<![CDATA[Survival Forum & Disaster Preparedness SHTF Survivalist

<![CDATA[Survival Forum & Disaster Preparedness SHTF Survivalist - Contingency Planning]]> http://www.SurvivalMagazine.org/survival-forum/ en Thu, 23 May 2013 19:43:47 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.SurvivalMagazine.org/survival-forum/images/shades_of_green/misc/rss.png <![CDATA[Survival Forum & Disaster Preparedness SHTF Survivalist - Contingency Planning]]> http://www.SurvivalMagazine.org/survival-forum/ Pandemic Lesson Number 12 General Information about Flu Outbreaks http://www.SurvivalMagazine.org/survival-forum/showthread.php/9571-Pandemic-Lesson-Number-12-General-Information-about-Flu-Outbreaks?goto=newpost Thu, 09 May 2013 23:03:06 GMT *_Pandemic Lesson Number 12 General Information about Flu Outbreaks _* *1. Know the Difference: Types of Flu Outbreaks* - Seasonal Flu—A... Pandemic Lesson Number 12 General Information about Flu Outbreaks

1. Know the Difference: Types of Flu Outbreaks

- Seasonal Flu—A contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza (flu) viruses occurring every year. It affects an average of 5 percent to 20 percent of the U.S. population by causing mild to severe illness, and in some instances can lead to death.

- Epidemic—The rapid spread of a disease that affects some or many people in a community or region at the same time.

- Pandemic—An outbreak of a disease that affects large numbers of people throughout the world and spreads rapidly.

- H1N1 Influenza (swine flu)—H1N1 influenza is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that cause regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get H1N1 influenza, but human infections can and do happen. H1N1 influenza viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person.

- Avian Influenza—Commonly known as bird flu, H5N1 thru H7N9 strains of influenza virus is naturally occurring in birds. Wild birds can carry the virus and may not get sick from it; however, domestic birds may become infected by the virus and often die from it.

2, Are you considered high risk for flu-related complications?

- You are at an increased risk if you are:

Age 50 or older
Pregnant
Living with a chronic medical condition
A child, age 6 months and older
Living with or caring for anyone at high risk

- Take These Common Sense Steps to Stop the Spread of Germs

Wash hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Avoid or minimize contact with sick people (a minimum three feet distancing is recommended).
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Cover your mouth and nose with tissues when you cough and sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow.
Stay away from others as much as possible when you are sick.
Adopt business/school practices that encourage employees/students to stay home when sick.

3. Diagnosing and Treating the Flu

- It may be difficult to tell if you are suffering from the flu or another illness. If you develop flu-like symptoms and are concerned about possible complications, consult your health care provider.

- Potential Risks and Serious Complications of the Flu

Bacterial pneumonia
Dehydration
Worsening of chronic medical conditions
Ear infections
Sinus problems

- Common Flu Symptoms

High fever
Severe body aches
Headache
Extreme tiredness
Sore throat
Cough
Runny or stuffy nose
Vomiting and/or diarrhea (more common in children than in adults)

4. Care-giving

- Designate one person as the caregiver.

- Keep everyone’s personal items separate. All household members should avoid sharing pens, papers, clothes, towels, sheets, blankets, food or eating utensils unless they have been cleaned between uses.

- Disinfect doorknobs, switches, handles, computers, telephones, toys and other surfaces that are commonly touched around the home or workplace.

- Wash everyone’s dishes in the dishwasher or by hand using very hot water and soap.

- Wash everyone’s clothes in a standard washing machine as you normally would. Use detergent and very hot water and wash your hands after handling dirty laundry.

- Wear disposable gloves when in contact with or cleaning up body fluids.

5. Antiviral Drugs

- What are the benefits of antiviral drugs? When used for treatment, antiviral drugs can lessen symptoms and shorten the time you are sick by 1 or 2 days. They also can prevent serious flu complications, like pneumonia. For people with a high risk medical condition, treatment with an antiviral drug can mean the difference between having a milder illness versus a very serious illness that could result in a hospital stay.

- What are the possible side effects of antiviral drugs? Some side effects have been associated with the use of flu antiviral drugs, including nausea, vomiting, dizziness, runny or stuffy nose, cough, diarrhea, headache and some behavioral side effects. These are uncommon. Your doctor can give you more information about these drugs or you can check the CDC or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) websites.

- When should antiviral drugs be taken for treatment? Studies show that flu antiviral drugs work best for treatment when they are started within 2 days of getting sick. However, starting them later can still be helpful, especially if the sick person has a high risk health condition or is very sick from the flu. Follow instructions for taking these drugs.
What antiviral drugs are recommended this flu season?

- There are two FDA-approved antiviral drugs recommended by CDC this season. The brand names for these are Tamiflu® (generic name oseltamivir) and Relenza® (generic name zanamivir). Tamiflu® is available as a pill or liquid and Relenza® is a powder that is inhaled. (Relenza® is not for people with breathing problems like asthma or COPD, for example.)

6. The last reference is a downloadable guide for use in the home to provide guidance to everyone.

References:

http://www.redcross.org
http://www.cdc.gov/flu
http://www.newfluwiki2.com/upload/Fl..._0_revised.pdf ]]> Contingency Planning RICHFL http://www.SurvivalMagazine.org/survival-forum/showthread.php/9571-Pandemic-Lesson-Number-12-General-Information-about-Flu-Outbreaks Pandemic Lesson Number 11 Definitions, Symptoms, and Home Remedies to Survive http://www.SurvivalMagazine.org/survival-forum/showthread.php/9567-Pandemic-Lesson-Number-11-Definitions-Symptoms-and-Home-Remedies-to-Survive?goto=newpost Sun, 05 May 2013 00:23:42 GMT *_Pandemic Lesson Number 11 Definitions, Symptoms, and Home Remedies to Survive _* What I want to do in this THREAD is talk about defining the... Pandemic Lesson Number 11 Definitions, Symptoms, and Home Remedies to Survive

What I want to do in this THREAD is talk about defining the different words involving a pandemic, Give a good idea of what symptoms will happen if you get the flu virus, so you can recognize it, and remedies to help survive the pandemic.

1. DEFINITIONS

Pandemic - is classified by the CDC as a is an epidemic of infectious disease that has spread through human populations across a large region; for instance multiple continents, or even worldwide.

Endemic - is classified by the CDC occurs when new cases of a certain disease, in a given human population, and during a given period, substantially exceed what is expected based on recent experience.

Influenza - is classified by the CDC as a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death.

Antiviral medication - your doctor may prescribed are Tamiflu® (oseltamivir) or Relenza® (zanamivir). Don’t delay filling the prescription, and start taking the medication as soon as you get it. This way you will get the most benefit. It’s very important that antiviral drugs be started as soon as possible for the flu, ideally within 2 days of getting sick.

N5H1 - Highly pathogenic avian influenza A (HPAI) H5N1, or “bird flu,” is an example of an influenza virus with pandemic potential. This is a non-human virus (it is novel among humans and circulates widely in birds in parts of the world) so there is little to no immunity against this virus among people.

N7H9 - Human infections with a new avian influenza A (H7N9) virus continue to be reported in China. The virus has been detected in poultry in China as well. While mild illness in human cases has been seen, most patients have had severe respiratory illness and people have died.

2. Influenza Symptoms (CDC)*

Influenza (also known as the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by flu viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The flu is different from a cold. The flu usually comes on suddenly. People who have the flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:

Fever or feeling feverish/chills
Cough
Sore throat
Runny or stuffy nose
Muscle or body aches
Headaches
Fatigue (tiredness)
Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

3. Home Care Remedies

A. Checking with your own medical practitioner and the public health department in your own area is the best place to start. The next section has some guidelines for home treatment to provide a starting point for these discussions.

B. People who develop flu symptoms should rest and start treatment (including fluids) early, and plan on avoiding others where possible. Early use of antiviral medication, if available, should be considered within 48 hours of symptoms (speak to your doctor or health department).

C. Preventing or treating dehydration in people with the flu will save more lives than any other intervention during an influenza pandemic. This is done with an oral re-hydration solution, described in ‘Good Home Treatment of Influenza’ (see next section). Check with your medical practitioner for any prescription medications that you may need and buy basic over the counter medications to treat the flu at home.

References:

Red Cross - Home care of Flu Pandemic Pamphlet

CDC - Seasonal influenza*

INSTEDD - Pandemic Influenza Preparation and Response: A Citizen’s Guide ]]> Contingency Planning RICHFL http://www.SurvivalMagazine.org/survival-forum/showthread.php/9567-Pandemic-Lesson-Number-11-Definitions-Symptoms-and-Home-Remedies-to-Survive Pandemic Lesson Number 10 Ten Steps to Keep Your Family Safe in a Pandemic http://www.SurvivalMagazine.org/survival-forum/showthread.php/9564-Pandemic-Lesson-Number-10-Ten-Steps-to-Keep-Your-Family-Safe-in-a-Pandemic?goto=newpost Fri, 03 May 2013 21:56:32 GMT *_Pandemic Lesson Number 10: Ten Steps to Keep Your Family Safe in a Pandemic _* Here is 10 general steps to keep you and your family safe... Pandemic Lesson Number 10: Ten Steps to Keep Your Family Safe in a Pandemic

Here is 10 general steps to keep you and your family safe before, during, and after a pandemic.

1. Wash your hands as often as you can, really wash them with soap for a good 2 minutes.

2. Get a scrub brush; use it wash under your finger nails at least once a day. Keep your nails clean!! If you have ever seen to show M.A.S.H., watch how they scrub their hands before surgery.

3. Use Germ-X when ever you are getting into your car. It becomes a good habit. Keep a small bottle to use in restaurants or at the mall.

4. Beware of people who cough or sneeze. If they do it around you, it can spread virus and germs at over 100 mph, to over 15 feet, and stay in the air up to 5 minutes.

5. Do not touch a door handle going into a store, use the auto doors, unless you have some Germ-X with you.

6. Most stores now have Germ-X sheets available at the door, wipe down the handles of your cart before using it. Germs and virus can live on that handle for over 8 hours.

7. If a pandemic starts in your area get your kids out of school! Let the school know you have pulled them do to health reasons; do not wait for the school board to make up their minds. These are your family members..

8. I stressed about keeping your hand cleaned. The truth is that we place our hands on our faces a minimum of 200 times a day without thinking about it. My daily routine now is to wake up, go into the bathroom do my daily business, then set and scrub my hands with a scrub brush made for surgeons, it takes me about 3 minutes to do a proper job, I do the same at night. I use only an antibacterial soap.

9. To keep the virus/germ count down in your house use Lysol cleaner on all surfaces. Why? Because the BIO/Chemical troops of the military use the same thing for Chemical/Biological decontamination in the battle field. So if it can handle a war agent then it can take care of our homes.

10. Keep a container of handy-wipes by Germ-X ,at your front doors for guest to use when they come in.

Stay safe - Stay healthy ]]> Contingency Planning RICHFL http://www.SurvivalMagazine.org/survival-forum/showthread.php/9564-Pandemic-Lesson-Number-10-Ten-Steps-to-Keep-Your-Family-Safe-in-a-Pandemic Pandemic Lesson Number 009 General Medical Information for the Family http://www.SurvivalMagazine.org/survival-forum/showthread.php/9554-Pandemic-Lesson-Number-009-General-Medical-Information-for-the-Family?goto=newpost Wed, 01 May 2013 14:11:57 GMT *_Pandemic Lesson Number 009 General Medical Information for the Family _* * Scenario* - We are a family of (4). A N7H9 Pandemic was declared... Pandemic Lesson Number 009 General Medical Information for the Family

Scenario - We are a family of (4). A N7H9 Pandemic was declared last night by the Government. We have 48 hours to prepare before individual homes can be quarantine. They suggest you use PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) if you travel outside the home. Also the Government is giving out pamphlets to help people prepare their homes for the duration. The power and water will remain on, but food distribution will take place at the local markets designated by the government. Rationing will begin also in 48 hours. If the house is quarantine, supplies will be delivered to the front door via the county health departments. This quarantine will remain in place until the virus is gone from the local area.

1. Over the Counter Drugs will help people with the N7H9 become more comfortable while the disease runs its course. Individual symptoms can be countered/reduced by using these drugs.

- My current list of Over the Counter Drugs to Have on Hand:
- Activated charcoal (use if advised by the Poison Control Center)
- Anti-diarrhea medication
- kids version of Kaopectate for diareah
- Pepto Bismol - for tummy pain (Never give children adult versions it has aspirin)
- Milk of mag
- adult ibuprofen - for pain
- acetaminophen- brand named Tylenol
- Children's Motrin - used alternately to help fight fever
- Children's Tylenol
- Hydrogen peroxide spray in mouth for mouth sore relief
- Benedryl Antihistamine is very important to have on hand for allergic reactions - make sure to have adult and kid versions
- cough suppressant
- cough drops
- Mucinex or similar to bring up mucus - important for lung health in severe illness.
- Eye drops
- Nasal spray
- NyQuil
- Tussin series of OTC medications
- Sweet oil or olive oil for ear aches
- Vicks Vapor Rub is always handy to have around.
- Vaseline- For skin care
- Diaper rash ointment and/or cornstarch - used successfully with fever related heat rash
- anti itch cream
- Calamine lotion
- Epsom salts
- Multi-vitamins for each member of your family (adult, male, female, teenager, children)
- Neosporin - does work
- Duct Tape - removes warts, fixes tents, etc, etc, etc
- Syrup of Ippicacc (sp?) - not suppose to except under poison control orders.

2. Families need special medical equipment and training in its use to help family members control the flu symptoms.
- Medical Tools/Kits to have on hand:
- Thermometers
- Flash Light Pen size
- Sewing Needles - easy to sterilize and pull out splinters.
- Eye Glass repair - other uses.
- Lighter - fire, fix rope ends and sterilize sewing needle
- Blood Pressure Kit
- Stethoscope
- Complete Trauma Kit As discussed in other Lessons (STOMP Hospital Kit)

3. Families may receive items from the country health departments if they have prepared for a pandemic (Yea Right) it is better if you get your own and practice using it.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Sanitizer (Germ-X)
- Gas Mask commercial/military type with proper filter can be worn for a extended time in a contaminated environment.
- Face Mask N-95,N-99 or N-100 (the number is the percentage of particles it stops you from breathing in) used temporary.
- TyVek Suit - Used by commercial/military personnel for working in contaminated areas
- Gloves - same type of gloves used in hospital Most are Vinyl
- After you leave a contaminated area you must go through decontamination at a DeCon Site where you will remove all clothing, take a shower with special soap and put fresh clothing on.

- All contaminated clothing must be boiled in soapy water for 15 minutes. It can then be washed as normal.

- All Waste must be properly bagged and burned if taken from a sick room. Health Department will have information on how to do that.

4. The main point of contact within the local area will continue to be the county health department. They will receive and distribute any and all health related supplies as they arrive in the quarantined areas of the county. The local Law enforcement Officers (LEO) will be charged to continue care custody and control within all quarantine areas in their counties.

5. With a major outbreak we can expect that once the Federal Government does declare we are under a pandemic, that they will shift control by to regional commanders by use of an emergency declaration of Martial Law with the Military being the major force to handle distribution of supplies, establishing specific areas for the treatment of flu patients (TENT CITIES) using a triage system to determine levels of treatment.

6. What does that mean to you?

- Travel will be restricted to Police, fire, health providers, infrastructure (Water, power, trucking) shall be required to move as necessary.

- Most business will be closed for the duration. Banks will be on holiday, Stock Market will be closed, only business remaining open by the 4th week will be involved in the farming, handling, processing, and distribution of food and medical supplies.

- Distribution of food and medical supplies, will be handled at the local level when supplied by the military at region level.

- Travel for funerals will be denied, in fact most burials will be done by personnel of the local health department. It is anticipated that mass graves will be required once again. ]]> Contingency Planning RICHFL http://www.SurvivalMagazine.org/survival-forum/showthread.php/9554-Pandemic-Lesson-Number-009-General-Medical-Information-for-the-Family Pandemic Lessons Number 008 Natural Medications to Have On-Hand http://www.SurvivalMagazine.org/survival-forum/showthread.php/9553-Pandemic-Lessons-Number-008-Natural-Medications-to-Have-On-Hand?goto=newpost Wed, 01 May 2013 13:47:03 GMT *_Pandemic Lessons Number 008 Natural Medications to Have During SHTF Disasters and Pandemics _* 1. What (Natural Cures) Do you have in your... Pandemic Lessons Number 008 Natural Medications
to Have During SHTF Disasters and Pandemics

1. What (Natural Cures) Do you have in your Medical Bag-of-Tricks? items we need to have at home. Other then what I have stated in my Medical medications list, I expect that we want to research and obtain the following items:

- Multi-vitamin to be taken daily by each family member

- Ossillococcinum it is used to help reduce the time flu is active in your body by over a day.

- Asian Green Tea

- Honey

- Rosemary

- Cloves, whole, and crushed

- Garlic, whole, and dried

- Pepper, hot, mexican, green, and black

- Onion, whole, and dried

- Sea Salt

- Apple Cider Vinegar.

- Cayenne pepper

- Ginger is one of the absolute best nausea relievers.

- Glycerin might also be something to keep on hand as it is a frequent ingredient in home remedies.

- Flax-seed is another ingredient frequently mentioned in home remedies.

- Peppermint oil, diluted of course, it's really good to help stop vomiting.

- Aloe for burns and abrasions.

2. Specific recipes that my Family maintains and uses in the home for the last 4 generations.

- Thieves oil:

Mix with a 1/4 cup base of olive oil. Use only pure essential oils. Cinnamon 2ml, Clove 2ml, Eucal 3ml, Lemon 3ml, Ravensara 2ml, Rosemary 2ml, Sage 1 ml. Use as directed below.

Mix with a 1/4 cup base of white wine vinegar. Mix Eucalyptus, rosemary, cinnamon, clove,lemon, wormwood, meadow-sweet, juniper berries, rosemary, camphor, sage, cinnamon and cloves in. Use as directed below.

Place 4-5 drops in a diffuser. Diffuse repeatedly in times of illness.

- Sweet Oil:

Mix a 1/4 cup base of virgin olive oil, with ginger 2ml. Place in a air tight jar and use an eye dropper to place 4-5 drops in the ear channel, then place a cotton ball. Redo as needed for pain.

3. If you have other recipes please place them here so I can consolidate them over the next 2 weeks. If you have taken a recipe from a book please list it as a reference. Personal experiences are helpful as well.

4. Another thought is that if you have these items on hand, and run out of OTC medications you can revert to the homemade remedies to continue treatment. ]]> Contingency Planning RICHFL http://www.SurvivalMagazine.org/survival-forum/showthread.php/9553-Pandemic-Lessons-Number-008-Natural-Medications-to-Have-On-Hand Pandemic Lesson Number 007 Physical Security Issues http://www.SurvivalMagazine.org/survival-forum/showthread.php/9550-Pandemic-Lesson-Number-007-Physical-Security-Issues?goto=newpost Wed, 01 May 2013 00:09:14 GMT *_Pandemic Lesson Number 007 Physical Security Issues _* Do a complete inspection of the exterior of your home. Ask your self the question: How... Pandemic Lesson Number 007 Physical Security Issues

Do a complete inspection of the exterior of your home. Ask your self the question: How would you gain entry other then the windows or doors. (That is a given)?

HINT: Check to see what security improvements you can make by asking your Home Insurance agent; Ask what security improvements will reduce insurance cost on your property.

- Since we don't know when ... well even if ... we are going to have a pandemic event that is so astronomical as to have an effect on our social environment in terms of our personal safety due to the negative human element (how is that for political correctness?) you may want to look into making your security measures part of your efforts to lower the cost of your home owner's insurance.

1. Door Security:

- All of our doors are already metal, We already have deadbolts on all doors as well.

- We use a door bars on all doors leading into the house. even the garage door.. Our problem is that the exterior of our house is block with the cells around the doors and windows being solid. Putting in braces for a door bar will require tools that will need electricity ... so it will be a job to do before the power goes out.

- My front door at one time was wood and wood frame. When I got ready to change it out I wanted to find out just how fast some one (My 19 year old son - 200 lbs) could kick it in. It took him less then 30 sec. that was with a 1 inch dead bolt engaged. Now the frame is metal with a metal door with 3 dead bolts of 2 inch also it has a set up for what is used in NYC as a metal bar jam.

2. Window Security:

- There is a need to leave the kids options to get out in the event of fire or other calamity. They need to be able to exit one window per room.

- There are windows that you will need to reinforce with shutters/plywood. To prepare ahead some cut-to-fit plywood that will fit inside the window frames, great to use in violent storms.

- If you are thinking of investing in those heavy-duty, pvc blinds ... don't. I've found that they break too easily for them to truly be of use in security matters. If a two year old can break them accidentally ... a full-sized person can break them on purpose with ease. We've also looked at those decorative, interior shutters and come to the same conclusion ... pretty, but useless.

- 3M sells a clear film that goes on the outside and or inside of your windows that makes them into a laminate. Even if the glass is broken the window pane is still held in place and secure. They have some impressive videos online of hammers, and people kicking the glass. It breaks the glass, but doesn't get a hole in it. That is something to look into at a Home-depot in your area. It is nearly impossible to get through. That is the way I wanted it.

3. Property Security Check Items:

- For now our primary security concern is the rear of the house. We have a high privacy fence surrounding the back yard.

That is a start, it allows us the privacy we want and allows me to prepare additional defenses out of sight!

- Our Good neighbors keep an eye on the area just like we do. It may just save more than a few lives, from the potential consequences of a pandemic event.

- Any Security business will inform you to keep plants away from the sides of the home. It allows criminals to have cover near their target. Any plants left should have thorns on them around windows is a great location.

- Remove items that can be used by criminals to gain entry into your home. Examples include; rocks, lumber, tools, etc.

4. Here is some questions to ask yourself.

- Do you have a basement with windows?

- What type of security is set up for them?

- Does your house sit up on block/pilings where someone could get under the house and move about?

- How large is your vents?

- Do you have access to more then 1 Fire Extinguisher?

5. Ways they could gain entry:

- Start a small fire outside a window or door that gets you to open up to put it out.

- Force a neighbor to ask for assistance.

- Attempt entry at the front of the house at the same time at the back. (You can be only in one place at a time).

6. Self Defense Measure that will NOT CAUSE DEATH.

- Use rubber bullets in firearms. You can purchase them from most manufactures, in most calibers.

- Use Grizzle Bear Pepper Spray. HINT: Get the type that is meant for grizzle bears. There is a a different formula for this spray then for humans it is a lot hotter. The can is much bigger, and has a longer spray time (3 sec vs 15 sec) and distance (3 feet vs 20 feet).

- Use a TAZER instead of a Stun Gun. HINT: A TAZER gives you range up to 10-15 feet while a Stun Gun you have to be touching the individual.

7. Alarm Systems:

- The systems available today are such that you can see what is happening in your house from across the country. I think that it is a great idea to have such a system in your house, either install it your self or use a company that has been in business for a few years in your area.

- There is so many choices out there that I could spend weeks looking into it. Well you have to live with your in-place security arrangements so do as you please. I will not make any recommendations in this forum. ]]> Contingency Planning RICHFL http://www.SurvivalMagazine.org/survival-forum/showthread.php/9550-Pandemic-Lesson-Number-007-Physical-Security-Issues Pandemic Lesson Number 006 Security - Self Defense Fire Arm Issue http://www.SurvivalMagazine.org/survival-forum/showthread.php/9549-Pandemic-Lesson-Number-006-Security-Self-Defense-Fire-Arm-Issue?goto=newpost Tue, 30 Apr 2013 20:51:35 GMT *_Pandemic Lesson Number 006 Security - Self Defense Fire Arm Issue _* OK we need to touch upon a subject that most of the states and federal... Pandemic Lesson Number 006 Security - Self Defense Fire Arm Issue

OK we need to touch upon a subject that most of the states and federal laws will apply. We are talking about self defense of yourself, family, and your property, in an emergency.

Once an emergency has been declared at the Federal or State level, Additional assets are provided to the local community (ie the National Guard, FBI, Military, etc.) normally a section the the Presidential Emergency Act will include provisions for acts of self defense by ordinary citizens "this may reduce the "paperwork, court time, jail time, lawyers, etc."" that the locals will have to do.

"...Reality is a bitter pill to chew..."

In Sandy and Katernia disasters, the State and Local officials attempted to do away with the second amendment right to self defense. They stated it was for the greater good that these rights were suspended. The courts (State and Federal) have overturn every case brought by officials dealing with the 2nd amendment and the disasters at Sandy and Katerina.

Now what type of weapons?

Shotgun range 0-50 yards - use with No. 4 shot cannot go through walls in the house.

Rifle range 0-50+ yards - .22 up to 50 cal your choice but all go through the wall of a house.

Pistol range 0-75 yards - large calibers can go through the walls. Easier to hide and carry.

Tear Gas range 10-15 feet - may/may not work on individual who are high on drugs.

Tazer/stun-gun 0-15 feet - may/may not put the individual down if high on drugs.

Most security experts suggest a shotgun or pistol shooting a (reduced power round) so that it cannot penetrate a inside wall.

If you use any of these weapons be sure that you have been trained, and are certified in accordance with your state laws. Keep hard copies of all certifications For your own protection.

I think it would be useful to have a discussion about the fortification of our residences. This discussion could, for example, include the fabrication of bars and/or plywood panels for windows and the reinforcement of entry doors. Weaponry need not be mentioned. I will cover this in Physical Security issues lesson Number 8.

Note:

1. A Reduced power Round is a round that is manufactured specifically to not penetrate the walls inside a home and injure family members who may be hiding in the room next to your. It can be made of rubber to reduce the risk further still.

2. Police Academies give recruits the following rules when dealing with an unknown assailant: "... a man or woman can move 21 feet in less time then it takes you to pull a trigger....

" So to insure your safety keep assailants a minimum of 25 feet away from yourself..." It will give you time to react to the situation.

"...Better to be tried by twelve then carried by six..."

To have to face 12 people who are your friends and neighbors, and explain why you defended yourself, family, and property, from another; is better then having someone else explain at your funeral why 6 friends are prepared to carry you to your grave. ]]> Contingency Planning RICHFL http://www.SurvivalMagazine.org/survival-forum/showthread.php/9549-Pandemic-Lesson-Number-006-Security-Self-Defense-Fire-Arm-Issue Pandemic Lesson Number 005 - Pandemic list to end all List http://www.SurvivalMagazine.org/survival-forum/showthread.php/9546-Pandemic-Lesson-Number-005-Pandemic-list-to-end-all-List?goto=newpost Mon, 29 Apr 2013 01:06:34 GMT *_Pandemic Lesson Number 005 - Pandemic list to end all List _* OK now lets talk about lists. It is a simple as a single piece of paper with... Pandemic Lesson Number 005 - Pandemic list to end all List

OK now lets talk about lists. It is a simple as a single piece of paper with different things you find important to have or need.

My list and suggestions follow:

1) Food/water - what I have currently and what I want on hand within the next 6 months. Water preps include 55 gal drums, water filers, etc.

2) Medical - a complete medical bag and additional OTC medications I want on hand.

3) Tools - Tools (hand) that I want to have on hand to do wood/metal work and what to have in a take along if I have to leave.

4) Shelter- listing things you use for camping that can be used if electrical power fails ie sleeping bags, stove, cook gear also for take along.

I thought long and hard about the lists and reviewed them all the time. I looked at all lists I could find on the net at the time. There is alot of good info out there. Some items can get expensive like personal power (solar) for your house. But you can find others that use a common sense approach. A list is what you want it to become either a shopping or learning to cope list.

DOCUMENTS -other then the ones discussed in other pandemic lessons

Emergency preparedness manual
copy of your disaster plan
your emergency contacts list Equipment
Personal identification cards
Cash and coins
Credit cards
Extra set of house keys and car keys
Inventory of household goods
Insurance papers
Bank and credit card account numbers
Stocks and bonds
Emergency contact list and phone numbers
Map of the area and phone numbers of places

SHELTER IN PLACE (SIP)

Clothes and Bedding Supplies
Complete change of clothes
Sturdy boots
Rain gear
Hat and gloves
Extra socks
Extra underwear
Thermal underwear for Winter
Sunglasses
Sleeping bags and pillows plus extra Blankets

FIRST-AID SUPPLIES
This list is for pandemic specific items only .
First aid manual
Tongue depressor
3 " x 3 " sterile gauze pads
4 " x 4 " sterile gauze pads
Adhesive tape, 2 " width
Cotton balls
Chap stick
Sponges
Cold pack
Antiseptic wipes
Instant cold pack
Rubbing alcohol

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS -
Tam-a-flu
Broad spectrum antibiotic
Pain relievers
Cold/Flu remedies
Nasal sprays

NON-PRESCRIPTION DRUGS -
Activated charcoal (use if advised by the Poison Control Center)
Pepito Bismol
tums
Antibacterial ointment
adult ibuprofen
acetaminophen
milk of mag
Antihistamine
sinus decongestant
cough suppressant and decongestant
Soothe eye drops
Hydrogen peroxide
Epsom salts
Vaseline
triple antibiotic cream
anti itch cream
Cold medication
nasal spray
Sambucol
Zicam
Ossillococcinum
NyQuil
iodine
ammonia inhalants
Calamine lotion
Anti-diarrhea medication
electrical lite liquids to replace loss chemicals and minerals lost from the body. (Power Ade)

MEDICAL KITS/TOOLS -
Blood Pressure Kit
Surgical Field Kit
Dental Field Kit
Irrigation syringe
Pen light
Stethoscope
Pairs large, medical grade, non-latex gloves
Ace-type bandages
latex gloves
eye dropper

WATER & PURIFICATION/FILTER KITS -
You can live for about 5 minutes without air but will die after 4 days without water.
Store a minimum of 6 gallons per day per person for 4 weeks (approximately 180 gallons per person). A cheap storage solution is "Water BOB" cost $20.00 to have 65-100 gallons of fresh water stored in your indoor bathtub.
Water Filter Portable using a Counter Top Gravity Water Filter system
Collect rain water using plastic sheeting and Plastic 30/55 gallon Water Storage Barrels
5 gallon Collapsible Water Container(s) to transport water
Purification can be done by filtering, boiling, bleach, and Water Purification Tabs
Household liquid bleach to treat drinking water
30/55 gallon drums with facets

FOOD -
you can survive on water for up to 30 days without food, but by day 8 you may become bed-ridden. Next to water, food is a vital part of any preparedness plan. Food considerations you should be looking at when making your emergency kits are emergency foods that have a long storage life and that are made to be non-thirst provoking and are not effected by extreme heat or cold. Lifeboat "Emergency Rations" are ideal for this use. Foods for home reserves should consist of both normal store bought foods (a 2 to 4 week supply on hand) and a variety of long storing freeze-dried, canned, and dehydrated foods. Foods should be lightweight, compact, and require no refrigeration, little preparation or cooking. For long term storage, freeze-dried foods are my #1 recommendation. Freeze-dried foods like Mountain House® have up to a 25 year shelf-life, making them ideal for emergency backup.

FOOD SUPPLIES EMERGENCY
Freeze-Dried Foods in Pouches (Meals Ready to Eat MRE)
Dried fruits and vegetables
Dry soup
Dessert in a box

LIQUIDS - Water, Powdered milk, Instant coffee/tea, High-Energy Drinks, Canned or boxed juices

SNACKS - Cookies, hard candy, crackers, trail mix, cheese wiz, Peanut butter and jelly

FRESH ITEMS - Bread, Butter, Eggs, Fresh fruits, and vegetable

STORED FOODS - Dried fruit and veggies, saltine crackers, bagged cookies, nutrition bars, snack crackers, peanut butter, beef jerky, Gatorade, nutrition shakes, potato chips, breakfast bars, rice crispy treats, pet food & treats, bottled water (1 gal./day/person) Baking mixes - cookie, bread, muffin, pancake, pie, especially ones that do not need eggs Baking powder Baking soda Barley Bay leaves (insects avoid foods like flour with a bay leaf stored inside the bag) Beans-dry beans (pinto, kidney, black) all types Bottled drinks and juices Bullion, concentrated broth Butter Flakes & flavoring, like Molly Butter. Powdered Buttermilk Candy – hard, chewing gum, chocolate, Gummies, mints, chocolate bars, CANNED FOODS: beans, broth, chicken, chili, tomatoes, sauces, fried onions, fruit, canned milk, pie filling, pumpkin, salmon, soups, stew, sweet potatoes, tuna, vegetables, meats mushrooms, (chicken, turkey, beef, spam, ham), Cans of lemonade mix, other canned dry drink mixes Cheese dips in jars Cheese in Wax Cheese soups, like cheddar, broccoli cheese, and jack cheese Chinese food ingredients Chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, mint chocolate chips, butterscotch chips Chocolate syrup, strawberry syrup squeeze bottles (about that dry milk, again) Coffee filters (also for straining silt out of water) Corn Masa de Harina or corn tortilla mix Corn meal Corn starch for thickening Cream of Wheat Cream soups (good for flavoring rice & pasta, too) Crisco, plain & butter flavored Dried eggs Dried fruit Dried mushrooms Dried onion (big containers at warehouse stores) Dried soups Dry cocoa Dry coffee creamer (big sealed cans, many uses including making dry milk taste better) Dry Mustard Flour, self rising flour Flour tortilla mix for flour tortillas, wraps, and flat-bread Flours - rice, etc. Wheat can be hard on children’s stomachs - Gluten Free Pantry has rice fours and mixes that are great - Whole Foods carries them FLUFF Garlic powder Granola bars (not great shelf life) Hard candy Herbs & Spices Honey Hot chocolate mix Instant coffee if you drink it, or coffee and a manual drip cone or similar Instant mashed potatoes Jarred or canned spaghetti sauce Jarred peppers Jellies and Jams Jerky Ketchup Kool Aid, Lard, Manteca (good in beans, substitute for bacon or salt pork, tortilla making, many other uses) Large packages dry pasta, thinner type saves fuel Milk – powered, canned, store-able, Marshmallows Mayo in small jars Mayo packets from warehouse store, if you must, not really a good value. Mexican food ingredients Mustard Nestle Table Cream (substitute for sour cream, cream, or half-and-half) Nuts (freeze if you have room) Oatmeal OILS (all kinds - short shelf life so rotate VERY IMPORTANT- you cannot cook without it Olive, Canola, Sunflower, Safflower, Sesame, Olives, green and black Onions & Onion powder Pasta (small cook faster) Pasta Sauces canned, dried, Packaged bread crumbs Pancake mix, one step, and other mixes that already have the eggs in them Parmesan Peanut butter, nut butters Pepper Pet food Potatoes - you can grow others from eyes Pickles, relish (not refrigerator case type) Popcorn - loose as well as bags Power bars Raisins Ramon Ravioli or canned pastas Real butter or favorite margarine-keep frozen if you can. Butter keeps a long time in cool temps) Recharge or electrolyte drinks Rice Salsa and hot sauces Salt Sourdough starter Spam Spices and herbs your family likes Stove top Dressing mix Sugar -brown and white, powdered Sweetened condensed milk Tea - ginger and herbal Tortillas Trail mix Ultra pasteurized milk (expensive) Vanilla (improves dry milk, too) Velveeta (watch carton date, freeze for storage if possible) Vienna sausage Vinegar Yeast, Pet food

CLEANING/HYGIENE SUPPLIES - Personal Hygiene, Soap, Mirror, Vitamins, Shampoo, Washcloth, towels, Tooth paste, toothbrushes, comb, and brush, Deodorant, Sunscreen, Hand sanitizer, Razor, shaving cream, Feminine supplies

CLEANING PRODUCTS - Other then discussed in other Pandemic lessons - Ammonia, Bleach, Lysol spray/ antibacterial spray, Liquid dish detergent, laundry detergent, liquid hand soap, Mops, buckets, plastic trash , barrels, sponges, spray bottles, scrub brushes, low wide containers to clean shoes

LAUNDRY SUPPLIES - Other then discussed in other Pandemic lessons - Clothesline, clothespins, buckets, gloves, pail with mop press for washing,large plastic buckets

EMERGENCY TOOLS - Flashlight and extra batteries, Signal flares, Matches in a waterproof container, Compass, Duct tape scissors, Whistle, Portable, battery-powered radio or television and extra batteries, Plastic sheeting, Shut-off wrench, pliers, shovel, Small canister ABC-type fire extinguisher, Emergency Tube tents, Work gloves, Needles and thread, Battery-operated travel alarm clock

HINT: HAVE ALL BATTERY USED ITEMS USE THE SAME SIZE BATTERY.

KITCHEN SUPPLIES - Manual can opener, (Paper cups, plates, and plastic utensils for use once water becomes a issue)
All-purpose kitchen knife, camping stove and an energy source

COMMUNICATIONS - The need to know what is happening and recommended evacuation routes is essential. Also helps kill time and lessens stress when no TV or power is available. Cell Phone w/12 v charger and extra cell phone batteries. AM/FM/SW radio w/battery/solar/hand cranked, Battery operated TV,Solar Battery charger

EMERGENCY LIGHTING - Have several backup sources of light. Be sure to store plenty of extra batteries & bulbs. LED flashlights and lanterns will provide longer light use but not as bright of light. Local officials will tell you when you can leave the room in which you are sheltering.

HINT: USE SOLAR OUTDOOR LIGHTS INSIDE AT NIGHT AS NIGHT LIGHTS.

Recommended Books - "Sense of Survival", "Preparing for Emergencies”, "Survival in Today's Turbulent Times", and "72 Hour Preparedness Checklist"

DIVERSIONS - You will go nutty within 4 days with nothing to do but watch the clock or look out a window. The human mind needs active stimulation daily. - chocolate, comfort foods, hobby items, paper, pens/pencils, painting supplies, watercolor supplies, clay, crayons, markers, puzzles, crossword puzzles, word search books, board games, books, bible, music, cds, dvds, portable players, portable battery speakers, instruments and supplies, strings, picks, rosin, pencil sharpener, stapler, tape, glue, scrapbook items, knitting, bead work, needlework, sewing supplies, paint, paintbrush etc. printer paper and ink cartridges, stamps,

NICE TO HAVE AVAILABLE - tin foil, coffee, personal care products, alcohol, cigarettes, food, clothing, Cash in small bills, candles, tea lights, emergency, and votive, batteries, rechargeable batteries, inverters, back up power source, battery operated radio & TV, flashlights, compact fluorescent bulbs, light bulbs, solar lights, propane tanks & adapter, kerosene oil, kerosene lamp, shovel, 2×4 wood planks (windows), plywood (windows), rope, cord, camp cook stove with propane tanks, 5 gal. Gasoline, GASOLINE STABILIZER, garbage bags,Plastic trash bags- you can never have enough and they never go bad, all sizes from snack to gallon zip- loc bags, latex gloves, sheets, blankets, pillows, cell phone batteries, wind up cell phone charger, walkie-talkies, water purification system, plastic sheets, duck tape, zipper door from Home Depot, household tools, nails, contamination sign, shovel, plastic tarps, pots & pans, metal barrel, pocket knives, potable water (in bathtubs, old milk jugs and plastic containers), firewood, outdoor fire pit, solar oven, charcoal, charcoal lighter fluid, TONS of matches, lighters, buckets (to wash clothes, dishes), broom, water hose, hose adapter for sink, plastic garbage containers, ice chests, spray bottles, Heat, water, waste disposal, decontamination area, isolation room for anyone who gets sick, cooking systems, cleaning systems for laundry & dishes, light, communication, maps, crank cell phone charger, (TV/radio with battery backup), protection from intruders, wasp spray-sprays 20 ft., outside protection (wild fires & birds), pet waste, fire protection inside, battery operated smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, power systems (generator, solar, battery etc.), transportation (car, motorcycle, bicycle), whistles, emergency flares, fishing poles & equipment, needle & thread bike, bike, tire pump, non hybrid herb and vegetable seeds, seed starter kit. solar outdoor lights, flints, regular & heavy duty extension cords, lanterns, oil, extra wicks, clothes pins, detergent, steel wool, fire starters, pail with mop press for washing, metal trash can (if you needed to burn paper or other items)Toilet paper, paper towels, baby wipes, paper cups, small and large, paper plates, paper napkins, plastic ware, feminine products, cotton balls, q-tips, Kleenex antiviral, goggles, hair covers, N95 masks, lots of tin foil, plastic wrap, paper bags, Paper leaf bags, wax paper, plastic containers, plastic zip lock bags (all sizes), old newspapers paper cups, fuses, wiper fluid, brake fluid, oil, emergency kit, flares, candles, matches, water, emergency blanket, maps ]]> Contingency Planning RICHFL http://www.SurvivalMagazine.org/survival-forum/showthread.php/9546-Pandemic-Lesson-Number-005-Pandemic-list-to-end-all-List <![CDATA[]Pandemic Lessons Number 004 List of Natural Medications to Have on Hand]]> http://www.SurvivalMagazine.org/survival-forum/showthread.php/9544-Pandemic-Lessons-Number-004-List-of-Natural-Medications-to-Have-on-Hand?goto=newpost Sun, 28 Apr 2013 14:48:52 GMT *_Pandemic Lessons Number 004 List of Natural Medications to Have on Hand _* What (Natural Cures) Do you have in your Medical Bag-of-Tricks?... Pandemic Lessons Number 004 List of Natural Medications to Have on Hand

What (Natural Cures) Do you have in your Medical Bag-of-Tricks? items we need to have at home. Other then what I have in my Medical medications list, I expect that we want the following items:

List of Natural Medications:

Multi-mineral/vitamin to be taken daily by each family member

Asian Green Tea - used in asia for centuries for stomach remedies

Honey - antibacterial

Rosemary

Cloves, whole, and crushed

Garlic, whole, and dried

Pepper, hot, Mexican, green, and black

Onion, whole, and dried

Sea Salt

Apple Cider Vinegar. Antibacterial

Cayenne pepper

Peppermint oil, diluted with water, helps stop vomiting.

Ginger crushed stirred with water is one of the absolute best nausea relievers.

Glycerin might also be something to keep on hand as it is a frequent ingredient in home remedies.

Flax-seed is another ingredient frequently mentioned in home remedies.

Aloe for burns and abrasions.

Eucalyptus leaves/oil placed in steaming hot water to assist breathing

Natural Medications Recipes:

Thieves oil:

Mix with a base of virgin olive oil. "Use only pure essential oils". Cinnamon 2ml, Clove 2ml, Eu-cal 3ml, Lemon 3ml, Ravensara 2ml, Rosemary 2ml, and Sage 1 ml.

Mix with a base of white wine vinegar: add Eucalyptus, rosemary, cinnamon, clove,lemon, wormwood, meadow-sweet, juniper berries, rosemary, camphor, sage, cinnamon and cloves as you desire.

Place 4-5 drops in a diffuser. Diffuse repeatedly in times of illness.

Sweet Oil:

Mixed with a base of virgin olive oil, add 1 ml of crushed cloves.

When patient has ear pain place 2-3 drops into the ear channel cover with 1/2 cotton ball. Repeat as needed.

Please pass on your recipes and I will consolidate into a single list here on 1 June 2013 ]]> Contingency Planning RICHFL http://www.SurvivalMagazine.org/survival-forum/showthread.php/9544-Pandemic-Lessons-Number-004-List-of-Natural-Medications-to-Have-on-Hand Pandemic Lesson Number 003 List for Disaster Documentation http://www.SurvivalMagazine.org/survival-forum/showthread.php/9543-Pandemic-Lesson-Number-003-List-for-Disaster-Documentation?goto=newpost Sat, 27 Apr 2013 22:39:03 GMT *_Pandemic Lesson Number 003 List for Disaster Documentation _ * What documentation do you think you may need on hand, if a pandemic happens in... Pandemic Lesson Number 003 List for Disaster Documentation

What documentation do you think you may need on hand, if a pandemic happens in your area in the next 6 months?

Scenario: Bird Flu is all over the country, state and county. You have been SIP for 2 weeks. You want to stay in place (SIP); but the Federal/State Government comes and requires you to move to another location for better distribution of goods/services and for security requirements. Example: The forced evacuation that as was done during Katerina

Your List of Documents will need to include copies of

Personal Information:
Passports
Birth and Marriage certificates
Driver's licenses
Social Security cards
Wills/Deeds
Inventory of household goods (written copy) (carried on CD)
Insurance papers/phone numbers (all types of coverage)
Bank and credit card account numbers/statements
Bills addresses and account numbers/statements
Emergency contact list and phone numbers

Medical Information:
Immunization records on all family members
Medical records (travel copy)
Current Prescription list including Over the Counter medications

Travel Information:
Mechanical record of vehicles to be taken
A good Map of the area of travel with the route as directed by the Government.

Hint: These documents should be already packed in water proof bags, current, and maintained in your bug-out bags. check them every 4-6 months or when you have a heads up on SHTF!

If you will SIP during SHTF; it is still a good idea to have hard copies packed up in a bug-out bag. ]]> Contingency Planning RICHFL http://www.SurvivalMagazine.org/survival-forum/showthread.php/9543-Pandemic-Lesson-Number-003-List-for-Disaster-Documentation Pandemic Lesson Number 002 Prepare Your Family for SIP http://www.SurvivalMagazine.org/survival-forum/showthread.php/9539-Pandemic-Lesson-Number-002-Prepare-Your-Family-for-SIP?goto=newpost Sat, 27 Apr 2013 02:41:18 GMT *_Pandemic Lesson Number 002 Prepare Your Family for SIP for a Pandemic _* *Disclaimer:* Medical information provided is for discussion... Pandemic Lesson Number 002 Prepare Your Family for SIP for a Pandemic

Disclaimer: Medical information provided is for discussion purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. if you believe you have a medical problem, consult your practitioner.

With the government setting the requirement for voluntary separation of Flu patients. How will you make it work?

This is our Scenario: Bird Flu has hit the country hard over the last 3 weeks. The government is slow to respond, but is now taking action at the local level. A family member is found to be sick (More then likely from school). After sending the kid home from school, the county health department in the form of an RN, visits you at your home, she does the necessary test (Blood work), to see if it is Bird Flu. Until they get the test results back, everyone in the home, and anyone who has been in contact with the sick person(s) will need to be "voluntary separated". In other words quarantined.

This means that all persons as determined by the Health Department, will have to remain in the house and immediate property. No one leaves until the whole house is cleared of quarantine. No one is allowed to enter other then by direction of the health department and this rule will be enforced by local Law Enforcement personnel.

Are you prepared? Well this is what must be done:

The first thing to do is establish a sick room and rules that may save your family members lives:

So what is a sick room? A Sick Room is a separate bedroom area that allows the sick person(s) to be separated away from the rest of the family members. With barriers in place (Plastic sheeting) the sick person(s) are contained in a room that will allow them to recover and for the rest of the family to continue to maintain a level of routine that is needed.

How do you set up a sick room? It needs to be a separate bedroom that can contain one or more beds for all the sick people in the family. It needs access to a bath room and running water. As long as sick person(s) are active, they need to bath 2 times a day and when ever fever is higher then 102F. Once they start using a designated bathroom no one else may use the facilities until the all clear is given.

Eight Rules to live by:

1. The sick person(s) must be kept separate from everyone else - at least a wall and door between them.

2. Only 1 person is assigned to take care of the sick person(s) - less exposure to everyone else. They must use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) every time starting on the first day.

3. The care giver must decontaminated each and every time they leave the sick room to keep the virus from spreading. Change clothing, shoes, apron, mask, gloves then shower or wipe down with anti-septic asap.

4. The sick person(s) must remain in the sick room until the Doctor gives the OK, or there is no symptoms of Flu.

5. The person selected to be the care giver must never be the person responsible for cooking meals for everyone!

6. The care giver must have a minimum of medical/care training, even home training will help, no younger then 14.

7. The care giver will have a set routine including disposal of waste, cleaning, caring, and feeding of the sick person(s) daily and is responsible to the doctor for keeping accurate records of diet and liquid intake and if asked discharges from the patient.

8. The Sick room laundry must be boiled in water for a minimum of 15 minutes, 15 minutes boiling will kill the virus. It must be washed separately from all the normal laundry in the house.

List of supplies for establishing a sick room include:

Inside room:
Clip board with patient forms and pen/pencil
Over the Counter Medicines (list given in another lesson)
Prescription medicines
Plastic sheeting/duck tape to cover the doors and windows (keeps airborne particles inside the room)
(2) 13 gallon trash cans - one for trash, one for Bio trash (Use trash bags inside the cans, tag bags as removed)
Trash can plastic bags for 13 gallon cans and the 5 gallon bucket
separate toilet (5 gallon bucket if necessary)
Toilet paper, air freshener, fan
plastic sheet for the bed
Many sets of Washable pillows. sheets and blanket
plastic bowl for cleaning of sick person, soap and water, towels and wash cloths
portable bed tray, water cup and water pitcher
Many set changes of clothing for the sick person(s)
Hint: All meals should be served on paper plates/bowels so that they can be disposed of

Care Giver Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
N100/95 masks, gloves, eye protection,
Plastic apron, Tyvex suits, booties,
duck tape for wrapping gloves and ankles water/air tight
Change of clothing maintained at DeCon station.
Hint: If the sick person has vomited on self, bed, and floor wear a tyvex suit for cleaning because you will get some on you no matter how hard you try! Personal experience other wise just use the apron over your street clothing.

Outside room:
Decontamination (DeCon) station to change cloths and clean up after leaving house/sick room.
Includes change of clothing, anti-septic wipes, wash cloth, soap, water, bucket
Hint: more then once I had left the room and had to go back in after DeCon was done. I had to start all over again.

Cleaning supplies for sick room only:
broom, mop, virus killing detergent (Lysol), sponges, bucket, trash can liners

Hint expect to have to use this set up for a minimum of 3 weeks! That is a lot of supplies to get before hand.

In addition to keeping track of what they eat, keep track of what/how much is drunk and when they urinate so you can tell if dehydration is threatening.

B.R.A.T. -- When recovering from an illness that involves gastro symptoms and once you are ready to transition from the clear liquids to solids, try to stick to the "B.R.A.T" diet. That's bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. Bananas are obviously not stockpile-able (is that a word?), but jars of baby food bananas are. Rice is a given. I've stockpiled a lot of applesauce just cuz we love to eat it. And toast, well, you won't feel like making bread from scratch, so I guess the B.R.A. diet will have to do!

A true story from a friend. Her thoughts several weeks later: Her family of 8 came down with a stomach virus all within 2 days and here is her thoughts:

1. It is always worse than you think it is going to be.

2. You will always feel worse than you ever had in your entire life.

3. You will be need more clean sheets, clean towels, and clean PJs than you have in the house ... especially when you are too sick to do any laundry. And, when first recovering the last chore you are gonna want to do is eleventy-dozen loads of laundry.

4. There will never be enough bathrooms ... so plan on doing whatever you have to do to survive. Including buckets with a spare supply of trash can liners ... we used plastic grocery bags. Not to be too graphic, they didn't catch all the liquids but it did help to keep the mess down to a minimum when people were vomiting.

5. Even if your child is finished with diapers ... having a few on hand can be a lifesaver. Adult diapers might not be a bad thing either.

6. When you are sick, bad smells just make you sicker and more depressed. Keep disinfectant spray handy. An automatic air freshener is also spirit lifting ... you may not notice it when you are very sick, but you will when you are well enough to start noticing things. Avoid strong smells though ... keep it light and fruity if possible.

7. Put plastic liners on pillows and mattresses beforehand ... in addition, put a plastic mattress cover, then a fitted sheet that will NOT come off the corners, then a flat sheet, then a plastic shower curtain or large garbage bag that has been cut open, then another flat sheet, then another plastic sheet, etc. until you have enough layers to be comfortable with. This will mean that you can pull off a layer of sheet if it gets soiled without having to go all the way down to the mattress and waste the energy to put new sheets on.

8. Nothing quenches thirst like plain ol' water ... but having flavored water, Gatorade, powerade, ORS, etc. will be very welcome if fevers are high and appetites low. Something ginger-y will settle the stomach.

9. A night light, or shakeable flashlight that only needs tilting back and forth to get some light will be welcome if you are too sick to get out of bed and turn on the light switch or the lantern.

10. Cover the floor from the bed to the bathroom ... or whatever area will be passing for the bathroom ... with heavy duty plastic that you can just throw a towel down on if there is a mess.

11. Keep a "chart of symptoms and medication times" handy to note when and how much of something is taken and to track temperatures, rashes, etc. If you have a spreading rash, keep a permanent marker handy to mark the advancement of the rash ... permanent marker cannot be sweated off.

12. If you are sick and alone do not put medications in child proof containers. I finally wound up just stepping on a bottle to get into it because I needed a fever reducer for one of my kids and I was too weak to get into it otherwise.

13. Keep water and powdered broth or bouillon handy for when you or your patient is ready for something to eat ... and keep track of when you eat.

14. A battery operated clock with glow in the dark hands is a beautiful piece of machinery.

15. Forget any ideas of modesty you may have ... any woman that has had a baby realizes that at some point that flies out the window.

16. Learn the fine art of counting to 10 slowly ... when you are sick and/or tired you are going to get cranky. Even people offering help may be irritating. Just go with the flow as much as possible because it is a dangerous waste of energy to get mad at this point.

17. Plan ahead for recovery period. One, this keeps an optimistic outlook that you will recover. Two, you'll want really easy meals for the foreseeable future.

18. When you are sick everything is more scary. Do what you feel you have to for your feelings of security ... its no use being sick and being too scared to sleep at the same time. It gets in the way of getting well.

19. If you have to just pitch your dirty linen out the nearest door, do it. Let the neighbors wonder if they want to. Try and not throw you dirty linens and your chamber pot contents out the same opening though as that will just create a bigger mess for you to have to clean up.

20. Cry if you need to. Sometimes you just have to let it out to be able to go on. This will be especially true if you are the only one left standing for a while. And keep comfort items/objects handy ... special pictures, books, Bible, worry beads, etc. Children will more than likely want their blanket or stuffed something or other ... unless you are prepared to disinfect it regularly you will need to be prepared to say no, take it away, or get rid of it at some point.

Another Mom who is a friend wrote this to me answering the question: What will/can you do if Bird Flu hits your area then hits your house?

In the event of high attack rate pandemic that breaches our family's plans, husband and I are developing plans for the kids.

We have 2 children that are old enough to, at least temporarily, assume head of house status. While both are in high school they are extremely mature and savvy for their age. Both are very experienced in caring for their younger siblings, can cook without direction, are clever enough to figure a lot of things out on their own. We are putting together written instructions for a lot of things.

The three younger children are nearly 11, 8, and 3. The 11 year old can cook and watch her younger two siblings. But her personality is some different from the older two so we deal with that by having the 11 and 8 year old work together as a team which benefits them both.

Since quarantining is likely to be a concern, I doubt anyone is going to ride to our rescue. With that in mind we have prepared boxes of preps (not just food) that are child friendly, are putting together written instructions and plans specific to our family, and are teaching the kids skills that will be valuable whether there is ever a pandemic or not.

I'm not offing my responsibility, but I trust my kids. I know what they can do and what they likely will not be able to do. We simply do not have the kind of social/familial support system that live close enough to address this with. As with many families, we will likely be on our own for an extended period of time and we are addressing our needs with that in mind.

And also with the youngest in mind, we have a special box of preps that will be put at his level in the event any of us get sick and things start moving too fast. All are packaged in such a way that he is able to get into them ... including juice boxes and pouches, granola bars (which are one of his favorite snacks anyway), dried fruits, crackers, etc.

At a certain point you just have to trust that you've done all you can and not freak out about it anymore. Be flexible but have some confidence in the decisions your family makes.

Even for those who do have family nearby......having someone come into a house full of infected people is not something I would ask or expect from anyone during a pandemic, even family.

Even with boring old seasonal flu, I call my extended family members and tell them to stay away.

The only time I've ever asked for help was to have my mom pick up a prescription of Compazine and some ginger-ale and chicken broth (pre-prep days!)--and even then I had her leave the bags on the doorstep and get out of Dodge before I'd gather the items. She is elderly, and there's no way I'm going to give her the flu.

I think it is an ideal situation to have someone(s) who can come in to help, but I don't think it is a realistic expectation during pandemic.

Another true story from a Friend:

Everyone in our house had the stomach bug last week (after having been down the entire week before with the respiratory junk that is going around).

I always thought having three bathrooms for four people was excessive, but not anymore! Our house was like the restaurant scene from the Monty Python movie The Meaning of Life.

When the kids got sick on Monday, I sent hubby to the store to stock up on ginger-ale, chicken broth, Jello, and ice pops. I have a lot of that stuff stockpiled, but didn't want to dip into those supplies. We went through everything and then some as we each in turn dropped like flies to the virus.

The trick about layering the beds with multiple setups is straight from the pros. When we cared for my brother at home during his illness, this was one of the first things they taught us to do.

Another good idea is to use chux, those disposable under-pads, although that can get expensive. I picked up a case of 200 from MacGill Discount Nursing Supply for $30. It was a luxury item for the stockpile. Once they're gone, they're gone. But I, like you, had in mind that we may be sick simultaneously and too weak to do much.

As you can see after action items that are from people who found out ways for keeping their families healthy, and safe. ]]> Contingency Planning RICHFL http://www.SurvivalMagazine.org/survival-forum/showthread.php/9539-Pandemic-Lesson-Number-002-Prepare-Your-Family-for-SIP