How to prepare for a pandemic

US Center for Disease Control (CDC) Planning and Checklist for Individuals and Families

You can prepare for an influenza pandemic now. You should know both the magnitude of what can happen during a pandemic outbreak and what actions you can take to help lessen the impact of an influenza pandemic on you and your family. This checklist will help you gather the information and resources you may need in case of a flu pandemic.


http://www.pandemicflu.gov/planguide/checklist.html

[FlamencoDancer]

I've noticed lots of sites like this one popping up.

Masks (http://www.coopersafety.com/shop/category.cfm?cid=511)

Yesterday I talked to a medical supply business owner who told me that they are rationing these kinds of respirators. The government is allowing only so many per busisness and if you didn't stock any last year you don't get any this year. He said he had 5 cases and when they're gone they're gone.

Dr. Grattan Woodson, MD, FACP, member of the faculty of Emory University School of Medicine, co-founder for the Atlanta Center for Medicine and founder of the Druid Oaks Health Center in Atlanta has compiled this document to prepare his patients for the coming pandemic.


An extraordinary event is happening right now that has the potential to affect humanity in ways thought banished years ago. Scientists are closely monitoring what looks like the birth of a super strain of one of humankind’s oldest and most persistent enemies, the influenza virus. This new strain has the potential to kill hundreds of millions given the right conditions. According to the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the required conditions are now in place. We stand on the verge of a once in a century influenza pandemic, an event quite different from our routine seasonal flu. Pandemic flu spreads like wildfire through the human race leaving death, chaos, and civil disorder in its wake.

This monograph is dedicated to, and written for my patients. I wrote it both to inform them about this health threat, and to provide them with some practical guidance on how they can survive the pandemic.

Full article:
http://www.fluwikie.com/uploads/Consequences/NewGuideOct7b.pdf

[Lawdog]

Thanks for the info...:)

Originally posted by Lawdog
Thanks for the info...:)

You are most welcome, Lawdog. I am reviewing a number of sources before I post them here. Some are not worth the digital ink they are printed on.

Dr. Osterholm, a frequent guest on Oprah, is considered one of the foremost experts on influenza. In this article from the New England Journal of Medicine he outlines the problems in preparing for the coming pandemic and what must be done by governments and industry to prepare:

"An influenza pandemic has always been a great global infectious-disease threat. There have been 10 pandemics of influenza A in the past 300 years. A recent analysis showed that the pandemic of 1918 and 1919 killed 50 million to 100 million people,1 and although its severity is often considered anomalous, the pandemic of 1830 through 1832 was similarly severe — it simply occurred when the world's population was smaller. Today, with a world population of 6.5 billion — more than three times that in 1918 — even a relatively "mild" pandemic could kill many millions of people.

"Influenza experts recognize the inevitability of another pandemic. When will it begin? Will it be caused by H5N1, the avian influenzavirus strain currently circulating in Asia? Will its effect rival that of 1918 or be more muted, as was the case in the pandemics of 1957 and 1968? Nobody knows.

"So how can we prepare? One key step is to rapidly ramp up research related to the production of an effective vaccine, as the Department of Health and Human Services is doing.

Full article:

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/352/18/1839

This was posted on another message board by a member of the Georgia Medical Reserve Corps, which is looking for medical volunteers:

I am a member of the NorthEAST Georgia Medical Reserve Corps . I joined because I wanted an "inside" view of what regional and state govs are doing to prepare people (both on staff and in the community) for BF.

Initially, our group of volunteers (56 people, mainly retired nurses) was talked to about smallpox as a bioweapon and how to set up and distribute vaccinations to the general public. Bird flu was mentioned in passing, always in terms of "we are being trainined to respond to threats like bioterrorism and pandemic influenza."

Finally, I asked our organizer (a regional public health official) the following question: "Listen, I'm not trying to be paranoid or anything, but why suddenly the big push to recruit volunteers? If this group was formed in response to 9/11, why the big flurry of activity (training, recruiting) now? Is it because you people have been told by the feds that we are really at risk of a pandemic and need to start taking action?" He replied that he had been told no such thing, but that he was capitalizing on increased awareness of biological threats and a corresponding rise in "political will" to form committees and deliver training. Of course, this rise in awareness has not meant a rise in money for the group. We have literally NO budget because all the federal money set aside for our (federally mandated) group was spent on Katrina.

So our last training event 2 weeks ago finally dealt with the BF. We had a fellow from the state emergency management agency speak to the group about the flu's past and its anticipated development, and let me tell you, I was IMPRESSED. It was as if he had been reading the flu clinic/old agonist boards every day. None of this crap about "no evidence of h2h transmission." He talked about family clusters in Indonesia, and Thailand, and said we could expect more soon. He said that many experts think we have been at stage 4 for a while now. No BS about "you can only get it by kissing chickens." He also admitted that there was no vaccine yet and that anti-virals were either unlikely to work or wouldn't be available. He was straight up about the personal and social ramifications of this event, and suggested that we begin preparing for quarantine (he did not say for how long). He scared the poo out of everyone there except for me (my poo was scared out of me years ago, when BF started spreading in Vietnam and Thailand).

He also said he would rely on our group to be first responders in the event that it goes pandemic. I raised my hand and said, "We've been training for months about how to set up vaccination stations and deliver vaccines to the population. Why have we been training for this? You just told us there is no vaccine. What are you going to expect us to DO in case of BF?"

He looked very upset and said, "Care for the sick in the tent hospitals we set up and dispose of the dead."

So I said, "But we won't have any immunity to the flu. We'll be just as likely to catch it as the people we're caring for."

He looked even more upset and said, "I know."

The entire crowd starting murmuring at this point. I heard "What? And bring it home to my family? No way!" and "I'm staying home," and various other comments.

I felt sorry for the man. But I also felt like the mask was off our group, so to speak. I really think the government folks in Georigia are starting to realize
that this is going to happen unless we are very lucky. And I think they are trying to prepare a cadre of the population for the worst, so maybe we can start educating other people about what's likely to happen. I guarantee you everyone there went and told 5 other people about what they heard. And what they heard was THE REAL DEAL. I think that's the real purpose of this volunteer group. They know very well how few of us will show up to tent hospitals when our own families may be sick (or well). They are not training us for anything. They are using us to get the word out.

Dikobraz

The Current Events message board has some useful discussions on how to prepare for the flu -- everything from where to buy economical nonperishables, how to make powdered milk taste better, freeze-dried blueberries and apple chunks, disinfectants, etc.

http://www.curevents.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=42

Remember the US govt. is telling you to stock 6 weeks of non-perishable food and water NOW. Try to make a goodly portion of that food something that doesn't have to be cooked since there will be widespread and prolonged utility outages. If you don't already have an outdoor grill, this might be a good time to get one, along with propane or charcoal aplenty.

Many people suggest getting dry beans as a good staple, but they have to be cooked. Yes, they are cheap but useless if you have no way to cook them for hours. If you buy canned beans you don't have to worry, although they taste better warm, you can survive eating them at room temp. If you check the store sales or buy in quantity at discount outlets, you can get some very tasty canned black beans, cannellli beans, navy beans, etc.
Same thing for soups.

And, by the way, the safer you are if you can stash food for longer than 6 weeks. It takes some real planning, thought about how much your family consumes on a weekly basis, and figuring out where the hell you're going to store the stash. Speaking from experience, it takes more than a day to accomplish this.

Your prescription meds for a couple of months

the petfood, kitty litter, etc., heartworm meds and flea control
furnace filters, light bulbs, vacuum cleaner bags,
batteries, light bulbs, candles, kitchen matches, bug spray,
roach motels, ant killer
deoderant, toothpaste, mouth wash, bar soap, shampoo, conditioner, feminine hygiene products, razors (his), razors (hers),
first aid products, cold remedies, immodium
garbage bags, nitrile disposable gloves
toilet paper, paper towels, kleenex
dishwasher detergent (just in case the power works), laundry detergent, other soaps and cleansers
spices, candy, soda pop, kerosene lamps and fuel

things to keep the kids from driving you nuts: puzzles, playing cards, games, DVDs for when the power comes back on

No kidding: putting together a 6-8-week disaster stash for a family of four is a major undertaking financially and logistically. It can't be done overnight. It takes smart planning and buying and carrying in a million plastic bags. But, as long as you are buying things that you will use -- pandemic or no pandemic -- you are simply buying at today's prices something that may be totally unavailable and if available during a pandemic, will cost you a blood fortune.

By LARA SETRAKIAN
ABC NEWS
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/AvianFlu/story?id=1701876

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.

Full article:

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/AvianFlu/story?id=1701876

BARTERING

100 Items to Disappear First in A Panic

By Joseph Almond


#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

#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 sugars

#10. Rice - Beans - Wheat

#11. Vegetable oil (for cooking)

#12. Charcoal & Lighter fluid (Will become scarce suddenly.)

#13. Water containers (Urgent Item to obtain. Any size. Small: HARD CLEAR PLASTIC ONLY)

#14. Mini Heater head (Propane) (Without this item, propane won't heat a room.)

#15. Grain Grinder (Non-electric)

#16. Propane Cylinders

#17. Michael Hyatt's Y2K Survival Guide (BEST single handbook for sound advice/tips.)

#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 and bottoms)

#26. Bow saws, axes and hatchets & Wedges (also, honing oil)

#27. Aluminum foil Reg. & Hvy. Duty (Great Cooking & Barter item)

#28. Gasoline containers (Plastic or 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)

#33. Clothes pins/line/hangers

#34. Coleman's Pump Repair Kit

#35. Tuna Fish

#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 (3 box/$1 .44 at WalMart: "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/LIGIITSTICKS & torches, "No.76 Dietz" Lanterns

#47. Journals, Diaries & Scrapbooks (Jot down ideas, feelings, experiences: 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 & Duffle 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 & Anti-bacterial 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, boullions/gravy/soup base

#76. Reading glasses

#77. Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch (water enhancers)

#78. "Survival-in-a-Can"

#79. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens


#80. BSA - New 1998 - Boy Scout Handbook (also, Leader's 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 & from open Flea markets)

#87. Cots & Inflatable mattresses (for extra guests)

#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

[protectkidz]

home-schooling supplies?

[bikerduck]

I like #100 Goats

A must have!
MOO

Bikerduck

By Adam Shell, USA TODAY
NEW YORK — Bird flu has yet to come even close to the USA's borders, but Wall Street analysts are already crafting advice on how investors can inoculate their portfolios if a pandemic breaks out.

Bird flu — not yet in the USA — affects poultry but on rare occasions can infect humans.
By Mike Tripp, The (Staunton, Va.) News Leader via AP

Not since the SARS scare in Asia in spring 2003 — when Hong Kong stocks plunged 10% in six weeks before rebounding after the virus stopped spreading — has a health-related crisis put investors on edge.

Wall Street, which makes its living betting on what the future may look like, has been busy concocting what-if scenarios, handicapping winning and losing stock sectors, and educating clients in the science of bird flu. Recent ink devoted to the H5N1 virus:

•Special report. Citigroup recently sent clients a comprehensive 46-page report on bird flu

Full article:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/markets/us/2006-03-22-bird-flu-usat_x.htm

This is from last August, but it's good that this essential industry is thinking about a pandemic.

An Analysis of the Potential Impact of the H5N1 Avian Flu Virus
Wholesale and Retail Grocery and Foodservice Industry

This white paper was developed by a regional wholesale and retail food company in an attempt to understand the ramifications of a catastrophic flu pandemic.

A task force of 15 professionals representing all key functional areas was formed with the assignment of brainstorming this issue and documenting as many ideas, recommendations and suggestions as possible.

One of the key recommendations of this task force is the necessity to share this work with the industry.

http://www.amrresearch.com/avianflu/H5N1PotentialImpact.pdf

The US-based Financial Services Sector Coordinating Council for Critical Infrastructure Protection and Homeland Security outlines the steps to be taken by financial institutions in contingency planning for avian flu.

Financial institutions have long taken a leading role in developing sophisticated and complex business continuity programs that are designed to assist their critical operations to maintain or recover their functionality despite a potentially disruptive event. These plans have evolved over the past few years to also cover low probability but high impact events such as terrorist attacks, and to broaden their focus to also cover wide-scale disruptions that might affect an entire financial district or metropolitan area. Nevertheless, a number of financial institutions have recently become increasingly concerned that their current 'all hazards' approach to business continuity planning may not be sufficient to address circumstances in which the organization must try to function during an outbreak of 'avian flu' or another serious infectious disease.


Full article:
http://www.finextra.com/fullfeature.asp?id=723

[Deepwater]

This is a technical article, but an important one to demonstrate how current pandemic plans are not preparing properly.

"Reducing the Impact of the Next Influenza Pandemic Using Household-Based Public Health Interventions"

National preparedness plans currently focus on reducing the IMPACT associated with the pandemic rather than reducing TRANSMISSION.

Full article:

http://medicine.plosjournals.org/archive/1549-1676/3/9/pdf/10.1371_journal.pmed.0030361-L.pdf

[Deepwater]

This is a very detailed article on how to get and purify water in short and long-term emergency situations. Print it out and make some plans for what you would do if suddenly your water supply is shut off or becomes contaminated.

http://www.grandpappy.info/wwater.htm

[Jayelles]

I like to have contingency plans for emergencies and after 911, I started my disaster contingency by following the Red Cross guidelines. We have a designated "safe" room (actually it's our hall) which is slap bang in the middle of the house without an outside wall or window. I have my box which contains all the medical supplies, canned food, candles, matches, card games etc and rolls of duct tape for sealing doors against fall out dust or biological stuff.

I also bought a flu kit two years ago with masks and disinfectant sprays and handwashes. I didn't want to leave it until an outbreak in case we couldn't get one.

My family indulge my need to be safe rather than sorry.

Just FWIW, I've always found in the past that if one member of the family caught a tummy bug, it would invariably affect at least one other if not all of us. A couple of years ago, Dettol started selling this spray which is supposed to kill 99% of germs and I bought it to use if anyone got a tummy bug. Since then, if anyone in the family (there are five of us) caught a nasty tummy bug, I have used the Dettol spray cleaner to clean the toilets, taps (faucets), door handles, surfaces, light switches etc and I have also sprayed the house liberally with the Dettol spray and not once since I started doing this, has anyone else caught the bug.

It just goes to show you - we may not be able to see them - but the bugs are definitely there.

[Evening2]

I like to have contingency plans for emergencies and after 911, I started my disaster contingency by following the Red Cross guidelines. We have a designated "safe" room (actually it's our hall) which is slap bang in the middle of the house without an outside wall or window. I have my box which contains all the medical supplies, canned food, candles, matches, card games etc and rolls of duct tape for sealing doors against fall out dust or biological stuff.

I also bought a flu kit two years ago with masks and disinfectant sprays and handwashes. I didn't want to leave it until an outbreak in case we couldn't get one.

My family indulge my need to be safe rather than sorry.

Just FWIW, I've always found in the past that if one member of the family caught a tummy bug, it would invariably affect at least one other if not all of us. A couple of years ago, Dettol started selling this spray which is supposed to kill 99% of germs and I bought it to use if anyone got a tummy bug. Since then, if anyone in the family (there are five of us) caught a nasty tummy bug, I have used the Dettol spray cleaner to clean the toilets, taps (faucets), door handles, surfaces, light switches etc and I have also sprayed the house liberally with the Dettol spray and not once since I started doing this, has anyone else caught the bug.

It just goes to show you - we may not be able to see them - but the bugs are definitely there.

The same goes for snakes! ;)

[Jayelles]

The same goes for snakes! ;)

What is the purpose of this post other than as yet another attempt to stir up trouble?

[PhilMeyers]

thanks for sharing the info with us.

[Its just me]

I like to have contingency plans for emergencies and after 911, I started my disaster contingency by following the Red Cross guidelines. We have a designated "safe" room (actually it's our hall) which is slap bang in the middle of the house without an outside wall or window. I have my box which contains all the medical supplies, canned food, candles, matches, card games etc and rolls of duct tape for sealing doors against fall out dust or biological stuff.

I also bought a flu kit two years ago with masks and disinfectant sprays and handwashes. I didn't want to leave it until an outbreak in case we couldn't get one.

My family indulge my need to be safe rather than sorry.

Just FWIW, I've always found in the past that if one member of the family caught a tummy bug, it would invariably affect at least one other if not all of us. A couple of years ago, Dettol started selling this spray which is supposed to kill 99% of germs and I bought it to use if anyone got a tummy bug. Since then, if anyone in the family (there are five of us) caught a nasty tummy bug, I have used the Dettol spray cleaner to clean the toilets, taps (faucets), door handles, surfaces, light switches etc and I have also sprayed the house liberally with the Dettol spray and not once since I started doing this, has anyone else caught the bug.

It just goes to show you - we may not be able to see them - but the bugs are definitely there.

bumping post to get beyond the sick soul posting porn.