A pandemic is the spread of an infectious disease across a large region or even worldwide. It can be fatal if there is no immediate cure. It’s also something the government, particularly the US Food and Drug Administration, has been preparing for. If the government is prepping for a pandemic, shouldn’t you be doing the same thing?
The US FDA recently added a new single-dose flu vaccine called baloxavir marboxil to its bank vault of drugs that may come in handy in the event of a flu pandemic. The new drug will supposedly treat severe cases of flu. This is important since such serious forms of flu may or have already developed resistance against the only other drug that exists to battle these potentially deadly viruses. As it stands, if oseltamivir or Tamiflu fails to treat these dreadful strains of flu, doctors can use the new drug. If both of them fail, then, shiver me timbers, we’re all in deep doo-doo.
That is if you failed to prepare for such a scenario.
Veteran preppers have been getting ready for the next deadly pandemic and other such emergencies of biblical proportions. The world has already experienced the Black Death or the Great Plague, which killed possibly up to 200 million people. There have been other devastating outbreaks in recent memory including the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa and the widespread Zika virus in 2015.
Preparing for A Pandemic
The key to surviving a pandemic is to prepare before it even happens. According to the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), you need to stockpile at least two week’s supply of food and water. It’s even better if you have more, especially if the pandemic and its effects will last longer than anyone would want.
Aside from food and water, you have to stock up on medications. You’ll never know what the next deadly virus would be. Just make sure you have an ample supply of non-prescription drugs such as pain relievers, cough and cold medicines, and stomach remedies. You also need multi-vitamins, drinks with electrolytes, and other health supplies. If you have an existing medical condition, make sure you keep at least a month’s supply of prescription drugs. You can also stock up on antiviral medications, which can be useful against flu. FEMA also advises you to have copies of all your medical records.
You have to keep your home spic and span. Stock up on bleach so you can keep everything disinfected. You’ll also need lots of water for cleaning. When you’re cleaning, you should wear the proper protective clothing. Use the right gloves, boots and a respirator (more on this later).
Make An Emergency Plan
A pandemic has the capabilities to disrupt society. When a devastating outbreak happens across the globe, all the major services will likely be affected. Hospitals will be filled with patients, large areas will be quarantined and roads may be blocked as the government tries its best to control the spread of the virus. Once chaos ensues, there’s a possibility that the power and water grids may fall along with internet and cell phone companies.
You need to take all these into consideration when you’re making a plan. Assume that you will not be able to communicate or browse via your smartphones. A CB or HAM radio will still be useful in this scenario so you better invest on them. You may also want to buy a crank radio. This will keep you up-to-date with what authorities are saying.
Based on some disaster movies, a pandemic strikes fast. There’s a chance that you and you’re family are not together when this happens. Each of you should know what to do and where to go. Your emergency plan should include different routes to take to reach a specified meeting point.
Survival Gear for A Pandemic
One of the best ways to survive a pandemic is to have the proper gear. First and foremost, you need high quality respirators. This is especially useful in avoiding infection and in case of a biological attack. A word of advice for hipsters and Duck Dynasty fans, beards lessen the effectiveness of respirators. Most respirators are also too big for small children and babies. If you can’t find gas masks that fit their faces, you can make one using plastic water bottle.
Another issue with a gas mask is that it’s too huge to include in your everyday carry (EDC). The more realistic move is to have a N95 respirator or even a standard dust mask with you everywhere you go. They offer some level of protection from airborne diseases and keep you from infecting others if you’re sick. Standard dust masks should never be shared and should only be used once. Make sure you have enough for everyone to use for a prolonged period.
There are hundreds of survival gears that will be useful in any emergency situation such as a pandemic. Build your own survival kit packed with the essentials such as a multitool, knife, paracord, fire starters, LED flashlights, thermal blanket, and lots of others.
Perhaps even more important is to have a first aid kit. Since doctors and nurses will be very busy during such tumultuous time, you can only depend on yourself to handle medical emergencies.
A hazmat suit may be a bit too much but when the need arises, you’ll be happy you invested on one.
Skills to Survive A Pandemic
It’s not enough to have the right gear, food and water, and an emergency plan. You also need to learn skills that could be important when society breaks down.
Let’s start with first aid training and other medical skills. Knowledge on how to respond to different medical emergencies will be important. You can prevent any one of you from getting infected. Plus, medical facilities will be jam-packed in the event of a pandemic. You can’t go to a hospital when someone is hurt. You have to treat them yourself.
Learn other survival skills such as building a fire, disinfecting and purifying water, self-defense, and firing weapons.
What to Do During A Pandemic
The most important thing to do during a pandemic is to protect yourself from getting infected. Aside from wearing a face mask, you should also avoid getting to close to other people, especially the sick ones. You should also stay away from people if you are the one infected.
If you don’t have a face mask, use tissue or a handkerchief to cover your face and mouth. Don’t use your hands when you cough or sneeze. You can transfer the virus to anything you touch.
Make sure you wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Keep a small bottle of alcohol or hand sanitizer with you. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, nose and other sensitive areas of your body.
Stay indoors. You should stay put unless the authorities tell you to leave your homes and proceed to a safe location. It’s not safe to go out and scavenge for food and water or to look for a loved one. That’s why it is important to prepare. If you have ample supplies and an emergency plan, you don’t need to go out and risk getting infected. Also, you have to fortify your home and keep your prepping a secret. If people know you’ve been hoarding food and water, you’ll be a target when push comes to shove.
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