Posted on 03/13/2006 10:10:32 AM PST by blam
What You Should Do to Prepare for an Epidemic
Stock Up on Essentials and Have an 'Outbreak Plan'
How To Protect Yourself
Bird Flu
How Would You Know If You Had Avian Flu?
A Bit of Context on the Bird Flu Threat
How To Protect Yourself
By LARA SETRAKIAN
March 12, 2006 — Will there be an outbreak of avian flu that threatens humans? Many experts disagree on when or if a human pandemic will occur, but do say there is a chance that the virus could mutate, leading to widespread infection. In that case, the best thing you and your family can do right now is to prepare for that possibility.
Here's what you need to know to help keep yourself healthy.
Stock up on Essentials
If there is an avian flu pandemic, you'll want to minimize your chance of catching it by staying indoors; you might even be required to stay home if the government asks that people remain in quarantine or "shelter in place." Stocking up today on at least seven days' worth of essentials such as water, nonperishable food, emergency and medical supplies will help you get through an extended time at home if an outbreak happens. Once you've purchased these items, store them in a place where you will not be tempted to dip into them for everyday use. See the checklist below for guidelines on what and how much you need.
Have an Outbreak Plan
It may feel odd or uncomfortable to talk to family members and loved ones about the worst-case pandemic scenario. But if that scenario strikes, you'll all be much better off if you have a plan decided on and ready. Talk with your friends and family about how you'd respond to an epidemic. Figure out how you would care for them and what your first response and responsibilities would be; this is an especially important conversation to have with those with special care needs. Get involved with local groups and community efforts aimed at preparing for a pandemic. If your community has no program in place yet, find out how you and your neighbors can get one started.
Pick up the Habits of Healthy Behavior
The habits that can help keep you healthy in an outbreak are the same good health habits that can keep you from catching the common cold: maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly and get sufficient rest. Particularly in a flu outbreak situation, it will be important to wash your hands thoroughly and often, reminding loved ones — especially children — to do the same. Be diligent about covering coughs and sneezes with tissues, teaching any children in your family to do the same. Also teach children to stay away from others as much as possible if they are sick and stay home from work or school if you are sick.
Know Your Emergency Contacts and Information Compile the phone numbers you'd need in case of the emergency, keeping the list somewhere safe and visible. Make sure everyone in your household knows where to find it. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, you should include information for:
Local and out-of-town personal emergency contacts
Hospitals near your work, home and school
Family physician
Your state public health department (full list at www.cdc.gov/other.htm#states)
Pharmacy
Employer contact and emergency information
School contact and emergency information
Religious/spiritual organization
Also, know your essential health information such as blood type, allergies, past or current medical conditions, and current medications and their dosages. Make a list of that essential information for all the members of your household. Keep that list safe and make sure everyone in your household knows where it is.
HHS has sample sheets that you can print out and fill in with all your essential contact and health information.
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/planguide/InformationSheet.pdf
What Else Will I Need
Make sure you have:
Food and nonperishable items, such as ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, vegetables, and soups, protein or fruit bars, dry cereal or granola, peanut butter or nuts, dried fruit, crackers, canned juices, bottled water, canned or jarred baby food and formula, and pet food.
Medical and practical items, such as prescriptions drugs and medical supplies such as glucose and blood-pressure monitoring equipment, soap and water, or alcohol-based hand wash, medicines for fever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, thermometer, anti-diarrheal medication, vitamins, fluids with electrolytes, cleansing agent/soap, flashlight, batteries, portable radio, manual can opener, garbage bags and tissues, toilet paper, and disposable diapers.
Source: the Department of Health and Human Services
I already have duck tape. How about chicken tape. Will I need that?
What about people who run out of food and live more on the "edge" of society? Might they not disregard health risks in order to get what they can from the "haves"?
I would have discounted that as paranoid before Katrina, but now I have seen how fast things can really break down. It's not an analagous situation, but I've learned that the social veneer is very thin indeed.
here we go again. i already did this. different reason. so why do you need a battery operated radio for a pandemic?
To keep up with the news? Not every home has the internet. My father's never owned a computer, never wanted to.
If you have a Dunham's nearby, they've got your caliber in Wolf on sale for $2.50. I bought ten boxes.
I've got the Yugo with grenade launcher, and still looking for blanks and grenades to handle any flocks of low-flying ducks and Canadians (geese, that is) that I see sneezing.
(To tune of `Stars and Strips 4-Ever')
"Be kind to our web-footed friends,
for they could be somebody's mo-o-other."
Who's to say it wouldn't take out the people operating the power grid? at least enough to cause brown outs, etc...
I'm so comforted knowing that the government will take care of me and mine and all I need is 7 days worth of food.
We usually have at least one month of food on hand anyway, other than milk and fresh produce. Doesn't everyone?
I should have put /sarc.
I've read about this for months on FR and elsewhere. My humble opinion is that if it goes H2H, it'll be very bad. The 1918 flu came in several waves.
I should read that John Barry book.
The sick won't be able to do much, since they won't have the energy to leave their beds. We won't see bands of people roaming the streets looking for food- there will be plenty of cops and national guard still around.
Even if worst-case scenarios are true, we're not talking black plague style epidemics here. Heck, even during the Indluenza pandemic after WWI, there was no rioting or increases in violence.
I would have discounted that as paranoid before Katrina, but now I have seen how fast things can really break down. It's not an analagous situation, but I've learned that the social veneer is very thin indeed.
With Katrina, you had an entire city more or less cut off from the greater society. Even then, the stories of gangs roaming the streets and engaging in cannibalism were heavily overstated.
The power won't go out, water will keep running. There will still be police and other law enforcement on the streets. I think the streets would actually be safer, as people stay home and wait for the pandemic to pass.
Flu pandemics, unlike regular flu which has an annual cycle (Nov-Mar) can have multiple cycles. The Spanish flu ocurred in three cycles lasting over a year in 1917-18. Effects from pandemic flu can last from six months to two years.
If an extremely virulent strain of flu became pandemic, it's not unlikely that the economy could be significantly disrupted (food supply, water source, electricity, etc.) as people stay home and away from work to avoid contact with those infected. That could include electric, water, and gas utilities as well. If the power plants don't run you won't have electricity to get your news from TV, radio, etc, unless you have an alternative power source, i.e. generator, solar, or batteries. You need a battery powered radio to get news and information in case no other sources to get that info are available.
Well, looks like I got two of these. However, both are ac/dc battery operated...my mistake. The better looking of the two is an Axion brand. Here's how it's described:
3.5" water resistant,sport lcd tv with fm radio. It has a NI-MH rechargeable battery. TFT LCD Color TV W/FM Radio model, 16-3036.
I've not ever used it. Both are still in the box.
Page 314 in the Cabela's Master Spring catalog that just came out. $125 for two dry boxes full. (1000 rounds)
Not at all. In Happyland USA (where ABC News is headquartered), during a pandemic everyone would come out into their yards, share all their food and supplies, and them join hands and sing, "I'd like to buy the world a Coke!"
Yes, this household (just me) does. We were without electricity for seven days when Katrina hit. After the 3rd day, the Red Cross from Nebraska came by trying to hand out MRE's in the neighborhood. We asked the Red Cross folks if they'd like to come inside and have a steak lunch with us. We never saw them again after that, lol.
"Why would there be any more need for weapons and ammo? If anything, the streets will be safer as sick people stay indoors and other people decide to hole up at home until the problem passes."
Nope, sorry you are 100% wrong there. In the event of such a problem there will be people who will not have prepared. They won't have food, water or transportation. They might decide to take what they want starting with transportation, when they want it.
Self-defense prep is always required.
All you want.
http://www.sportsmansguide.com
640 rds. 7.62x39 HP Ammo in spam can
$74.97+ship
I was out east of Moss Point. We offered them shrimp dinners with fried taters w/onions. Two of them came back the next night.
try ammoman.com......eric is a great guy
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.