The new coronavirus it can survive from 2 hours to 9 days outside the body, depending on the surface. In materials widely used in the production of orthoses, prosthetics and wheelchairs, for example – such as aluminum, stainless steel, plastic, wood and metal – the virus can remain for hours or almost a week.

That's what this shows video produced by preceptors and students of Multiprofessional Residency in Health Care for People with Disabilities, from the Santos Dumont Institute (ISD), part of a series started in April with guidelines for education in the context of the pandemic.

The video draws attention to the risks, but mainly teaches how to properly clean these surfaces to prevent the new coronavirus and the disease it causes, Covid-19.

Contaminated surfaces

“In addition to person-to-person transmission, contagion can also occur through contaminated surfaces”, warns the content and continues: “Devices (used by people with disabilities or with restricted movements for other reasons) can be sources of dissemination and need be cleaned with appropriate products”.

The video is based on a survey of sources such as the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) and the Brazilian Hospital Services Company (EBSERH) and is part of a larger set of educational actions that the Institute has developed during the pandemic.

Through channels such as videos, booklets and folders, teams show everything from how to identify symptoms of Covid-19, to practical changes in day-to-day services, care to be adopted and integration and leisure activities for a healthy routine in times of quarantine . 

The topics were discussed and materials were developed in online meetings with multidisciplinary preceptors and residents in the areas of physiotherapy, speech therapy, psychology and social work. 

Anita

The objective of the work, according to ISD, is to disseminate verified information to the entire population, especially those served by the Center for Health Education and Research Anita Garibaldi, a reference in maternal and child health care and for people with disabilities, in Rio Grande do Norte.

Anita has been in operation for more than 10 years in Macaíba, a municipality 14km from Natal, the state capital.

The Center serves patients exclusively through the Unified Health System (SUS) and, since 2016, has been authorized as a Specialized Center for Hearing, Physical and Intellectual Rehabilitation (CER III). With this, it was able to start offering the Multiprofessional Residency Program in Health Care for People with Disabilities, considered a pioneer in Brazil and already counting three classes.

About ISD

The Santos Dumont Institute (ISD) is a Social Organization of the federal government linked to the Ministry of Education and also encompasses the Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neurosciences (IIN-ELS). 

It is a reference in teaching, research and extension in maternal and child health, people with disabilities and in the areas of neuroscience and neuroengineering. It is also a reference in services and actions related to fields such as toxoplasmosis, HIV, microcephaly, sexual violence against women, children and trans women, health and education in the quilombola community.