#pandemic preparation

[prep4tomoro]

Cold and Flu [and Pandemic] Preparation and Practices:

Whenever a new virus is announced, a bell should go off in our heads to think "this could be the one that gets out of control". Think, for a minute, how often we come in contact with things that others have touched; the list is endless. Unless you continually wear surgical masks and gloves, you WILL be exposed to the germs of someone else who could be infected with any number of nasty communicable germs that could make you mildly sick or worse. Make a habit of these germ protection actions to reduce the chances of getting it, prevent spreading it and treating it. Of all the things that could cause a wide-spread Public Emergency, a virus is the most probable. It has no boundaries. It's easy to spread (airborne or physical contact) and may not be obvious until diagnosed properly. "Common Cold-Like Symptoms" could be the disguise of a more sinister bug that, in less than a year, could cause the deaths of many around the globe. READ ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE MORE AT RISK Immune-Boosting Supplements to Fight Cold, Flu & Virus Here is the official Center for Disease Control advice on avoiding a virus:

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Stay home when you are sick.

Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. Other Precautions

Protection Against Germs on Everyday Surfaces We Touch: Think, for a minute, how often we come into contact with things that others have touched; elevator buttons, door handles, shopping carts, door bells, stairway handles, telephones, keyboards/mice, handshakes, counter tops, appliances, toilets, toilet stall doors and paper holders, sink knobs, hand dryer buttons, utensils at food bars . . . the list is endless. Unless you continually wear surgical gloves, you WILL be exposed to the germs of someone else you may, or may not, know and those persons could be infected with any number of nasty communicable germs that could make you mildly sick or worse. Regardless of how it is transmitted, the precautions are the same; sanitation, hand washing and covering coughs/sneezes.

Practice never touch anything with your bear hands; shoping carts, door handles, money, credit cards, etc.

Avoid touching anything in public places

If you must touch a public surface, use disinfecting wipes to clean surfaces before touching them or cover the surface with a cloth or towel.

Wash hands and use alcohol-based Hand Sanitizer often, especially after touching anything that is not your own.

Avoid shaking hands and touching the bear skin of others and wash hands often, especially after touching others.

Learn how Copper can kill cold, flu and virus germs on surfaces and skin.

Response:

Review your Documented Emergency Plan and update as needed.

Do NOT go to gas stations if a pandemic does erupt. Keep your car tank near full and keep gas containers, safely stored on your property, ready to use (you can rotate this gas into your car every 3 months, it stays usable well beyond this). Make sure your car is well-maintained and equipped for an emergency.

Do NOT go to supermarkets if a pandemic does erupt. There will be panic buying. Start using your Emergency Food Supply.

Monitor News Broadcasts for Public Water Contamination concerns and use your Emergency Water Supply if necessary.

Stay away from public places to avoid the virus and to avoid possible looting/marauding which can happen immediately.

Review and tighten your Defense Strategy.

Check your bug out bags and emergency supplies and stock up. LED flashlights are best—if you’ve got old bulbs, consider getting LED. Even if you have a stocked bug-out location, it's best to take everything you can fit in your car of survival value.

As a virus spreads, limit your time in mass public places/events and consider doing what you often see in big Asian cities — wear a N95 Mask (to cover the mouth and nose) when out in public.

Monitor (in small doses) Broadcasts to stay informed of local emergency conditions.

Isolation of a non-contaminated (safe) space is important for the comfort and well-being of healthy people. Securing these areas with plastic sheeting and duct tape, from contaminated areas (and those inside), is not pleasant but necessary. Since flu germs can survive for up to 48 hours or more on some surfaces, quarantined areas may have to be designated and those entering the quarantined areas must "suit up" with the protective gear. Exterior openings (like doors and windows) should be covered to prevent leakage of a contaminated outside into the dwelling and a barrier area should be setup with plastic sheeting between the quarantined and the non-contaminated area so that quarantined-area visitors can remove their PPE clothing before entering the non-contaminated area. A decontamination area should be setup to decontaminate anything or anyone intending to enter a non-contaminated area. This can be as simple as a garden hose, common anti-bacterial soap, and a small step stool in the center of a kiddie pool surrounded by shower curtains. The "decontaminee" strips off all clothes, which are placed in a plastic bag for disposal, then, while standing on the step stool, is sprayed with the hose and soaps down (head to toes) with the anti-bacterial soap, for about 3 to 5 minutes. After rinsing off, and avoiding to step in the decontaminated water in the pool, the "decontaminee" puts on clean PPE clothing and foot protection to avoid further spread of the infection/virus. They are then put into a quarantine room for observation for a time specified (2+ weeks) for the infection/virus. Safe Food Handling: Refer to Food Contamination Prevention to reduce spreading a virus. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):* The basic components of a full-fledged Pandemic Kit is recommended for each "Go Bag" and a complete Pandemic Kit should be in every home. Ready-made kits*, or products to build your own, can be purchased from many internet sites or local stores that sell hospital supplies. Basic supplies include*:

N95 Masks (to cover the mouth and nose). Be aware of Hypercapnia that can result from wearing a mask too long, under certain circumstances, and that certain types of masks are ineffective.    [More on Masks] [DIY Face Mask 1 (article)]    [DIY Face Mask 2 (video)]    [DIY Face Mask 3 (video)]    [DIY Face Mask 4 (video)]

Zippered Coveralls (isolation gowns) with adhesive tape to wrap ankles and wrists

Surgical-grade hair net (if the isolation gown does not have a hood)

Safety Goggles

Antimicrobial wipes or cleaner (for body and hard surfaces)

Surgical gloves (Nitrile, non-latex, medical-grade)

Foot/shoe covers

Bio-Hazard Bag (for permanent disposal of contaminated items which should never be reused)

If protective gear* is exposed to a contaminated area, it must be removed and placed in the Bio-Hazard Bag, and hands sanitized, before the wearer can enter a non-contaminated area. Several sets of protective gear* (quantity based on activity within contaminated areas) will be necessary for the duration of the outbreak. Duration / Affects: A full-fledged flu pandemic event could last up to 8 weeks, IF proper public response and controls are put in place, and could cause severe social, economic and political stress. If public response is not swift, the effects could last considerably longer. Herd Immunity: We deal with the flu, and many other diseases, every year and we survive it because we LIVE our normal lives through it. The sooner people are exposed to a disease, the sooner the desease will stop spreading. With few exceptions, when we are exposed to a disease, our immune system grows stonger. The only thing worse than the disease is the FEAR of it. Read more. If a serious, extended, outbreak occurs, shortages, or contamination, of food and water supplies could result. Your long-term water storage supply should be used. Food that was purchased prior to the event may be okay to ingest but purchasing food during an extended outbreak may be risky so consider using your long-term food storage supply until the outbreak is over. Also, a defense strategy may be necessary against those who have not prepared. Regardless of the event or its severity, the most important thing is to have a plan. Improve the odds with personal education, planning and taking action and sharing this information with all of our acquaintances. The more who prepare and apply these precautions, fewer will be those infected and the outbreak duration may be reduced. * All components of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) are not created equal. Research to find the best products and how to put on (Donning) and remove (Doffing) them. Review this link also. Practice, Practice, Practice! As with any plan, it is worthless unless it is communicated, tried and practiced, on a regular, periodic, scheduled basis, with everyone in the family or business. World Rediness for the Next Infectious Disease Outbreak: The December 2016 issue of The American Interest warned that "the world is likely entering the age of bioengineered viral pandemics and collapse" since bioengineering technologies make it easy to modify and release new viruses that could cause, not just a deadly pandemic, but a collapse in economic activity and loss of law and order. The threats that could trigger a "collapse" are increasing due to advances in technology that can and will be misused. Households need to have months, rather than days, of stored food and water. We're Not Ready for Another Pandemic Triggered Collapse: A Nation Unprepared World still 'grossly underprepared' for infectious disease outbreaks Outbreak Readiness and Business Impact Some facts:

An outbreak can travel from a remote village to any major city in the world in less than 36 hours.

7,000 new signals of potential outbreaks occur each month according to WHO (as of January 2019)

80% of countries that have assessed their preparedness are not ready to find, stop or prevent an epidemic

Growth of urbanization (cities) and associated high-density living, often in unhygienic conditions, promotes the spread of infectious disease.

Increases in deforestation spur new outbreaks

Growing displacement of people (refugees), driven by persecution, conflict, emergencies or civil unrest, drives large populations to new places, often in poor conditions and with increased exposure to health threats.

Climate change is leading to changes in transmission patterns of infectious disease

No medical countermeasures, or insufficient ones if they exist, are available for both unknown pathogens and the majority of the most concerning pathogens.

In the coming decades, pandemics will cause average annual economic losses of 0.7% of global GDP

The world is NOT prepared for controlling the spread of infectious disease outbreaks. Do what YOU can to stay healthy and Be Prepared! [Resource Link] Related Resources: DIY Hand Sanitizer Preparing for the Flu Season Health, First Aid, Prescriptions & Survival Medicine Is "Zombie (Rage) Virus" Possible via Rabies-Flu Hybrid? Agenda 21: United Nations Plan to Reduce the World's Population

[14-Point Emergency Preps Checklist] [Basic Emergency Kit] [Learn to be More Self-Sufficient] [The Ultimate Preparation] [5six7 Menu]

[reality-detective]

Dr. Meryl Nass about WHO Pandemic Treaty... Are you ready for the depopulation agenda to be implemented again? 🤔

[lokiusly]

the next time Mobius is on screen, he will probably be bathed in green & gold lighting, have longer hair, & there will be a subtle cinematic shot (an echo, a reflection, a radio, something)letting the audience know AGAIN that Loki is there watching over him & I’m not prepared & neither are you—

[thoughtlessarse]

It’s been nearly three months since the U.S. government announced an outbreak of the bird flu virus on dairy farms. The World Health Organization considers the virus a public health concern because of its potential to cause a pandemic, yet the U.S. has tested only about 45 people across the country. “We’re flying blind,” said Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at the Brown University School of Public Health. With so few tests run, she said, it’s impossible to know how many farmworkers have been infected, or how serious the disease is. A lack of testing means the country might not notice if the virus begins to spread between people — the gateway to another pandemic. “We’d like to be doing more testing. There’s no doubt about that,” said Nirav Shah, principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC’s bird flu test is the only one the Food and Drug Administration has authorized for use right now. Shah said the agency has distributed these tests to about 100 public health labs in states. “We’ve got roughly a million available now,” he said, “and expect 1.2 million more in the next two months.” But Nuzzo and other researchers are concerned because the CDC and public health labs aren’t generally where doctors order tests from. That job tends to be done by major clinical laboratories run by companies and universities, which lack authorization for bird flu testing.

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It's not just the US. We know cattle in the US have been infected with H5N1. We've had this version of bird flu in Europe longer than the US, but our cattle remain virus-free?

[second-star-sunrise]

The funniest thing about the Pixie Hollow books is how often the characters have to navigate assumptions that they've contracted some horrible fantasy disease. Every time someone starts feeling a little tired or insecure, everyone else immediately assumes they have "fairy pox" or "fairy flu" or "fairy distemper" or some other terrible illness with pandemic potential. There are like 3 different scenes where someone is like "I hope Clarion doesn't quarantine me because she thinks I have distemper," and it's like, what horrors have you people lived through where you're viewing every bout of exhaustion through the lens of a pandemic threat

[dilf-phoenix-rights]

I think more people should be aware of, and talking about, the uptick in anti-mask policies being proposed/passed (or that already existed but rarely enforced until more recently) that have been popping up lately in several states.

Both because of the public health risks it sets us up for and because it’s being used as a way to further punish protesters. Not to mention the encroachment on our right to privacy in the ever increasing surveillance state we live in.

[flango87]

Maybe it’s just my feed but the only place I’m seeing anything about h5n1 is twitter. PAY ATTENTION TO IT!!! Prepare NOW! not when everyone starts to hear about it, not when everyone starts to care, not when the CDC finally admits it’s an issue (if they ever do). Prepare right now. While you have the chance. I am talking to everyone in my life about masks and precautions. I was hesitant about it before bc fear of confrontation but I’m cracking down now. I am going to stock up on essentials. My list right now is non-perishable foods, masks, bottled water, first aid kits, basic medications, and other essentials I can think of. I am going to be incredibly diligent about hygiene and selective about where I go in public. This is not me trying to fear monger. I would rather be paranoid and alive than dismissive and dead. This has high potential to be so so so serious. Please treat it as such.

[savage-rhi]

Magggennnttaaaa!

[leafy-m]

So I hit my 700th edit for the WHA wiki today, because I am a totally normal person

[remembertheplunge]

Aids Pandemic hits the Twin Peak's Bar

9/29/1990 Saturday

Drove to San Fransisco. Ran into Dick. He said that a mutual bar tender friend from Twin Peaks Bar now dies of Aids. His legs are paralyzed. He is in a hospital bed in the living room of his parent's house. His Mom and sister are there. And the blonde bomb shell bar tender takes AZT. 4th bar tender there to go. He will never be back. terminal.

The paper on 9/28/1990 said the 80's were nothing. We are in for an Aids pandemic 10 times what we have seen.

I said to Cliff last night that our little core of (gay) folks in Modesto waits. If the worst hits, we can train to support others. The paper says you change your (sexual) habits or you die.

[mike----wazowski]

i have 2 presentations tomorrow my world is collapsing like a house of cards

[canisvesperus]

Oh for fuck’s sake. I’m no epidemiologist but come next flu season, this shit will be so widespread (already right now HPAI can be considered a pandemic in various nonhuman animals) that when other highly infectious viruses coinfect humans with H5N1, possible antigenic shift could allow for effective human-human spread. H5N1 has neurological symptoms and a 50% mortality rate. We do not want this virus to excel at human-human transmission. It’s already in the wastewater and your food. Regardless of human transmission cases, this is already a disaster for wildlife and farmed animals. Keep your cats indoors. Do not consume raw milk or undercooked meat. Wear PPE if you are in contact with farmed animals.

[dazais-guardian-angel]

went to my first con in 4 years on Friday to meet Kaiji Tang and got a Dazai autograph + video recording of him reading to me. He was the sweetest person (as I knew he would be) and interacting with him was lovely, but also at the same time oh boy it sure was an extremely stressful, ugly wake-up call of what it feels like to live in a world now where everyone around you has blissfully moved on from covid and can enjoy things normally and happily, while you'll forever be trapped in a hellscape of perpetual fear 🫠🫠🫠

[cathymee]

promised myself that i'm gonna fix up my notes from last sy so i can share it with upcoming humss students but i also keep going 'but what's the point'

[sawthetruthinme]

i cannot understand the coverage of this all being like “her Real Superstar Persona was finally revealed after the pandemic” when they were fully together for the entirety of rep tour and lover era

[rearranging-deck-chairs]

learnt on radiolab this morning that coldblooded animals cant get fevers which if i had given it 5 seconds of thought i could have figured out on my own however i didnt so that throws a fucking wrench in all of my sickfic doesnt it