chamberlain. Let's not solve problems. Let's just put them off.

Sorry. I should be talking about Covid. Let me say this. I got a blood test back yesterday. I'm low on my red blood cell count. My doctor calls it anemia. I've been reading about it. It's one of the ways that Covid attacks the body, but from what I can gather the body can recover from this in time. I should eat liver and other foods rich in iron. Mild exercise is also recommended.

Meanwhile anemia means I can tire easily and I probably require more sleep. I have to think again about donating plasma with my antibodies to save lives, which also may mildly deplete my red blood cell count. Everyone is telling me not to do it. I feel like I'm in the teacher's position. Should I jeapardize my health to try to save someone else? My wife says "let someone else donate plasma." I don't know. I always say that life is precious.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bruce Johnson

unome is my hero, especially since my wife works for Walmart.

There seems to be too much a way of thinking today of sacrificing the future for today. Let's spend money we don't have and ask our grandchildren to worry about it. Let's sacrifice children's education so that I can be safe. It reminds me of Neville Chamberlain. Let's not solve problems. Let's just put them off.

Sorry. I should be talking about Covid. Let me say this. I got a blood test back yesterday. I'm low on my red blood cell count. My doctor calls it anemia. I've been reading about it. It's one of the ways that Covid attacks the body, but from what I can gather the body can recover from this in time. I should eat liver and other foods rich in iron. Mild exercise is also recommended.

Meanwhile anemia means I can tire easily and I probably require more sleep. I have to think again about donating plasma with my antibodies to save lives, which also may mildly deplete my red blood cell count. Everyone is telling me not to do it. I feel like I'm in the teacher's position. Should I jeapardize my health to try to save someone else? My wife says "let someone else donate plasma." I don't know. I always say that life is precious.

quote:

ORIGINAL: kgdabom

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bruce Johnson

unome is my hero, especially since my wife works for Walmart.

There seems to be too much a way of thinking today of sacrificing the future for today. Let's spend money we don't have and ask our grandchildren to worry about it. Let's sacrifice children's education so that I can be safe. It reminds me of Neville Chamberlain. Let's not solve problems. Let's just put them off.

Sorry. I should be talking about Covid. Let me say this. I got a blood test back yesterday. I'm low on my red blood cell count. My doctor calls it anemia. I've been reading about it. It's one of the ways that Covid attacks the body, but from what I can gather the body can recover from this in time. I should eat liver and other foods rich in iron. Mild exercise is also recommended.

Meanwhile anemia means I can tire easily and I probably require more sleep. I have to think again about donating plasma with my antibodies to save lives, which also may mildly deplete my red blood cell count. Everyone is telling me not to do it. I feel like I'm in the teacher's position. Should I jeapardize my health to try to save someone else? My wife says "let someone else donate plasma." I don't know. I always say that life is precious.

What about taking Iron pills?

quote:

ORIGINAL: bohumm

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bruce Johnson

unome is my hero, especially since my wife works for Walmart.

There seems to be too much a way of thinking today of sacrificing the future for today. Let's spend money we don't have and ask our grandchildren to worry about it. Let's sacrifice children's education so that I can be safe. It reminds me of Neville Chamberlain. Let's not solve problems. Let's just put them off.

Sorry. I should be talking about Covid. Let me say this. I got a blood test back yesterday. I'm low on my red blood cell count. My doctor calls it anemia. I've been reading about it. It's one of the ways that Covid attacks the body, but from what I can gather the body can recover from this in time. I should eat liver and other foods rich in iron. Mild exercise is also recommended.

Meanwhile anemia means I can tire easily and I probably require more sleep. I have to think again about donating plasma with my antibodies to save lives, which also may mildly deplete my red blood cell count. Everyone is telling me not to do it. I feel like I'm in the teacher's position. Should I jeapordize my health to try to save someone else? My wife says "let someone else donate plasma." I don't know. I always say that life is precious.

Bruce, red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which is how we carry almost all of our oxygen. If your body is already working hard to recover, it may be a bad idea to deplete your oxygen carrying capacity further than it already is due to the anemia. It may well be that they won't even let you donate; the Red Cross won't if you have anemia.

I think your wife sounds like a wise woman.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bruce Johnson

I've never been a fan of sanitizer. I prefer to use soap and water. Of course the sanitizer is good when soap and water are not conveniently available. What do you think, Bill?

quote:

ORIGINAL: unome

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen


Then there is the matter of exposing 3.2-3.7 million U.S. teachers to a deadly virus.

I never read people concerned about 1.5 million Wal-Mart associates being "exposed" to the "deadly virus" for 5 whole months before the first teacher will.

Or all the firemen. Police officers. Of course, a bunch of people in the medical field! Pilots, flight attendants, plumbers, repair technicians, warehouse workers, people that work in food production, factory workers. Edit, I forgot postal workers, and delivery people! And I am sure many others.

I do not understand why, if we take every precaution possible, people think that teachers need to be treated differently?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bruce Johnson

quote:

ORIGINAL: bohumm

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bruce Johnson

unome is my hero, especially since my wife works for Walmart.

There seems to be too much a way of thinking today of sacrificing the future for today. Let's spend money we don't have and ask our grandchildren to worry about it. Let's sacrifice children's education so that I can be safe. It reminds me of Neville Chamberlain. Let's not solve problems. Let's just put them off.

Sorry. I should be talking about Covid. Let me say this. I got a blood test back yesterday. I'm low on my red blood cell count. My doctor calls it anemia. I've been reading about it. It's one of the ways that Covid attacks the body, but from what I can gather the body can recover from this in time. I should eat liver and other foods rich in iron. Mild exercise is also recommended.

Meanwhile anemia means I can tire easily and I probably require more sleep. I have to think again about donating plasma with my antibodies to save lives, which also may mildly deplete my red blood cell count. Everyone is telling me not to do it. I feel like I'm in the teacher's position. Should I jeapordize my health to try to save someone else? My wife says "let someone else donate plasma." I don't know. I always say that life is precious.

Bruce, red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which is how we carry almost all of our oxygen. If your body is already working hard to recover, it may be a bad idea to deplete your oxygen carrying capacity further than it already is due to the anemia. It may well be that they won't even let you donate; the Red Cross won't if you have anemia.

I think your wife sounds like a wise woman.

My mother, who used to be a nurse told me the same. I just learned about it and will let the blood donor company know and ask them what their policy is about that. I have not donated plasma yet. Maybe I won't, now. I didn't ask my doctor because I was afraid he would say no. I'm sure he would say no now.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen

quote:

ORIGINAL: unome

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen


Then there is the matter of exposing 3.2-3.7 million U.S. teachers to a deadly virus.

I never read people concerned about 1.5 million Wal-Mart associates being "exposed" to the "deadly virus" for 5 whole months before the first teacher will.

Or all the firemen. Police officers. Of course, a bunch of people in the medical field! Pilots, flight attendants, plumbers, repair technicians, warehouse workers, people that work in food production, factory workers. Edit, I forgot postal workers, and delivery people! And I am sure many others.

I do not understand why, if we take every precaution possible, people think that teachers need to be treated differently?

Uh, maybe because school was being discussed?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bruce Johnson

unome is my hero, especially since my wife works for Walmart.

There seems to be too much a way of thinking today of sacrificing the future for today. Let's spend money we don't have and ask our grandchildren to worry about it. Let's sacrifice children's education so that I can be safe. It reminds me of Neville Chamberlain. Let's not solve problems. Let's just put them off.

Sorry. I should be talking about Covid. Let me say this. I got a blood test back yesterday. I'm low on my red blood cell count. My doctor calls it anemia. I've been reading about it. It's one of the ways that Covid attacks the body, but from what I can gather the body can recover from this in time. I should eat liver and other foods rich in iron. Mild exercise is also recommended.

Meanwhile anemia means I can tire easily and I probably require more sleep. I have to think again about donating plasma with my antibodies to save lives, which also may mildly deplete my red blood cell count. Everyone is telling me not to do it. I feel like I'm in the teacher's position. Should I jeapardize my health to try to save someone else? My wife says "let someone else donate plasma." I don't know. I always say that life is precious.

quote:

ORIGINAL: unome

I am 100% supportive of mask-wearing and I support this being a requirement both in schools and in indoor public spaces. BUT, I am very leery about distance learning in education. It was a massive failure in the spring and, while it could improve somewhat, it will not be a good choice if we care about our children's learning.

There are so many problems with distance learning, it is hard to know where to start.

First, let me acknowledge that many well-adjusted, regularly-abled children with excellent adult supervision and support can do just fine with distance learning. The problem is all the children that do not have one or more these aspects will have significant issues with learning from home. The CDC Director said recently that approximately 7.1 million children nationwide receive their mental health care and special educational services from school resources so it is hard to measure the level of damage these children not getting this support (and Zoom is a terrible substitute). And what do you do for Special Needs children with distance learning? They often essentially stopped progressing and many started regressing. 14% of our children will be significantly harmed with distance learning.

How about the gap between the haves and have-nots? White-collar and well-off children will have an adult parent keeping them motivated and on-track, but what about single parents and the children whose parents are less academically focused? Many of these children may as well not have school. In some poorer areas, less than half of the kids ever even went online during distance learning last year! And if they do not have Internet access, is distance-learning even possible? I know a single parents who will be working regardless of whether their will be distance learning or not. Some of these kids are not even old enough to be left at home legally. And even if we decided to pay these parents to stay home with their kids, this could be an economic disaster. A 25 trillion dollar debt will eventually turn against us and cause massive problems,why push the envelope? And many businesses need these employees, what happens to them? Maybe they go hire replacements because the jobs are core to the business and these single parents lose their jobs permanently.

For any parent that wants their children to do distance learning, they should be allowed to do this, so if there is a concern about a preexisting condition of the child or parent of the child, this can be an option that can be chosen. The only real problem is what if too many teachers want to opt-out, but the hard truth is that we can provide them the best PPEs and they may have to do what many around the country (at Target, Home Depot, etc.) have had to do for four months now and that is: take as much as precautions as possible and go to work.

Some districts have already announced they will do distance learning, but is almost impossible to fully appreciate how many lives will be harmed by these choices. How many jobs lost, careers harmed, mental illnesses worsened, how many at-risk children will be further behind their peers.

But we might save some lives, I hear over and over. I guess that is hard to argue. But, the same could be said of keeping kids home schooled every year, I suppose. According to the CDC, 64 children and adolescents under the age of 18 have died from COVID-19 as of last week. This is terrible, of course, but according to the CDC during a regular flu season, children deaths due to influenza range from 37 to 187 deaths. So, COVID is not discernibly worse than influenza for children. Yes, I know, the kids could get the disease and bring it home and give it to parents or grandparents. Thiss is why masks are required and we make ever reasonable effort to stop the spread to children even though the risk are relatively small.

quote:

ORIGINAL: jbusse

quote:

ORIGINAL: unome

I am 100% supportive of mask-wearing and I support this being a requirement both in schools and in indoor public spaces. BUT, I am very leery about distance learning in education. It was a massive failure in the spring and, while it could improve somewhat, it will not be a good choice if we care about our children's learning.

There are so many problems with distance learning, it is hard to know where to start.

First, let me acknowledge that many well-adjusted, regularly-abled children with excellent adult supervision and support can do just fine with distance learning. The problem is all the children that do not have one or more these aspects will have significant issues with learning from home. The CDC Director said recently that approximately 7.1 million children nationwide receive their mental health care and special educational services from school resources so it is hard to measure the level of damage these children not getting this support (and Zoom is a terrible substitute). And what do you do for Special Needs children with distance learning? They often essentially stopped progressing and many started regressing. 14% of our children will be significantly harmed with distance learning.

How about the gap between the haves and have-nots? White-collar and well-off children will have an adult parent keeping them motivated and on-track, but what about single parents and the children whose parents are less academically focused? Many of these children may as well not have school. In some poorer areas, less than half of the kids ever even went online during distance learning last year! And if they do not have Internet access, is distance-learning even possible? I know a single parents who will be working regardless of whether their will be distance learning or not. Some of these kids are not even old enough to be left at home legally. And even if we decided to pay these parents to stay home with their kids, this could be an economic disaster. A 25 trillion dollar debt will eventually turn against us and cause massive problems,why push the envelope? And many businesses need these employees, what happens to them? Maybe they go hire replacements because the jobs are core to the business and these single parents lose their jobs permanently.

For any parent that wants their children to do distance learning, they should be allowed to do this, so if there is a concern about a preexisting condition of the child or parent of the child, this can be an option that can be chosen. The only real problem is what if too many teachers want to opt-out, but the hard truth is that we can provide them the best PPEs and they may have to do what many around the country (at Target, Home Depot, etc.) have had to do for four months now and that is: take as much as precautions as possible and go to work.

Some districts have already announced they will do distance learning, but is almost impossible to fully appreciate how many lives will be harmed by these choices. How many jobs lost, careers harmed, mental illnesses worsened, how many at-risk children will be further behind their peers.

But we might save some lives, I hear over and over. I guess that is hard to argue. But, the same could be said of keeping kids home schooled every year, I suppose. According to the CDC, 64 children and adolescents under the age of 18 have died from COVID-19 as of last week. This is terrible, of course, but according to the CDC during a regular flu season, children deaths due to influenza range from 37 to 187 deaths. So, COVID is not discernibly worse than influenza for children. Yes, I know, the kids could get the disease and bring it home and give it to parents or grandparents. Thiss is why masks are required and we make ever reasonable effort to stop the spread to children even though the risk are relatively small.

Very nicely put. Many don't adequately account for the downside of staying on lock down. Difficult to accurately quantify the risks vs. benefits given all the unknowns, but neither should be ignored.

quote:

ORIGINAL: unome

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen

quote:

ORIGINAL: unome

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen


Then there is the matter of exposing 3.2-3.7 million U.S. teachers to a deadly virus.

I never read people concerned about 1.5 million Wal-Mart associates being "exposed" to the "deadly virus" for 5 whole months before the first teacher will.

Or all the firemen. Police officers. Of course, a bunch of people in the medical field! Pilots, flight attendants, plumbers, repair technicians, warehouse workers, people that work in food production, factory workers. Edit, I forgot postal workers, and delivery people! And I am sure many others.

I do not understand why, if we take every precaution possible, people think that teachers need to be treated differently?

Uh, maybe because school was being discussed?

Teachers need to be treated differently because school was being discussed? That does not seem to follow.

So, do we just shut absolutely everything down so no one is "exposed" to a "deadly virus"?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Daniel Lee Young

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bruce Johnson

quote:

ORIGINAL: bohumm

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bruce Johnson

unome is my hero, especially since my wife works for Walmart.

There seems to be too much a way of thinking today of sacrificing the future for today. Let's spend money we don't have and ask our grandchildren to worry about it. Let's sacrifice children's education so that I can be safe. It reminds me of Neville Chamberlain. Let's not solve problems. Let's just put them off.

Sorry. I should be talking about Covid. Let me say this. I got a blood test back yesterday. I'm low on my red blood cell count. My doctor calls it anemia. I've been reading about it. It's one of the ways that Covid attacks the body, but from what I can gather the body can recover from this in time. I should eat liver and other foods rich in iron. Mild exercise is also recommended.

Meanwhile anemia means I can tire easily and I probably require more sleep. I have to think again about donating plasma with my antibodies to save lives, which also may mildly deplete my red blood cell count. Everyone is telling me not to do it. I feel like I'm in the teacher's position. Should I jeapordize my health to try to save someone else? My wife says "let someone else donate plasma." I don't know. I always say that life is precious.

Bruce, red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which is how we carry almost all of our oxygen. If your body is already working hard to recover, it may be a bad idea to deplete your oxygen carrying capacity further than it already is due to the anemia. It may well be that they won't even let you donate; the Red Cross won't if you have anemia.

I think your wife sounds like a wise woman.

My mother, who used to be a nurse told me the same. I just learned about it and will let the blood donor company know and ask them what their policy is about that. I have not donated plasma yet. Maybe I won't, now. I didn't ask my doctor because I was afraid he would say no. I'm sure he would say no now.

Uh.. donating plasma has zero effects on RBC. Plasma is the non RBC component of the blood.

Plasmapheresis is a process in which the liquid part of the blood, or plasma, is separated from the blood cells. Typically, the plasma is replaced with another solution such as saline or albumin, or the plasma is treated and then returned to your body.

In this case, donating to provide antibodies, it is not hemoglobin nor red blood cells that are donated.

Yes Anemia is a serous concern and if you do the research on foods and supplements to increase iron level and specifically how to treat Anemia, it’s not medical rocket science.

The point is, before volunteering to donate plasma, get your own health house in order.
Corona virus is known to effect other major organs and their functions, beyond the obvious damage to the respiratory system.

It’s ok to be selfish for a bit until you have reached a level of health that will not further endanger yourself or others.

I am glad you are recovering, but patience and intelligence combined wit a realistic consideration of our general healt is equally important as the desire to help others.

Take care of yourself, Bruce.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Daniel Lee Young

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bruce Johnson

quote:

ORIGINAL: bohumm

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bruce Johnson

unome is my hero, especially since my wife works for Walmart.

There seems to be too much a way of thinking today of sacrificing the future for today. Let's spend money we don't have and ask our grandchildren to worry about it. Let's sacrifice children's education so that I can be safe. It reminds me of Neville Chamberlain. Let's not solve problems. Let's just put them off.

Sorry. I should be talking about Covid. Let me say this. I got a blood test back yesterday. I'm low on my red blood cell count. My doctor calls it anemia. I've been reading about it. It's one of the ways that Covid attacks the body, but from what I can gather the body can recover from this in time. I should eat liver and other foods rich in iron. Mild exercise is also recommended.

Meanwhile anemia means I can tire easily and I probably require more sleep. I have to think again about donating plasma with my antibodies to save lives, which also may mildly deplete my red blood cell count. Everyone is telling me not to do it. I feel like I'm in the teacher's position. Should I jeapordize my health to try to save someone else? My wife says "let someone else donate plasma." I don't know. I always say that life is precious.

Bruce, red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which is how we carry almost all of our oxygen. If your body is already working hard to recover, it may be a bad idea to deplete your oxygen carrying capacity further than it already is due to the anemia. It may well be that they won't even let you donate; the Red Cross won't if you have anemia.

I think your wife sounds like a wise woman.

My mother, who used to be a nurse told me the same. I just learned about it and will let the blood donor company know and ask them what their policy is about that. I have not donated plasma yet. Maybe I won't, now. I didn't ask my doctor because I was afraid he would say no. I'm sure he would say no now.

Uh.. donating plasma has zero effects on RBC. Plasma is the non RBC component of the blood.

Plasmapheresis is a process in which the liquid part of the blood, or plasma, is separated from the blood cells. Typically, the plasma is replaced with another solution such as saline or albumin, or the plasma is treated and then returned to your body.

In this case, donating to provide antibodies, it is not hemoglobin nor red blood cells that are donated.

Yes Anemia is a serous concern and if you do the research on foods and supplements to increase iron level and specifically how to treat Anemia, it’s not medical rocket science.

The point is, before volunteering to donate plasma, get your own health house in order.
Corona virus is known to effect other major organs and their functions, beyond the obvious damage to the respiratory system.

It’s ok to be selfish for a bit until you have reached a level of health that will not further endanger yourself or others.

I am glad you are recovering, but patience and intelligence combined wit a realistic consideration of our general healt is equally important as the desire to help others.

Take care of yourself, Bruce.