Watch: Public Service Announcement by UH Hilo pharmacy college, “What You Should Know About COVID-19”
UH Hilo Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy PSA: “Even if you’re not part of a high-risk group, we all have friends and family that possibly are. Let’s do our part in preventing the spread of COVID-19.”
The pharmacy college at University of Hawai‘i at Hilo released on Friday an informational video, “What You Should Know About COVID-19.” The public service announcement shares information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control on ways people can protect themselves and others from catching and spreading Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The video was filmed, edited, and produced by Tracey Niimi, student support specialist at the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy. Audio was captured by the college’s information technology specialist, Reid Kubo.
“The idea for the video came up during a meeting I was having with our student ambassadors on what our college might be able to provide our community with everything going on [with COVID-19],” says Niimi. “Our students and our office felt it was something that should come from our college, for the community.”
Niimi received his bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting from UH Hilo in 2011.
The PSA features Josephine McDonald, a third year pharmacy student originally from Guam who received her undergraduate degree from the University of Guam. She is a student ambassador for the college, and scripted the video directly from U.S. Center for Disease Control guidelines. Only two parts of the video are not directly from the CDC: the local style “no shakes, just shakas” recommendation and the last line of the video about everyone doing their part in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
“The coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person,” says McDonald in the video. “Symptoms include coughing, fever, and shortness of breath.”
She goes on to explain, “People can help protect themselves from COVID-19 with everyday preventative actions.” The video then reviews washing hands, keeping hands off face, avoiding close contact with others, staying home if sick, covering coughs and sneezes with tissue, and cleaning frequently touched objects. The video encourages “no shakes, just shakas” to avoid touching others when greeting.
“Even if you’re not part of a high-risk group, we all have friends and family that possibly are,” says McDonald. “Let’s do our part in preventing the spread of COVID-19.”
The PSA was reviewed by Daryl Masanda, who serves as the college’s director of student services, and Lara Gomez, associate dean of academic affairs.
Here is the full narrative from the video, “What You Should Know About COVID-19”:
Aloha my name is Josephine and I am a student pharmacist at the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy.
The coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. Symptoms include coughing, fever, and shortness of breath.
People can help protect themselves from COVID-19 with everyday preventative actions [link added for citation].
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Given these recommendations, students at our college have been practicing “no shakes, just shakas.”
- If you are sick, stay home except for seeking medical care and be sure to call your doctor ahead of time.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
You can make your own homemade disinfectant by mixing four teaspoons of bleach per quart of water or using a solution with at least 70 percent alcohol.
For more information, please visit www.cdc.gov.
Even if you’re not part of a high-risk group, we all have friends and family that possibly are. Let’s do our part in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Story by Susan Enright, a public information specialist for the Office of the Chancellor and editor of UH Hilo Stories. She received her bachelor of arts in English and certificate in women’s studies from UH Hilo.
