In today’s connected world, the threat of a pandemic affecting our country is greater than ever before. We’ve all seen viruses such as ebola that wiped out hundreds of people and threatened to spread across the globe, even with steps taken to contain it. With this risk present, it’s important to be prepared. Use these tips to survive a pandemic and have exactly what you need in place before facing this disaster.
Personal Safety
Personal protective equipment is the key to protecting yourself from a pandemic so you’ll want to have stocks of equipment in your home. These are the major materials to store:
- Boxes of exam gloves
- Fitted anti-viral mask
for everyone in the home
- Safety goggles
- Disposable coverall suits
for everyone in the home
This material is designed to provide personal protection in the case of being in an infected area. Of course, the best strategy is to avoid areas of contamination but personal protective equipment should always be stocked. You’ll never know when you might have a situation where you need to use it. Make sure to have enough of those items to last for a while if required, stock more if you have a large household or need to consider stocking for multiple families.
Food and Water
Water is essential for life and you can die within a few days without access to clean drinking water. Stocking potable water is important but you’ll also want to consider purchasing a quality drinking water filter. Make sure that you have containers for water collection, storage and carrying. In the case that you’ll need to collect water and filter your own, you’ll be glad that you stocked these items.
Food storage is a little more variable depending on your home size and storage space. It’s recommended that you have at least three months of shelf-stable food stored. Make sure to account for every person living in your home and be liberal with your food estimates if possible. Ensure that foods are stored properly and check your stores on a regular basis. Don’t forget to rotate the foods. Keep up to date with expiration dates and restock foods as needed.
Basic Hygiene
In the case of no or limited access to running water or working toilets, it’s going to be essential to practice good personal hygiene and have the right tools available. It’s recommended that you stock some basics for this purpose.
- Antibacterial soap or hand whites
- Lime
- Heavy duty garbage bags
- Kitchen trash bags
- Cat litter
- Toilet paper
- Paper towels
- Laundry soap
- Dish soap
- Liquid bleach
The reason why you’ll want to stock these items is that they can be used to make provisional toilets, place garbage, and prevent bacteria as much as possible. Although quantities of these items are not stated, you’ll want to consider having at least three months worth of supplies for every person. If you’re unsure of how much to purchase, consider how much your household goes through in three months and use that number to begin your estimates. Since these items usually do not expire, you can stock up. However, you will want to monitor soap and dry goods to make sure that it hasn’t been damaged over time.
Miscellaneous
There are some additional items which may not be covered in other areas. However, these are all recommended and should be considered to be some of the essential items for a pandemic.
- HEPA filters
- 4 mil clear plastic
- Duct tape
- Non-prescription drugs such as pain relievers, stomach remedies, etc.
These materials can be used to set up an isolation room and have various other uses as well. If you have a situation where a person is infected, having materials for this room will be important.
Conclusion
Keep in mind that this list converse the basics for a pandemic but you may find that you need additional items. Not everyone will have the same materials depending on their physical location and personal needs. However, this list is a good list of tips for a pandemic and can help you get started on what you need to have. Whether you already have materials stored or need to get started, use this information to make sure that you’re prepared for the future.
