Wednesday, July 8, 2020

It’s ALL a Risk

With all the news coverage about the potential risks of COVID-19, have we temporarily forgotten or ignored other real risks?

Blogs Newsletters

By André van Heerden, Communications Director

I recently made a trip to the dentist. The first one in many months as they had closed because of the pandemic.

When I arrived, I had to wait in the parking lot for them to call me. When called, I had to wear a mask and wait for them to let me in and then have my temperature taken and my hands sanitized.

The dental hygienists and receptionist were all wearing face shields, full scrubs, and gloves, and only one came out beyond a Plexiglas barrier. I then walked back to a sealed room where I removed my mask, and a hygienist worked for the next hour cleaning my teeth.

Clearly, the dentist and hygienists were taking every precaution they could to prevent the spread of COVID-19. But still, the necessary task of me going to the office and having someone work in my open mouth for an hour would be considered risky.

It was a risk I was willing to take. I know that if I don’t get my teeth cleaned, I’d run into further issues.

Lying in the dentist’s chair made me think of other calculated risks I take. I go tobogganing every year with my children. It’s lots of fun but there’s always a risk of some sort of injury. Sometimes, we use ramps people have made, and the risk of injury increases. But the thrill of flying through the air outweighs the risk and is too tempting to ignore!

Right now, everywhere—sports, entertainment, home repairs, eating out, grocery shopping, social gatherings, etc.—everyone is measuring the risk of the pandemic. And every case, just like every person, is different.

I read a news story about living in the crowded slums of India during the pandemic. The reporter asked a woman why she hadn’t stopped working to protect herself from the coronavirus. “If I don’t work, we don’t eat,” she said. The potential risk of catching the virus was less than the pressing risk of starvation.

And with all the news coverage about the potential risks of COVID-19, we may have temporarily forgotten or ignored other real risks. A recent news story highlights the call from American and Canadian pediatricians to send children back to school in the fall.

“‘Schools are more than places of learning,’ said Dr. Karen Leis, a Saskatchewan pediatrician and chair of the CPS’s Action Committee for Children and Teens in a press release. ‘They provide important mental health supports, nutritious food and—for some children—a refuge.’ Pediatric organizations on both sides of the border say the risk of COVID-19 among children is low and that safety measures can further minimize the risk of transmission.”

Another article focusses on businesses calling on the Canadian government to reduce travel restrictions to save people’s jobs.

“‘In addition to the human tragedy resulting from this virus . . . millions have lost their livelihoods,’ wrote the chief executives, including Darren Entwistle of Telus and Linda Hasenfratz of Linamar Corp, both members of Hyder’s organization. ‘Businesses big and small are struggling to survive, and many will not,’ they wrote.”

The risk of the pandemic is real—the numbers infected and dying underscore that. But the risks associated with isolation, fear, unemployment, poverty, and other social ills are real too.

Ignoring the risks on either side can be dangerous. It’s important to consider all sides when calculating risks and determining what’s worth it.

CLAC members have been part of this risk calculation. Many have been on the front lines helping to care for the sick and elderly or working in grocery stores or delivering goods. Where would we be without their willingness to take on risk?

Living is inherently risky. We all take risks everyday, and we do our best to protect ourselves and others to minimize risks.

Allowing one risk to override all others will have unintentional detrimental consequences. Having already experienced the impact of gum disease, I’m very grateful that I could take a risk and go to see my dentist.

It’s ALL a Risk

You might be interested in