OT: Pandemic flu alert

[sk!mom]

Has anyone heard of this?? DD's school just sent home a DVD about the world pandemic flu and how we are overdue for this. It scared her and it worries me a little too. It says stores will run out of food, so you should stock pile food and medications as hospital and Dr offices will be full. Power outages, etc. due to sick workers not being able to work. It shows a family that has to be homebound and even work from home, not go to school or any social functions (church, etc). I guess this went out to all Ohio students.

Holy Cow! What kind of school does she go to? If it's public, have you contacted the District office to see if they in fact knew it was being sent home? I can't imagine a public school sending home something so alarmist.

 

[tlbwriter]

I didn't know about this, nor am I getting all up in arms about it. Haven't we been waiting for the "bird flu" forever now!!???

Eh. It's a question of "when," not "if." It may be 5 years, it may be 50, but there WILL be a flu pandemic. I dont think it's alarmist to find out what's going to happen (i.e., emergency services, priority for medical treatment, etc.) just in case. It doesn't mean you have to worry about it, any more than preplanning your funeral means you have to run around worrying about dying.

 

[taximomfor4]

Has anyone heard of this?? DD's school just sent home a DVD about the world pandemic flu and how we are overdue for this. It scared her and it worries me a little too. It says stores will run out of food, so you should stock pile food and medications as hospital and Dr offices will be full. Power outages, etc. due to sick workers not being able to work. It shows a family that has to be homebound and even work from home, not go to school or any social functions (church, etc). I guess this went out to all Ohio students.

didn't go out to all Ohio students. None of my 4 school-aged children got anything, nor did my nieces, nor did my nephew (in 3 different districts).

 

[hhartill]

My DH is a teacher in Ohio and he hasn't heard anything about this going to homes.

There's always the threat of something bad happening that 'experts' recommend you be prepared for.

I think that the 'experts' are closely related to 'they' of they say fame.

 

[taximomfor4]

I think this is great advice. Additionally, just so everyone understands how the flu is spread...It is spread through the air. It isn't like the common cold where you catch it by touching contaminated surfaces and say touch your eyes, nose or mouth.

The common cold also spreads through the air. In fact, the virus particles can travel up to 12 feet. Once the particles land on eyes, etc, they quickly move down and replicate...then, ACHOOOO, you have the common cold.

 

[problemchild718]

My 8 yo DD has been sick since 2/12-first with Influenza (the flu) then with pnuemonia. Today is the first day she hasn't had a fever, has eaten and urinated more than once a day. She was hositalized last week and has been so very sick. I am thankful she is recovering and realize that not many years ago, mothers lost their children who were as sick as Kayla is.

 

[crisi]

Eh. It's a question of "when," not "if." It may be 5 years, it may be 50, but there WILL be a flu pandemic. I dont think it's alarmist to find out what's going to happen (i.e., emergency services, priority for medical treatment, etc.) just in case. It doesn't mean you have to worry about it, any more than preplanning your funeral means you have to run around worrying about dying.

There will be a flu pandemic. The Bay Area will experience a major earthquake (as will Istanbul). NOLA will face a hurricane that will wipe out the city (oh, wait, that's already happened). And we will face a major drought. There will be war.

And if you let the things that will happen someday, but may not happen in your lifetime, run your life, you will be very stressed.

 

[Belle1962]

http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/index.html

 

[Vivianne]

I have a small stash of food/medical supplies in my home. It is feasible this can/won't happen in my lifetime. It's the individual's choice as to what they will/won't do. I don't mind being informed of the possibilities, I don't think about it everyday. If I survive it great, if not, that's the way it is.

 

[Newcastle]

...And if you let the things that will happen someday, but may not happen in your lifetime, run your life, you will be very stressed.

As usual Crisi, you are right on the money. Last year I stopped watching the nightly news because I was sick and tired of hearing how we were all going to shrivel up and die from the flu. Strangely enough, the flu has rarely been mentioned on the news this year (at least in my neck of the woods). I'm pretty sure that the risks/statistics/prevalence have not changed drastically but it just goes to show the impact of the media and how "they" tend to perpetuate these fears.

 

[susannebraska]

You can get the flu from pushing a cart in the grocery store...just try to drink lots of water, and stay healthy...that is the best way to avoid any kind of sickness.
Our kids used to get sick every time we went to WDW....but we figured they might have gotten sick at home, too....we lived through it and they have grown up with great memories..

 

[jennilynn510]

I have basic emergency supplies, but there's no way I have room for the kind of food or water stockpiling they suggested. It's hard to spend the money for all the things they say you should have for something that may or may not happen anytime soon.[/QUOTE]

ahhhh huh !!!! and my family & friends still laugh cause i have my "war kit" in the garage from 9/11 and update & add things to it often. i think you can never be too prepared, especially if you have kids

 

[daisax]

Don't people keep pantries any more? We had a blizzard in 1978 and had plenty of food (though by the end of the State of Emergency week we had to walk a couple of miles and get milk from the one store that was open).

There are other emergencies other than flu pandemics (which WILL happen, sooner or later). Blizzards, tornados, hurricanes... and we haven't had a major labor strike here, but they're common in Europe. Should the truckers of this country go on strike and deliveries stop to your local supermarket, or an even bigger oil crisis happen and gas rationing happen, availability of basic foodstuffs may be limited for short or long durations. Worst case scenario, some kind of major terrorist attack that interrupts interstate commerce...

It's not fear mongering, it's just having enough food in the house that if you can't get to a store in the next 5 days you're not feeding the kids tomato paste and oatmeal.

It's not wasted food -- you use and replace it as you go, just keeping more on hand than you would. All you need is a bookcase in your basement. Buy a few extra things each time you shop for the next few weeks and you'll have a good supply. As you need canned veggies or whatever, take them from the pantry. When you shop, put the new stuff in the pantry.

 

[NeedaVacation03]

Don't people keep pantries any more?
It's not wasted food -- you use and replace it as you go, just keeping more on hand than you would. All you need is a bookcase in your basement. Buy a few extra things each time you shop for the next few weeks and you'll have a good supply. As you need canned veggies or whatever, take them from the pantry. When you shop, put the new stuff in the pantry.

I often wonder this same thing. I have girlfriends who have to go to the store almost everyday on there way home from work "to pickup something to cook for dinner". I could not imagine having the desire to go to the grocery store everyday and the extra money that I would spend doing that.
I think it just makes practical sense to keep extra items on hand, as well as some extra water bottles. It may not be anything a drastic as pandemic, but it never hurts to be prepared.

 

[mumom95]

All Ohio students? I haven't heard of this and none of my friends/family have said anything about a video either?? We live in Columbus by the way.

We live in the Cincinnati area and haven't received this yet either. Although I think I remember getting a paper on this possibility early this year or last year.

 

[jennilynn510]

Don't people keep pantries any more? We had a blizzard in 1978 and had plenty of food (though by the end of the State of Emergency week we had to walk a couple of miles and get milk from the one store that was open).

There are other emergencies other than flu pandemics (which WILL happen, sooner or later). Blizzards, tornados, hurricanes... and we haven't had a major labor strike here, but they're common in Europe. Should the truckers of this country go on strike and deliveries stop to your local supermarket, or an even bigger oil crisis happen and gas rationing happen, availability of basic foodstuffs may be limited for short or long durations. Worst case scenario, some kind of major terrorist attack that interrupts interstate commerce...

It's not fear mongering, it's just having enough food in the house that if you can't get to a store in the next 5 days you're not feeding the kids tomato paste and oatmeal.

It's not wasted food -- you use and replace it as you go, just keeping more on hand than you would. All you need is a bookcase in your basement. Buy a few extra things each time you shop for the next few weeks and you'll have a good supply. As you need canned veggies or whatever, take them from the pantry. When you shop, put the new stuff in the pantry.

amen... my friends think i'm nuts but i tell them they better not want my tuna when the end come LOL

 

[Vivianne]

amen... my friends think i'm nuts but i tell them they better not want my tuna when the end come LOL

Too late now, they know about it.

 

[crisi]

I often wonder this same thing. I have girlfriends who have to go to the store almost everyday on there way home from work "to pickup something to cook for dinner". I could not imagine having the desire to go to the grocery store everyday and the extra money that I would spend doing that.
I think it just makes practical sense to keep extra items on hand, as well as some extra water bottles. It may not be anything a drastic as pandemic, but it never hurts to be prepared.

Picking up groceries on the way home several times a week rather than doing big shopping trips can actually be a money saver and good for you. You only have the stuff in the house you need, you don't have a lot of money tied up in a pantry. Food is less likely to rot in your fridge or expire on your shelves. You are less likely to take advantage of buying six bottles of that BBQ sauce on special your family doesn't like. Fresh vegetables/fruits and meats are better for you - and you don't have the "oh, I forgot to defrost the meat, guess we are calling for pizza or going for the convenience food" problem. You can put together meals based on specials rather than your pantry. You know pretty much exactly what todays meals cost. It does take discipline to walk in and buy what you need for the next few days - and skip the cookie aisle and ice cream three times a week.

I'm a Minnesotan - I can live off my pantry for six months worth of Blizzard. But I've also opened more than one can of peaches in my life that tasted more like tin can than peaches because they sat on the pantry shelf so long....

 

[tlbwriter]

There will be a flu pandemic. The Bay Area will experience a major earthquake (as will Istanbul). NOLA will face a hurricane that will wipe out the city (oh, wait, that's already happened). And we will face a major drought. There will be war.

And if you let the things that will happen someday, but may not happen in your lifetime, run your life, you will be very stressed.

Who says you have to let it "run your life" just because you're aware and prepared? I don't spend any time or energy worrying about a flu pandemic. But I know what to expect if it happens in my lifetime. It's better than sticking your head in the sand. It's education vs ignorance, not panic vs indifference.

 

[crisi]

Who says you have to let it "run your life" just because you're aware and prepared? I don't spend any time or energy worrying about a flu pandemic. But I know what to expect if it happens in my lifetime. It's better than sticking your head in the sand. It's education vs ignorance, not panic vs indifference.

I'm not saying you should be prepared. At the same time, you cannot be prepared for every possibility and every risk. And you should balance the cost of being prepared for the risk and what you are willing to do with the risk - as well as avoid stressing out over it. For some people, being prepared helps them avoid stressing out. My own feeling is that there is a reasonable level of preparedness - and then there is moving to the mountains of Montana and becoming self sufficient off the land, cutting yourself off from civilization - which is some people's thing, but I think is a little over the edge.