Diseases and ConditionsFlu › An Easy Way to Prepare for Pandemic Flu

Birds have had passed the flu back and forth among them selves for at least as long as humans have been sharing it among themselves. It wasn't until 1997 that the first person contracted the flu from a bird and died from it. Since then, 328 people have contracted the Bird flu and 219 have died from it. This is a flu humans have not encountered in mass numbers to this point, so when a human does contract the disease and becomes highly contagious, we will have a flu pandemic sweep the globe in a matter of days.

Pandemics generally occur three times each century. In the last century we had the Asian flu in 1957 which killed 4 million people in the US. In 968 the Hong Kong flu killed 6 million Americans, and in 1918 the Spanish Flu killed over 40 million people in the US alone. What does this mean to you? Well, health experts around the world speculate that the bird flu very well could be the next pandemic, but even if it's not, we will have a flu pandemic, and it's wise to prepare now.

What does preparing for a flu pandemic involve? Health department officials in my community have assured me that all public schools will be closed as soon as a case of flu pandemic is confirmed on U.S soil. Our city will be quarantined, meaning all nonessential workers will be asked to stay home and limit activities. No public meetings, including church, social, and civic meetings will be held. This quarantine will last anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months.

During this time, it is estimated that there will be some utility interruption due to workers being absent and other complications due to the flu. Hospitals will certainly fill and doctors' offices will be overrun. There is a possibility that hospitals will close. The likelihood that trucks and other transport services will be running regular schedules is very low, as drivers and operators will surely be affected by the flu and supplies will be interrupted.

If a flu as severe as the Spanish flu of 1918 hits us, it is estimated that 30% of Americans will get sick (40% of school age kids), that's about 90 million people. Depending on the severity of the disease, anywhere from 200 thousand to 200 million people will die.

Therefore, the government is advising that all of us prepare disaster supplies especially including water, food, and plans to communicate with loved ones should phone service be disconnected. How much food do you need? With a quarantine estimated at 2 weeks to three months, start with 2 week's worth, move toward 3 month's worth as you can. Remember, supplies used with sick people will certainly be in short supply. Keep extra tissues, hand soap, paper towels, hand sanitizer, cold and flu medicines, cleaner and disinfectant, and masks on hand.

I know this preparation sounds overwhelming. But when I think about the implications, and the importance of keeping my family home during a flu pandemic, I can find the motivation.

You must start with water. Over the next month, buy enough cases of bottled water to supply each member of your family with a gallon of water for three days.

As for food, start with 5 meals that your family will eat that can be prepared from non-perishable food items. Easy dinners that come to my mind are spaghetti, macaroni and cheese (made with powdered milk), canned soup, Mexican food made with corn tortillas, and canned beans and salsa. Tuna fish and crackers will keep, as will the ingredients to make pancakes. Write down these 5 meals. Write down the necessary ingredients. Multiply everything by 3 (so you have 15 meal's worth), and make a shopping list. If money is tight, spread out the list over the next month or two, and soon you will have two week's worth of food on hand.

About the Author:

Jeremy lights up his truck with lighted hitch covers for night driving and uses college hitch covers on game day.

Article Source:
Include this link when reprinting this article: http://www.freearticles.co.za/family/easy-way-prepare-pandemic-flu.html

Your Usage Rights:

You may republish this article provided you use the article in its entirety. All links in the article, the "about the author" section and the "article source" link must be active in your republished copy. Click here for an example.

Article By: Jeremy Johnson

Views: 1559
Comments On An Easy Way to Prepare for Pandemic Flu

Be the first one to comment on this article!

Your Comment
Your Name
Your Email

Your Email will not be shown with your comment

Secret Number
36963

Please type the numbers shown above into the Secret Number box.

how does the body maintain blood pressure

maintaining blood pressure

how the body maintains blood pressure

effects of CHD

how is diabetes treated

how does the body respond to high blood pressure

introduction of diabetes mellitus

how does the heart maintain blood pressure

how does body maintain blood pressure

understanding heart rate

how is blood pressure maintained

how does the body maintain normal blood pressure

how body maintains blood pressure

how long can you live with mesothelioma

introduction to diabetes mellitus

50 ways to love your liver

otolam

what maintains blood pressure

does the heart maintain blood pressure

Compare the homeostatic mechanisms that maintain normal blood pressure and heart rate

social effects of chd

signs of unhealthy eyes

Compare the homeostatic mechanisms that maintain normal blood pressure and heart rate

how to maintain blood pressure

unhealthy eyes

mechanisms that maintain blood pressure

does the heart help maintain blood pressure

mechanisms to maintain blood pressure

how do arteries aid in maintaining blood pressure

social impacts of CHD

Physiological mechanisms to maintain normal blood pressure

maintain blood pressure

how is blood pressure maintained in the body

describe the process by which the body maintains normal blood pressure

what maintains blood pressure in body

laser treatment for ear infections

how does your body maintain blood pressure

diabetes mellitus introduction

increase resistance decrease pressure

understanding your heart rate

otolam procedure

how to save eyesight

effects of CHD on health

osa ohs

how to keep a healthy prostate

what mechanisms maintain blood pressure

how the heart maintains blood pressure

how does our body maintain blood pressure

how do cataracts occur

diabetes mellitus 101