Living on a boat is one of the healthiest lifestyles you can lead, especially in these turbulent times. We self-isolate all the time. We go for days without close encounters to any other living beings, except for the dolphins and fish. We stock our stores so we don’t need frequent trips to the grocery store. We keep spare parts on hand so we can fix things at the moment when we need it. I am baffled by the folks I see that are having fits about being isolated…we choose to live this way!
But what happens when you live in a 50’ by 14’ space and one of you gets sick? It is much harder to isolate yourself on a boat! Our biggest challenge is trying not to get the other person sick. Here are a few interventions we have had success with:
- Stay in separate cabins. We are fortunate enough to have a front and back cabin with separate heads, so we can keep mostly to ourselves.
- Open the hatches and get as much fresh air in the boat as possible to prevent stagnant air and get the germs out.
- Clean hard surfaces with a bleach solution frequently. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends 1/3 cup of bleach to a gallon of water. Let the solution sit at least one minute and allow to air dry completely.
- Launder bedding, towels and clothing in hot water. Do not shake before washing as this can distribute the infection into the air.
- Use a laundry bag for collecting dirty items. Wash the bag each time you do the laundry.
- When feeling better, stay topside as much as possible in the fresh air. The more ventilation the better.
- Wash dishes in the hottest water you can tolerate. Consider a rinse in a mild bleach solution, followed by a fresh water rinse.
Remember, the best treatment is prevention. Isolate yourself from others. Take your vitamins and eat a healthy diet. Get exercise and fresh air often. Get enough sleep (adults still need 8 hours sleep a night…use this time to rest up!) Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. Scrub long enough to sing the alphabet song. Make sure you are scrubbing all surfaces and between your fingers.
As ER nurses, we are unable to avoid sick people but we take a lot of precautions to try not to bring illness into our boat. We have both fought off colds since starting work in January, probably acquired from work. Was it COVID-19? Who knows? Our symptoms resolved before this outbreak escalated here, so neither of us required testing. We are still working and still vigilant about trying to stay healthy. We hope you all do the same.
