What FluTrackers are Personally Doing About a Future Pandemic Influenza

sharon sanders · Apr 7, 2013

So really we know nothing. That is the consensus on this thread.

Too bad. But that is reality I think.

Anyway, this is what I did this week because when there is an outbreak of a novel flu virus among humans anywhere in the world we all need to take a long look at that. At the very least we can say there is a novel flu virus outbreak in the Shanghai-Eastern China area that is infecting some people and has killed a few:

1) I renewed a 90 day prescription of a maintenance drug that I must take everyday,

2) My husband had an eye procedure that he has put off for a year,

3) I stocked up on large chocolate bars since they were on sale - by one and then get one for free (I ate one already - lol),

4) I bought a 25 pound bag of rice.

5) I am still in Florida. I go to Canada in the summers, leaving Florida in mid-May, and this is still the schedule for this year.

So that is where my mind is. It wasn't much but I feel better. I think that people who are in the public eye should disclose what they are doing, or not doing, about disease outbreaks. Action speaks louder than words.

Shannon Bennett · Apr 7, 2013

Re: Is H7N9 Spreading from Human to Human in China?

Re: Is H7N9 Spreading from Human to Human in China?

Sharon I will pick up your challenge. All in all, I think we are in pretty good shape but, there were a few things that will make me feel more confidant.

I looked at my regular food storage and decided I really needed to cull some things and replace them.
Replaced some nitrile gloves.
For those of you who know me this will come as no surprise. I think I need to make some more elderberry and mullein extracts. Most of my elderberry has been consumed. The mullein was always in short supply since it is flu specific.
I am planting a fairly large garden this year. Good exercise, good vitamin D and, fewer visits to the market.

Shannon Bennett · Apr 9, 2013

Re: Stock up now to be ready if pandemic hits

Re: Stock up now to be ready if pandemic hits

I thought this might be a good time to reinstitute this gem into general chat. I plan on updating my personal preps over the coming days and weeks......just in case. I invite others to join me in their steps to be as ready as possible if this thing (H7N9) blows up.

Finding the time to go over all of our preps is going to be the first and maybe the biggest hurdle. But, I will make the time.

What food preps need to be replaced.
Which medications need to be purchased.
Which tinctures do I need to get started on asap.
What household items do I need to get.
Start preparing family and friends with some basic info re. the virus.

Once I have the list I am going to have to prioritize what can be done now as opposed to what must be put off for a while.

Nika · Apr 9, 2013

Re: Stock up now to be ready if pandemic hits

Re: Stock up now to be ready if pandemic hits

Might be good to identify the likely time period one is prepping for. Different ppl see SHTF scenarios for pandemic. Some ppl think u need to prep for months to cover effective sheltering in place and quarantine while others think pandemic means hard collapse of modern civilization and supply chains and thus deep many years prep is needed (think Walking Dead).

This informs how to prep/what to get, etc.

sharon sanders · Apr 9, 2013

Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

I made copies of the 1st 2 posts from the thread linked at the top of post 1.

And I moved 2 posts from this thread.

I think people want to know what we are personally doing about what we see and hear so we should tell them. We can make links back to threads/posts on the site that support our actions.

Thanks everyone!

Pathfinder · Apr 10, 2013

What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

The best preparation tip that I can give (and it's free )

Wash Your Hands

Keeping hands clean is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of infection and illness.


Handwashing is easy to do and it's one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of many types of infection and illness in all settings?from your home and workplace to child care facilities and hospitals.

Clean hands can stop germs from spreading from one person to another and throughout an entire community.

Learn more about when and how to wash your hands.

When should you wash your hands?

Before, during, and after preparing food
Before eating food
Before and after caring for someone who is sick
Before and after treating a cut or wound
After using the toilet
After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
After touching garbage

What is the right way to wash your hands?

Wet your hands with clean running water (warm or cold) and apply soap.
Rub your hands together to make a lather and scrub them well; be sure to scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
Continue rubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the "Happy Birthday" song from beginning to end twice.
Rinse your hands well under running water.
Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry.

Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to reduce the number of germs on them. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in some situations, but sanitizers do not eliminate all types of germs.

Hand sanitizers may not be as effective when hands are visibly dirty.

How should you use hand sanitizer?

Apply the product to the palm of one hand (read the label to learn the correct amount).
Rub your hands together.
Rub the product over all surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry.

For more information on handwashing, please visit CDC's Handwashing website. You can also call 1-800-CDC-INFO, or email cdcinfo@cdc.gov for answers to specific questions.

http://www.cdc.gov/features/handwashing/

Laidback Al · Apr 10, 2013

What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

Pathfinder beat me to posting a good idea for prepping that is free.

We haven?t talked prepping in a long, long time, but the subforums are filled with what-if scenarios, ranging from preparing for a short term local disaster such as an energy blackout to infrastructure destruction and full scale dissolution of civilization as we know it. A lot of thought and words have already been expended on the subject.

If you read those old posts you will see that prepping is NOT about spending a lot money on food and supplies and then figuring out how to survive in your bugout location.

Prepping is a state of mind. It is developing knowledge and being aware of potential dangers and how disasters could affect you, your family, and your neighbors. Only after you understand the nature of the risks you might face, is it time to make adjustments to your lifestyle and daily activity as you can afford to make those adjustments.

Mental preparation ahead of time is the best prepping anyone can do. It will keep you from panicking when there is an emergency or disaster. And it does not have to cost money.

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curiosity · Apr 10, 2013

What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

I personally like Sharon's chocolate bar idea, but I don't think it would last too long in the supply cache.

Outside of the typical, necessary items - lists are everywhere and it comes down to non-perishable food, water, first aid supplies, and meds - resourcefulness is important, too.

Knowing where the post 30 day supply of water and food (when your supplies run out) will come from is just as important.

Recognizing also that during an event where you are on your own for 30 days without some semblance of assistance from a community/government source is a huge indicator the world will not be the same and it may be all about survival for the next few generations.

Communications and Electricy - The two are pillars to our everyday life (the roof) and each can not function independently without the other. Without one or the other, the world we know today will be very different.

On a positive note, IMO people are people and while there will always be the "bad guys", most are genuinely interested in helping eachother - grouping together as a community for the better good. Even in horrible situations where starvation and war ravage villages and communities - you will find groups of people surviving.

We are, after all, pack animals by nature.

Shannon Bennett · Apr 10, 2013

What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

My list of things to get this weekend. We will have to wait until Saturday as some of the things are not locally available.

Cranberry juice - prevents viral adhesion
barley (bulk) -immunomodulator
raw peanuts (bulk) - best source of resveratrol
coconut oil. - anti-viral

My herb order will include

mullein
skullcap (scutellaria baicalensis, anti-inflammatory, and antihistamine, aids in treating allergies or allergic rhinitis, particularly when used with stinging nettle)
polygonum cuspidatum
hibiscus flowers
bromelain
nettle
lemon balm
astragulus
shitake
cordycepts
maitake

Shiloh · Apr 10, 2013

Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

As of today, have done no preps. I have enough in stock for a week or two to cover my family's needs in case of loss of power for that duration due to an ice storm or other event.
I do not envision doing preparation for an H7N9 pandemic until I see signs that cases are expanding exponentially within China and beyond its borders.
Pandemic or not, natural disasters happen. One cannot depend on immediate outside assistance, so one should have a plan in place. I would suggest to folks who have no plan, to scan through the various Flutrackers Preparation threads for ideas on how to begin and what should be stored.

jeffrey · Apr 10, 2013

Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

I am like Shiloh. Living in California, you never know about earthquakes and since we have been through several we have always had enough. Until I know more, then I may consider buying a survival food kit.

Emily · Apr 10, 2013

Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

I tried the stocking up on chocolate idea. As serendipity would have it, yesterday a local chocolatier was having the first sale he's ever had to clear out some excess inventory.

I took it home, stored it for a few hours, then ate it all.

(I still have my usual back-up supply of a less tempting variety.)

kiwibird · Apr 10, 2013

Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

This is a good comprehensive list: http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=228545

And this gives quantities of food etc. required for one person to survive for one month: http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11957

It is a lot! Quite a shock to realize what we need. Water storage, basic foods and a method of heating/cooking are primary, along with any medication required. Anything else is like insurance - comforting!

AlaskaDenise · Apr 10, 2013

Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

jeffrey said:
I am like Shiloh. Living in California, you never know about earthquakes and since we have been through several we have always had enough. Until I know more, then I may consider buying a survival food kit.

I'm in a "gotta always be prepared" location, also. Between earthquakes, heavy snowstorms, and floods that DID cut off communities last year and are expected to do even worse this year (in a few weeks) - being prepared is a way of life.

.

sharon sanders · Apr 10, 2013

Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

Emily said:
I tried the stocking up on chocolate idea. As serendipity would have it, yesterday a local chocolatier was having the first sale he's ever had to clear out some excess inventory.

I took it home, stored it for a few hours, then ate it all. (I still have my usual back-up supply of a less tempting variety.)

I am a chocolate addict. All of the chocolate in this house is gone!

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kiwibird · Apr 10, 2013

Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

Chocolate is good - isn't it supposed to be good for ... Diarrhea?.? On that subject The oral rehydration solution (basic one) in this post by Sally http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11957 should be kept to hand. Roughly 3teaspoons sugar, one teaspoon salt added to one litre of water. (variations provided in the post) it is well worth reading the whole post so you can make up your own mind about proportions. Thanks Sally!

jeffrey · Apr 10, 2013

Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

You all are too funny! I guess we have to put some humor in...To Alaska Denise, good luck on whatever is coming your way... I know how you feel and it is not good! Lucky we are actually off the San Andreas fault now, but anything can happen. BTW we wash our hands all the time!

Emily · Apr 11, 2013

Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

sharon sanders said:
I am a chocolate addict. All of the chocolate in this house is gone!

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8NPzLBSBzPI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I love that scene. "Let 'er roll!"

Those are the kind of candies I could not stock up on. 73% cacao content bricks are safe, though. I didn't know about the side benefit Kiwibird brought up, :magnify:, but a little is a more relaxing form of caffeine than coffee, and it's easier to manage if boiling water is a problem.

Seriously, I haven't done any preps for this specific strain of flu. I made some health changes thanks to things I learned here since 2009 that I try to keep up with. Getting your immune system and environment as optimized as possible is a slow process. I did get my vitamin D levels tested to make sure I was in range last year.

Like Shannon, I keep some remedies handy and I should be prepped in a general sense for disasters since I live in a seismically active area. I have to admit I need to do more on that front.

When I think about disasters, I usually reflect on my relationships with nearby neighbors. Those are the people you may depend on and share skills and resources with.

sharon sanders · Apr 22, 2013

Re: Is H7N9 Spreading from Human to Human in China?

Re: Is H7N9 Spreading from Human to Human in China?

I think everyone should activate their personal disease preparedness plan as the US CDC has issued a question and answer paper here that says to expect H7N9 in the United States probably via a traveler from China.

There is no proof that H7N9 is human-to-human but 3 clusters have been confirmed. There may be some limited human-to-human spread. We do not know.

What we do know is that China has a massive environmental contagion that infects people with H7N9. This is a threat to global health.

So this is what I am doing:

1) I am telling my family and friends about the situation.

2) I have added some "preps" to my food. In Florida we are supposed to have 5 days of food and water for hurricane season so I am going to do that anyway. In 2004 I was without power for 3 separate weeks so I know about that experience.

3) I already purchased a 90 day supply of my maintenance drug a couple of weeks ago.

4) Since prevention is the only weapon we have against an H7N9 infection I am going to see what else I need regarding vitamins, masks, gloves, etc.

5) Since I live in one of the top tourists destinations in the world, I have started to enforce a house policy that every time someone walks inside they immediately wash their hands.

6) I am going to start wiping down handles, door knobs, remotes, etc. once a day.

7) I am finding some local people willing to be in a flu buddy group with me. So far I have 1 health care professional and I also have 2 seniors who will need extra help in a health care emergency.

8) I am going to contact the local schools in my area and talk to the school nurse or principle about H7N9.

9) I am going to use 3 items in my outreach:

Watch: Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions
Avian Flu (H7N9) in China

Interim Guidance on the Use of Antiviral Agents for Treatment of Human Infections with Avian Influenza A (H7N9)

H7N9 Flu and You

Diane Morin · Apr 22, 2013

Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

Machine translation

In my case I focus on the preparation in the area where I work. It is a non-profit organization that helps homeless people. I'm pushing for the general emergency plan rejoingnent and adequately cover this category of citizens. I did it again last Friday and it seems that there is the opening on the side of public safety for the City of Quebec. Within the organization I Reforce hygiene measures. I educates the staff, volunteers and users. After Sharon's message this morning I gave the example and I toured the surfaces of the reception room. I reserve household products, gloves, windshield while paper and handkerchiefs. We have in stock what is germicidal and masks. I also think the material sensibilistation.

At home, I continue my preparations with targeted purchases (gloves, handkerchiefs, etc..). I what to take medication every day for two months. I'll do my inventory for what medication (syrup, Tylenol, etc..) For the symptoms of flu or cold. Regarding the food I already have it in reserve.

I will continue my activities Fitness and gardening with even greater motivation.

*****************

En ce qui me concerne je mets l'accent sur la préparation dans le milieu où je travaille. Il s'agit d'un organisme sans but lucratif qui vient en aide aux personnes sans-abris. Je fais pression pour que les plans d'urgence en général rejoingnent et couvrent adéquatement cette catégorie de citoyens. Je l'ai fait encore vendredi dernier et il semblerait qu'il y ait de l'ouverture du côté de la sécurité civile à la Ville de Québec. Au sein de l'organisme je reforce les mesures d'hygiène. Je sensibilise le personnel, les bénévoles et les usagers. Après le message de Sharon de ce matin j'ai donné l'exemple et j'ai fait le tour des surfaces de la salle d'accueil. Je fais des réserves de produits ménagers, de gants, de papier essui-tout et de mouchoirs. Nous avons dejà en stock ce qu'il faut de germicide et de masques. Je pense aussi au matériel de sensibilistation.

À la maison, je poursuis mes préparatifs avec des achats ciblés (gants, mouchoirs, etc.). J'ai ce qu'il faut en médication à prendre tous les jours pour deux mois. Je vais faire mon inventaire pour ce qui est des médicaments (sirop, tylenol, etc.) pour les symptômes de la grippe ou du rhume. Pour ce qui est de la nourriture j'ai déjà ce qu'il faut en réserve.

Je vais poursuivre mes activités de remise en forme et de jardinage avec une motivation encore plus grande.

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