Pandemic

This post covers an unusual topic, but I would feel remiss if I did not try to express an appropriate level of concern, and offer some thoughts on it.

Pandemics are a natural occurrence - they are one of nature's methods of "cleansing".

In 1918, the world suffered a pandemic - the Spanish Flu - which is estimated to have killed over 50 million people in just 18 months. If the world were to suffer another pathogen of that same level of deadliness, the loss of life could easily be upwards of 100 million people - partly because the population is so much greater today, and partly because modern air travel would help it to spread much faster, and further.

Most people fool themselves into thinking it cannot happen in this "day and age." But as even the CDC states, it WILL happen. The only real question is when, and how bad will it get.

You see, a vaccine cannot even begin to be created until the disease actually hits. We can then use the pathogen, itself, to create a vaccine. This stage - creating a vaccine - takes 2-3 months. It takes another 3-6 months to produce and distribute enough vaccine to protect only 10% of the population. By this time, the pandemic has already done much of its damage, since any flu can go worldwide within a few short weeks - or even days, under the right conditions.

We know a pandemic will occur. What we do not know is exactly what the pathogen will be, nor how bad it will get. But rest assured it will be very, very bad, if only by virtue of our congested populations and the frequency of air travel.

So the issue at hand is: what can a wise person do to help insure survival of his or her family?

While there are no guarantees, there certainly are steps that can be taken that will dramatically reduce your risk of contamination. Everyone should take these simple steps now, and be prepared, even if you do not think there is any danger. Remember: the wise person hopes for the best, but prepares for the worst. It is time to prepare.

Steps anyone can and should take:

1) Stock up on some N95 face masks. 100+ per family should be sufficient, because going out in public should be extremely limited during a pandemic

2) Stock up on nitrile gloves (like latex, but will not produce any allergy). If you do not know the proper way to remove them without contaminating yourself, ask a nurse to show you how.

3) Stock up on a supply of MRE's and non-perishable foods - preferably enough for your family for at least 6 months (preferably a year).

4) Stock up on hydrogen peroxide

5) Optional, if you can afford it: a propane generator with a large torpedo tank, to produce emergency electricity. In a pandemic, fuel will not be getting delivered to homes or gas stations.

6) Optional, in cold climates: a wood stove, with a supply of wood. If power fails, you will not freeze, nor be forced into shelters where infected people might be encountered.

At first sign of a deadly disease hitting the US, buy up as much non-perishable foods as possible, before panic sets in. Quarantine your family, at least for a week or so, to determine if the disease is a threat that is spreading

Do not permit anything into the home that has had human contact, including mail, unless it is handled and treated properly (use gloves, hydrogen peroxide etc.)

Burn mail after reading it, if possible. Otherwise, try to disinfect it with an anti-VIRAL (not antibiotic). Food packaging, if brought in: pour contents into other containers and burn the packaging.

If you must shop, choose off hours, such as late night or early morning, and wear mask and gloves. Do NOT allow anyone to touch or contact anything you will be bringing home - do not accept change, and do not allow anyone to swipe your card for you. As soon as you can, wipe your card with peroxide after swiping it.

In other words, take precautions.

Note, too, that most people may suffer a loss of income during a pandemic, so if you have savings, you will be better off.

But the essentials are simple: masks, gloves, hydrogen peroxide (anti-viral) and food stores.

One last note: it takes about two days to feel symptoms after becoming infected. So do not assume that you are safe just because no one in your area has symptoms. If you wait until your neighbors get sick, it is too late - you have probably already been infected. That is why I say - first case in the US, quarantine your family for at least a week, to see what transpires.

I sincerely hope this post reaches a lot of ears, and that those ears are resident on wise people.