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
Thanks, good link...very detailed.
all kidding & mockery aside, I believe that advice is spot on.
Ramifications of the economy grinding to a halt for several weeks will make 9/11 pale. Biblical proportions.
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Me too. I bet this time Clay wins...
Heh..heh..all these jokers in jogging outfits and riding mountain bikes will drop like flies while us couch potatoes might get the sniffles. 's what I hear.
Yeah, these touchy, feely morons are now getting themselves elected into positions of power, I mentioned that on another thread. Can you imagine the impact on our country when a majority of these dingbats are entrenched in our gummn'it? Hell, they will hold a ticker tape parade for the incoming Muzzies!
I thought the same thing.
With guns and ammo you can "barter" (Bwahahahahahaha) for everything else you need.
helpful hints from CDC. Imagine not working for a few weeks with just in time inventory. Startup might take awhile.
Social Disruption May Be Widespread
Plan for the possibility that usual services may be disrupted. These could include services provided by hospitals and other health care facilities, banks, stores, restaurants, government offices, and post offices.
Prepare backup plans in case public gatherings, such as volunteer meetings and worship services, are canceled.
Consider how to care for people with special needs in case the services they rely on are not available.
Being Able to Work May Be Difficult or Impossible
Find out if you can work from home.
Ask your employer about how business will continue during a pandemic. (A Business Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist is available at www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/tab4.html.)
Plan for the possible reduction or loss of income if you are unable to work or your place of employment is closed.
Check with your employer or union about leave policies.
Schools May Be Closed for an Extended Period of Time
Help schools plan for pandemic influenza. Talk to the school nurse or the health center. Talk to your teachers, administrators, and parent-teacher organizations.
Plan home learning activities and exercises. Have materials, such as books, on hand. Also plan recreational activities that your children can do at home.
Consider childcare needs.
Transportation Services May Be Disrupted
Think about how you can rely less on public transportation during a pandemic. For example, store food and other essential supplies so you can make fewer trips to the store.
Prepare backup plans for taking care of loved ones who are far away.
Consider other ways to get to work, or, if you can, work at home.
The flu of 1918 would swoop into a town, kill many and be gone in a short period of time. This one probably won't kill that many or that fast -- so it'll be more than seven days...
A hand powered TV? Any idea on the name of it or where they got it?
I might be interested in picking up one for myself.
The powers that be need to lift the ban on killing those odious Canadian geese! Get rid of those filthy things, and our chances of getting the bird flu diminish.
Since duck tape is actually made from pureed duck (thus the name), it is perhaps the worst thing to have in your house in the event of an Avian Flu outbreak. The virus has been shown to survive the process of making tape from ducks, and is released when the tape is applied...
Its going to put a big hurt on chicken ranches/farms...
and yes the bird population is going to drop also...
buy pork belly futures and cattle futures
When you see your yard littered with dead birds, place head between knees and kiss your ass good bye.
150 mg. BID for 10 days, begining immediately with symptoms, is the way to go.
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.
I would urge people to go to Dr. Robert Cathcart's site and see his information. He was famous in the 80s for treating aids patients.
http://www.orthomed.com/flu.htm
Gotta love the 'ol Simonov. Now, if I could actually get my hands on any volume of 7.62x39 Wolf ammo these days. 8^(
I already have duck tape. How about chicken tape. Will I need that?
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