Are you "preparing" for the Bird Flu?

[Honeibee]

Our company has been making plans since November. Suddenly we have a big push here to "get ready". We've been discussing it at home. I suppose we should. Are you doing anything to prepare? Stocking up on food and water? Thats what they are recommending we do.

I hate all this stuff. Is this the way the world is supposed to be? Bird Flu, AIDS, terrorist attacks, anthrax letters, Lyme disease, West Nile, cancers......

 

[The Mystery Machine]

No, only summer vacations.

 

[Chicago526]

I've been really thinking about getting a lot of food and water on hand. Too many serious people are warning about this to ignore it. I'm not panicing, but I'd rather stock up and feel foolish, than not stock up and regret it when it's too late!

 

[minnieandmickeymouse]

I should be stalking up on food and water. We have 4 kids. I don't think I have enough room in our home to store all that food and water!?!?

How many weeks are we suppose to have a supply for? And how many gallons of water per person are you suppose to have?

I really hope that this never happens

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

What's the bird flu? I'm so clueless.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Nope. I don't worry so much about these things. I do have some food, but not much of anything else. I can't even stock up on my allergy meds anyways. Stupid state law won't allow me too. So no matter what, I still have to go out every 8 days just to get it.

I don't think that some of the predictions will happen. Everything will not shut down. We won't lose electricity or water. Most of that type of stuff is automated. It's not as if a person has to be there to flip a switch at the power plant if you turn on your lights.

I do think there should be a reason to worry about health. But I also think that they make mountains out of molehills.

 

[luvwinnie]

Here is a thread I started earlier:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1102590&highlight=pandemic

At home, we haven't done anything yet, but I plan to soon.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

Yes, the last few months, we have been slowly working on stocking up non-perishables and such. Also, spoke with family about the possibility and what to plan on doing. Not going to go into a panic, but just slowly getting things together just in case. I am not sure we can be fully prepared for a "worst case senario" - but hoping it is doubtful that will be the case.

 

[Chicago526]

I should be stalking up on food and water. We have 4 kids. I don't think I have enough room in our home to store all that food and water!?!?

How many weeks are we suppose to have a supply for? And how many gallons of water per person are you suppose to have?

I really hope that this never happens

What I read is that you're supposed to have 1 gallon per person, per day. So if you have four kids that's 6 gallons a day. I'd imagine you could get by with less, I know I don't drink a gallon total of liquid each day. And unsafe water can be boiled and made safe, I think there may be purification tablets too. I've also heard you can add a bit of bleach. I plan on doing some more research and find out what the best options for stockpiling are.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

do you think the gallon estimate took into account personal cleanliness and things like washing dishes/clothing, etc?

 

[froglady]

do you think the gallon estimate took into account personal cleanliness and things like washing dishes/clothing, etc?

Yes, at least the hurricane guidelines do. As far as storing it, I purchased some collapsible camping jugs (10 gals) that I can fill, if needed. They don't take up that much room.

The assumption is that there won't be power (hence the need for water) so you'll be washing dishes and clothes by hand. Washboard, anyone?

I'm more concerned by the increase in mumps and TB in my area, especially mumps in teenagers/young adults who had their MMR innoculations. While we worry about and guard against a new threat coming in the front door, some "old" diseases from the past may be sneaking in the back way. We have a generation of adults who have NEVER been exposed to what used to be common, and epidemic, diseases.

I personally never had TB, mumps, or measles (that I know of) but do have natural immunity level titers of antibodies against them . I assume that I was exposed at some point, but either had a mild case, or did not get sick at all. I DO remember having chickenpox, however. I also know that I was exposed to polio, but also had Salk and Sabin vaccines administered. Injection, "gun" sugar cube ; DM was taking no chances. If the health dept was giving it out, we got it.

 

[barbeml]

I am continuing to do what I have done since 9/11: be prepared to evacuate quickly or stay put in the case of any kind of emergency, be it weather related, terrorist or accident. I-95 runs a couple hundred feet behind my house, and we have had some nasty truck fires back there, so the possibility of a chemical spill is always there.

DH and I were just talking about the bird flu hysteria (I say that because I remember the media frenzy over SARS). I will probably beef up my water supply, but that's about it. My house is small, but I always keep it well stocked with food, non-perishables, toiletries, etc. We always have bleach and sterno, batteries & candles, and a supply of cash. I keep two bags packed & ready if we have to leave quickly.

I guess I don't panic about this stuff because I feel I am somewhat prepared.

 

[poohandwendy]

No, not at all. I think they are blowing this totally out of proportion.

 

[Puffy2]

Yes, and have been . We won't eat "grand" but I think we would survive. The water issue is more difficult (no way we can - or will - store enough for six weeks).

For those who do want to be prepared, add medications to your list (anything you would need for flu) and cleaning supplies (lysol) plus go ahead and purchase some face masks (the ones that are water resistant and protect against things like TB), and latex gloves. Once it breaks in the US (if it does) you won't be able to buy any.

 

[grimley1968]

Somehow we as humans have survived pandemics of bubonic plague, typhoid, influenza, AIDS in Africa, and countless other diseases. Yes, the bird flu is bad, but I don't see how stockpiling a bunch of food and water is going to help much. No disease in the history of the world has required people to stay indoors and not go out and gather food and water. Most contagious diseases make it necessary to avoid touching other likely infected people, which is easy to do even in a grocery store.

Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands. Avoid birds as much as possible. Finally, go get a bird flu vaccination when that is created.

To my knowledge, we're pretty lucky in our time in history. We generally don't have as many diseases to worry about as we did in the past. I'll take Lyme Disease, or even West Nile any day over getting polio or TB before they were preventable and treatable (although I'd prefer not to get them )

 

[MouseWorshipin]

Other than hoping my parakeets get it and die (I don't like them - wouldn't kill them or contribute to their deaths, but would be so happy if they died), I don't worry about the Bird Flu.

We were part of the multi-state power outage. Learned our lesson. Got a generator for the house and enough water around to get us through a month of bathing, cooking, and toilet flushing.

 

[dizagain]

No, only summer vacations.

Me too!!

 

[OhMari]

Try going to a drug store and even finding flu medicine. It is locked up in a Pharmacy and you have to take a special ticket to buy even one supply. My dd had the stomache flu 2 nights ago, and I ran to Walmart to get some Tyleno flu, because she had body aches. The pharmacy was closed, so I couldn't even buy any. Luckily Walgreens is a 24 hr. pharmacy and I was able to get some there. I know they are limiting the amount because people are making meth labs with some of the ingredients found in flu based medicine, but come on, you can hit every drug store in a 5 mile radius and have your supply.

 

[luvwinnie]

In case anyone is interested in the 1918 Pandemic:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/influenza/timeline/index.html

 

[grimley1968]

but come on, you can hit every drug store in a 5 mile radius and have your supply.

Not true if you live in a state with a prescription-tracking system. Kentucky has one now (our meth problems are horrendous). Any drugs that could be used to make meth are tracked and you have to fill out a form to buy them. I had to do this to buy some Sudafed this past winter. That information is put into a system and if you try to buy more of this, or prescription meds, anywhere in the state within a short amount of time, they will a) not sell it to you and b) you can be severely prosecuted. There have even been cases where this has been used to prosecute people who buy meth-making stuff at places like Walmart.