This Fresno woman was once on a ventilator. She says wear a mask to stop COVID-19

People of Fresno and the Central Valley, please wear a mask! Numbers of coronavirus, (COVID-19) cases continue to rise locally and throughout California. It has been scientifically proven that face coverings help slow the spread of the virus.

This is not a political issue. The coronavirus doesn’t care if you’re a Democrat or Republican. We are in the midst of a health crisis and for those of you who believe this virus is a hoax, think again. How would you feel if, God forbid, you had the disease, knew someone who had it or someone who succumbed to it? Worse yet, how would you feel if you were responsible for spreading the disease to a loved one or to others in the community? Wearing a mask is simple compared to the alternative of possibly ending up in a hospital ICU, intubated and hooked up to a ventilator in order to breathe.

I’m curious to know how many of you actually realize what being intubated is really like? I do. I was intubated following a complication from spinal surgery three years ago. Those who think being on a ventilator isn’t a big deal, think again. Reality is, you are kept in and out of sedation with a tube down your throat and windpipe leading to your lungs to help you breathe. You’re also hooked up to an IV, a urinary catheter and, depending how long you remain intubated, a feeding tube, as well. There are risks associated with intubation, which can lead to lung infections and vocal cord damage, the latter of which I suffered from for months post-hospitalization. Believe me, it isn’t a pleasant experience.

South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Slovakia and the Czech Republic quickly resorted to mask-wearing during the early stages of the pandemic in their respective countries. All had better outcomes with lower death rates and shorter duration of outbreaks.

Research has shown that wearing a mask is the most important action that can be taken to keep transmission under better control. They are simple to wear, affordable, and now readily available. When properly worn, masks don’t cause oxygen deficiency or carbon dioxide intoxication as many have been led to believe, and they don’t have to be medical quality to be effective. Homemade varieties made from cotton fabric offer a relatively high percentage of efficacy in preventing virus transmission. COVID-19 is an airborne droplet infection transferred from the sinuses through breathing and sneezing, and from the mouth through coughing, spitting, singing, screaming or blowing. Hand washing, use of hand sanitizers, avoiding touching your face, nose, eyes or mouth are also very important.

Just as seatbelts are worn to help protect people from serious injury in car accidents, masks offer protection from this potentially deadly virus for which there is yet no cure or vaccine. Compare not wearing a mask to playing a game of Russian roulette. You are taking a chance that you’ll be the lucky one to dodge the bullet. Though you probably won’t be cited for not wearing a mask, or may not be concerned about contracting coronavirus yourself, be considerate of the health of others.

Wearing a mask can help prevent those that are most vulnerable from becoming ill, mainly folks over 65 or with pre-existing health conditions and those diagnosed with autoimmune diseases. Unless you suffer from impaired breathing problems due to chronic lung conditions or neurological disorders, or are under the age of 2 years, there’s no legitimate excuse not to wear one.

Those of you shaming people for wearing masks, please stop. Stop defiantly entering businesses with arrogant attitudes and hollering at the owners or their staff. They are simply following California law and doing their jobs. Please stop the many angry, belligerent posts on Facebook, Twitter and social media, as well. Instead, start thinking about your health, the health of your family, friends and well-being of our community. Wear face coverings in public places and at work, especially when it’s impossible to socially distance six feet apart from others.

We are in this together and together we can all do our part to fight this dreaded “plague.” It’s really not so difficult.

Please, help save a life. Wear a mask.

This story was originally published June 26, 2020 at 6:00 AM.