The American Red Cross has prepared
a 2 page guide to help with Home care for influenza....
click here to download a 2 page American Red Cross Guide for Home Care for the Flu
click here to read about potential Social Disruption during a Pandemic
This is a list we found on the web of 100 things that disappear first:
100 Items to Disappear First
1. Generators (Good ones cost dearly. Gas storage, risky. Noisy...target of thieves; maintenance
etc.) 2. Water Filters/Purifiers 3. Portable Toilets 4. Seasoned Firewood. Wood takes about 6 - 12 months to become
dried, for home uses. 5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps (First Choice: Buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!) 6. Coleman
Fuel. Impossible to stockpile too much. 7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats & Slingshots. 8.
Hand-can openers, & hand egg beaters, whisks. 9. Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugar 10. Rice - Beans - Wheat 11.
Vegetable Oil (for cooking) Without it food burns/must be boiled etc.,) 12. Charcoal, Lighter Fluid (Will become scarce
suddenly) 13. Water Containers (Urgent Item to obtain.) Any size. Small: HARD CLEAR PLASTIC ONLY - note - food grade
if for drinking. 16. Propane Cylinders (Urgent: Definite shortages will occur. 17. Survival Guide Book. 18. Mantles:
Aladdin, Coleman, etc. (Without this item, longer-term lighting is difficult.) 19. Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula. ointments/aspirin,
etc. 20. Washboards, Mop Bucket w/wringer (for Laundry) 21. Cookstoves (Propane, Coleman & Kerosene) 22. Vitamins 23.
Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder (Urgent: Small canister use is dangerous without this item) 24. Feminine Hygiene/Haircare/Skin
products. 25. Thermal underwear (Tops & Bottoms) 26. Bow saws, axes and hatchets, Wedges (also, honing oil) 27.
Aluminum Foil Reg. & Heavy Duty (Great Cooking and Barter Item) 28. Gasoline Containers (Plastic & Metal) 29.
Garbage Bags (Impossible To Have Too Many). 30. Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels 31. Milk - Powdered & Condensed
(Shake Liquid every 3 to 4 months) 32. Garden Seeds (Non-Hybrid) (A MUST) 33. Clothes pins/line/hangers (A MUST) 34.
Coleman's Pump Repair Kit 35. Tuna Fish (in oil) 36. Fire Extinguishers (or..large box of Baking Soda in every room) 37.
First aid kits 38. Batteries (all sizes...buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates) 39. Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking
supplies 40. Big Dogs (and plenty of dog food) 41. Flour, yeast & salt 42. Matches. {"Strike Anywhere" preferred.)
Boxed, wooden matches will go first 43. Writing paper/pads/pencils, solar calculators 44. Insulated ice chests (good
for keeping items from freezing in Wintertime.) 45. Workboots, belts, Levis & durable shirts 46. Flashlights/LIGHTSTICKS
& torches, "No. 76 Dietz" Lanterns 47. Journals, Diaries & Scrapbooks (jot down ideas, feelings, experience; Historic
Times) 48. Garbage cans Plastic (great for storage, water, transporting - if with wheels) 49. Men's Hygiene: Shampoo,
Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash/floss, nail clippers, etc 50. Cast iron cookware (sturdy, efficient) 51. Fishing supplies/tools 52.
Mosquito coils/repellent, sprays/creams 53. Duct Tape 54. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes 55. Candles 56.
Laundry Detergent (liquid) 57. Backpacks, Duffel Bags 58. Garden tools & supplies 59. Scissors, fabrics &
sewing supplies 60. Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc. 61. Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite) 62.
Canning supplies, (Jars/lids/wax) 63. Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel 64. Bicycles...Tires/tubes/pumps/chains,
etc 65. Sleeping Bags & blankets/pillows/mats 66. Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered) 67. Board Games, Cards,
Dice 68. d-con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer 69. Mousetraps, Ant traps & cockroach magnets 70. Paper
plates/cups/utensils (stock up, folks) 71. Baby wipes, oils, waterless & Antibacterial soap (saves a lot of water) 72.
Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc. 73. Shaving supplies (razors & creams, talc, after shave) 74. Hand pumps &
siphons (for water and for fuels) 75. Soysauce, vinegar, bullions/gravy/soupbase 76. Reading glasses 77. Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch
(water enhancers) 78. "Survival-in-a-Can" 79. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens 80. Boy Scout Handbook,
/ also Leaders Catalog 81. Roll-on Window Insulation Kit (MANCO) 82. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix/Jerky 83.
Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts 84. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. (extras) 85. Lumber (all types) 86. Wagons &
carts (for transport to and from) 87. Cots & Inflatable mattress's 88. Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc. 89.
Lantern Hangers 90. Screen Patches, glue, nails, screws,, nuts & bolts 91. Teas 92. Coffee 93. Cigarettes 94.
Wine/Liquors (for bribes, medicinal, etc,) 95. Paraffin wax 96. Glue, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, etc. 97. Chewing
gum/candies 98. Atomizers (for cooling/bathing) 99. Hats & cotton neckerchiefs 100. Goats/chickens
and this followed it:
From a Sarajevo War
Survivor: Experiencing horrible things that can happen in a war - death of parents and friends, hunger and malnutrition,
endless freezing cold, fear, sniper attacks.
1. Stockpiling helps. but you never no how long trouble will last, so
locate near renewable food sources.
2. Living near a well with a manual pump is like being in Eden.
3. After awhile, even gold can lose its luster. But there is no luxury
in war quite like toilet paper. Its surplus value is greater than gold's.
4. If you had to go without one utility, lose electricity - it's the easiest
to do without (unless you're in a very nice climate with no need for heat.)
5. Canned foods are awesome, especially if their contents are tasty without heating.
One of the best things to stockpile is canned gravy - it makes a lot of the dry unappetizing things you find to eat in
war somewhat edible. Only needs enough heat to "warm", not to cook. It's cheap too, especially if you buy it in bulk.
6. Bring some books - escapist ones like romance or mysteries become more valuable
as the war continues. Sure, it's great to have a lot of survival guides, but you'll figure most of that out on your own
anyway - trust me, you'll have a lot of time on your hands.
7. The feeling that you're human can fade pretty fast. I can't tell you
how many people I knew who would have traded a much needed meal for just a little bit of toothpaste, rouge, soap or
cologne. Not much point in fighting if you have to lose your humanity. These things are morale-builders like nothing else.
8. Slow burning candles and matches, matches, matches
Some suggestions in getting ready :
Develop preparedness plans as you would for other public health
emergencies. (HHS says that means keeping enough food, water and other supplies on hand for three days.)
•Participate in and promote public health efforts
in your state and community.
•Talk to local public health officials and health
care providers who can supply information about the signs and symptoms of an outbreak.
•Anticipate how to function if a large part of the
workforce or school population is absent because of illness.
•Practice good health habits, such as eating a balanced
diet, exercising and getting enough rest. Wash hands frequently; cover coughs and sneezes with tissues; stay away from others
if you're sick.
•Stock a "survival kit" with prescription medicines,
over-the-counter drugs such as ibuprofen, antihistamines and cough syrup, and medical supplies, including a thermometer and
blood pressure monitor.
•Learn basic medical skills, such as how to check
temperature, pulse and respiratory rate and blood pressure.
•Make sure you have a will and life insurance.
•Get a flu shot and pneumococcal vaccination. Though
a flu shot won't prevent a pandemic strain, it will reduce the risk of being infected with two flu strains in the same year.
The pneumococcal vaccine can prevent pneumococcal pneumonia, a complication of flu.
•Know how to identify and treat dehydration, which
can result from fever or diarrhea. Symptoms include weakness, headache, fainting, dry mouth, decreased urine that is dark
and highly concentrated, loss of skin elasticity, low blood pressure, fast pulse when lying down or sitting still. "Preventing
dehydration in flu victims will save more lives than all the other treatments combined," Dr G. Woodson writes. An "oral rehydration
solution" is more effective than plain water because it replaces lost salt and includes sugar, which helps water enter and
stay in the body. To make it, mix 4 cups of clean water with 3 tablespoons of sugar or honey and1/4 teaspoon of table salt.
click here to download a one page handout on what you can do about pandemic flu
click here for information on Emergency Water Storage - How to do it, howlong to keep iit and how much to store
Click here to go to FluWiki:The purpose of the Flu Wiki is to help local communities prepare for and perhaps cope with a possible
influenza pandemic. This is a task previously ceded to local, state and national governmental public health agencies.
Click here to watch a 10 minute film on Pandemic Flu
Click here to a FAQ on Pandemic Flu
Click here to go to the main federal site on Pandemic
CLICK: TEN THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PANDEMIC AVIAN FLU
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