# Likelihood of survival in ICU on ventilator with confrmed positive COVID-19 test? need answer fast **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [March 27, 2020, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likelihood-of-survival-in-icu-on-ventilator-with-confrmed-positive-covid-19-test-need-answer-fast/850443 "2020-03-27T18:55:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Brayne\_Ded](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Brayne\_Ded](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brayne_Ded)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2020, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likelihood-of-survival-in-icu-on-ventilator-with-confrmed-positive-covid-19-test-need-answer-fast/850443/41 "2020-04-01T13:20:27Z")
If she is recovering, that is a good sign. But she may well have issues with lung damage afterwards. Best to talk to the docs about her chances of recovery and probable health state afterwards. There are limits to diagnosis over the Internet. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2020, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likelihood-of-survival-in-icu-on-ventilator-with-confrmed-positive-covid-19-test-need-answer-fast/850443/42 "2020-04-01T13:35:58Z")
> [@Brayne\_Ded](#): > > If she is recovering, that is a good sign. But she may well have issues with lung damage afterwards. > > Best to talk to the docs about her chances of recovery and probable health state afterwards. There are limits to diagnosis over the Internet. I will leave that up to Dad. He is having a hard enough time getting through to her treating physicians, who are just a tad busy right now. The nurses call him twice a day with updates, and her regular GP is able to access her chart electronically but says they aren’t charting as well as one might hope - probably because they are so busy. I’m sure they are doing everything they can, and there will hopefully be plenty of time to worry about long-term prognosis later. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2020, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likelihood-of-survival-in-icu-on-ventilator-with-confrmed-positive-covid-19-test-need-answer-fast/850443/43 "2020-04-01T13:43:35Z")
That’s good news! I thought of you last night when they were talking about ventilator survival rates. It was scary numbers for some of the earlier hit countries but the stats in the States was 6/10. Not great but could be worse. Hope things keep improving! ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2020, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likelihood-of-survival-in-icu-on-ventilator-with-confrmed-positive-covid-19-test-need-answer-fast/850443/44 "2020-04-01T15:29:03Z")
> [@RioRico](#): > > In case dad starts running our of clothes and doesn’t want to risk the basement laundry, there’s the grape-stomper’s laundry. Step into shower fully clothed (after removing leather, electronics, etc). Start water. Work up a good shampoo-head of lather. Stop water. Undress, getting everything sudsy, and puddled on shower floor. Stomp on clothes like crushing grapes. Sing. Restart water VERY hot but avoid burns - maybe stand back and poke soggy, sudsy clothes with broomstick. Rinse clothes in warm water and hang to dry on shower rod. That sounds like a whole lot more work than just washing one’s clothes in the sink (which I have done, in various living circumstances). Depending on size of sink, probably don’t try to fit them all in at once. And there’s no need to use “very hot” water to wash clothes; whether in the washing machine or in the sink. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2020, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likelihood-of-survival-in-icu-on-ventilator-with-confrmed-positive-covid-19-test-need-answer-fast/850443/45 "2020-04-01T15:39:37Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > That sounds like a whole lot more work than just washing one’s clothes in the sink (which I have done, in various living circumstances). Depending on size of sink, probably don’t try to fit them all in at once. Or use the larger kitchen sink, or the bathtub. No need to jump around, in any case. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2020, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likelihood-of-survival-in-icu-on-ventilator-with-confrmed-positive-covid-19-test-need-answer-fast/850443/46 "2020-04-01T15:44:38Z")
The advantage of the sink, whether kitchen or bathroom sink (or laundry tub, but most apartments haven’t got one), is that you get to work standing up; not bent over in an awkward position. But yes, if you’re going to wash clothes in the bathtub, it’s still easier and safer to do that without trying to simultaneously wash oneself, let alone trying to get out of sopping wet soapy clothes and then dancing around on them in the tub. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2020, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likelihood-of-survival-in-icu-on-ventilator-with-confrmed-positive-covid-19-test-need-answer-fast/850443/47 "2020-04-01T18:32:11Z")
On the bright side, provided Dad remains symptom-free, on Monday he will finish his quarantine and be able to go downstairs and use the laundry room. His co-op building staff has been constantly disinfecting things. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2020, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likelihood-of-survival-in-icu-on-ventilator-with-confrmed-positive-covid-19-test-need-answer-fast/850443/48 "2020-04-01T18:37:29Z")
> [@Eva\_Luna](#): > > On the bright side, provided Dad remains symptom-free, on Monday he will finish his quarantine and be able to go downstairs and use the laundry room. His co-op building staff has been constantly disinfecting things. Good to hear on both counts. Stay safe. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2020, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likelihood-of-survival-in-icu-on-ventilator-with-confrmed-positive-covid-19-test-need-answer-fast/850443/49 "2020-04-02T03:04:11Z")
I hope everything goes well for your family, **Eva Luna**. Hang in there. > [@thorny\_locust](#): > > That sounds like a whole lot more work than just washing one’s clothes in the sink (which I have done, in various living circumstances). Depending on size of sink, probably don’t try to fit them all in at once. > > And there’s no need to use “very hot” water to wash clothes; whether in the washing machine or in the sink. And not all clothes can be washed in hot water, either – always check the lables! (Although I usually use cold anyways) Not to mention that I don’t think it’s a good idea to wash one’s clothes in _shampoo_. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2020, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likelihood-of-survival-in-icu-on-ventilator-with-confrmed-positive-covid-19-test-need-answer-fast/850443/50 "2020-04-02T03:18:22Z")
Just read something I can’t find, but said something to the effect that some shampoo (_Prell_ brand?) contains a “laurel iso-something” that wrecks the virus and is therefore pretty effective. Not much help. since I can’t seem to google-fu the facts, but maybe somebody else can? Stupid to feel lame, wrong to shut up. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2020, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likelihood-of-survival-in-icu-on-ventilator-with-confrmed-positive-covid-19-test-need-answer-fast/850443/51 "2020-04-02T03:36:25Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Just read something I can’t find, but said something to the effect that some shampoo (_Prell_ brand?) contains a “laurel iso-something” that wrecks the virus and is therefore pretty effective. Not much help. since I can’t seem to google-fu the facts, but maybe somebody else can? Stupid to feel lame, wrong to shut up. Any detergent or soap that breaks down lipids will attack the coronavirus by breaking down the viral envelope. You don’t need some special sauce ingredient. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2020, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likelihood-of-survival-in-icu-on-ventilator-with-confrmed-positive-covid-19-test-need-answer-fast/850443/52 "2020-04-02T06:09:29Z")
Well, the guy had a lab coat. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2020, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likelihood-of-survival-in-icu-on-ventilator-with-confrmed-positive-covid-19-test-need-answer-fast/850443/53 "2020-04-02T09:49:36Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Not to mention that I don’t think it’s a good idea to wash one’s clothes in _shampoo_. Why not? It’s just a form of soap. No problem if you’re using it for hand washing. I’ve been washing wool - both knitted clothing and raw wool for spinning/felting - for decades in cheap generic baby shampoo. After all, wool is hair. As always, a good idea to thoroughly rinse the clothing if you’re washing by hand. I would NOT recommend using shampoo in a washing machine, though. I suspect there would be too much sudsing action. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2020, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likelihood-of-survival-in-icu-on-ventilator-with-confrmed-positive-covid-19-test-need-answer-fast/850443/54 "2020-04-02T15:12:30Z")
I wash my delicate clothing with shampoo. It rinses out more easily. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2020, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likelihood-of-survival-in-icu-on-ventilator-with-confrmed-positive-covid-19-test-need-answer-fast/850443/55 "2020-04-02T16:38:03Z")
I wash mine with someting that’s called “wool shampoo”. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2020, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likelihood-of-survival-in-icu-on-ventilator-with-confrmed-positive-covid-19-test-need-answer-fast/850443/56 "2020-04-02T17:05:23Z")
I use the “delicate” cycle on my washing machine using laundry detergent. Not sure when I picked up the habit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likelihood-of-survival-in-icu-on-ventilator-with-confrmed-positive-covid-19-test-need-answer-fast/850443.md?page=2)