How to prepare for a Global Pandemic?

Our world had passed through numerous pandemics before. What makes a pandemic unpredictable is that we don’t have control of new diseases that can arise unexpectedly and can cause severe effects on the human race.

A pandemic is defined as a worldwide spread of a new disease. Although it sounds scary and it can cause us anxiety, it’s important not to panic. We just have to do what we have to do and that’s to keep ourselves and our families safe.

Each pandemic should be dealt with by being prepared since it can affect the economy of the world if it’s globally and there can be problems encountered in the supply chains of the usual products we all need to live and survive.

When a global pandemic is declared, children may be asked to stay home from school and just best kept at home to avoid the spread of the disease and places of business may temporarily close down, and people might be advised to work from their homes. 

Almost everyone will decide to stock up on essentials all at the same time that could leave the supermarket’s shelves empty and products to be out of stock.

As early as there might be a global pandemic, it would be wise to stock up and be prepared for it. 

Should I stock up for a global pandemic?

You should not wait for a global pandemic to stock up. If you already have a local outbreak in your area, it’s best to store a two-week to a month’s supply of water and food, as well as over-the-counter medicines you need to take regularly.

A local outbreak already demands our being prepared and not just a global pandemic. The precautions we need to take when infectious disease puts our community at risk are the same, especially in a global pandemic.

What should I do before a global pandemic is declared?

It would start at a national level before a global pandemic is declared. You need to be informed of your country’s latest updates, policies and health measures to contain the pandemics. There will be general instructions and advice on how to prevent and protect the citizens of your country.

Be ready and prepared if it becomes a global pandemic and you must have an advance plan. There will be changes and disruption in your country and the world. 

Notable experts recommend that you must stock-up at least two weeks of your supply of drinking water and food. The computation for water consumption is one gallon per person per day for cleaning, cooking, and drinking.

Canned foods are advisable and purchase food that you would normally eat like snacks, protein, carbs, fruits, and vegetables. Buy your pet food for two weeks too.

There is no need to hoard since you can replenish your supplies every two weeks. In the worst scenario, you can stock-up for at least a month’s supply.

Ensure you also have your vitamins, prescription drugs, and non-prescription drugs like for stomach pain, ibuprofen, and paracetamol.

You would also need to stock on your sanitizers, tissues and all your cleaning supplies.

If the time comes that an effective vaccine is made available to the public and recommended by local health authorities, get yourself and your family vaccinated.

What do we do in a global pandemic?

When disease reached a global pandemic level here are the precautionary and preventive measures that need to be followed.

• Always cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze and cough, use a tissue you can discard hygienically after, or use your elbow to cover your mouth.

• Be obligated to wear a face mask preferably an N95 mask or a 3 ply surgical mask.

• Wash your hands properly and frequently with an alcohol-based sanitizer.

• Clean all frequently touched surfaces and objects of you and other household members

• If unfortunately, you get sick, do everything you can to avoid passing it on to people around you at work and in your area and loved your ones.

• Isolate yourself if possible and do your best to keep your hands to yourself 

• Avoid close contact with others and keep your distance of at least 3 feet

• Stay at home when you are sick

• Stay at home if someone in your house is sick

• Stay home for at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medicines

• Avoid sharing personal items

• Avoid large events or gathering

• It’s best if you and your family can stay home

How to prepare for a Global Pandemic

A  global pandemic might hit our world in three distinct waves, each might from a few weeks or up to three months or worst, even more.

This means that you and your family should be able to survive on your own, at home within that time if you need to.

Be prepared to treat someone sick in your family at home. In the case of a global pandemic, there will shortages of beds in hospitals as well as health workers. These hardworking health workers might decide to stay home with their families as well or some of them might also be sick.

As I mentioned earlier, stock-up on medications since they are harder to obtain during pandemics. You should also have a first aid kit in your home and know how to administer emergency first aid too.

Also, stocking up on your N95 face masks and also child-sized masks to protect you and all your family members.

You will need to designate a Sick Room. The CDC recommends that during a pandemic, the sick should stay in the designated sick room and also use a designated bathroom that only the sick person in your family will use.

If someone does fall ill in your family, quarantine them to the designated sick room and clean the room daily with bleach.

If you can stock up on food, water, and household supplies for more than a month.

As discussed earlier, you can at least stock up for two weeks to a month’s supply but supplies for than a month are even better. 

In this case, you wouldn’t put yourself at risk by going out to the store more often and it will save you from encountering food shortages during a global pandemic.

Purchase and stock-up on shelf-stable foods that your family already eats and enjoys. 

This might include: 

• Bread with a longer shelf life

• rice

• crackers

• dried beans, lentils, peas, and corn

• protein bars, granola bars, or fruit bars

• fruit, and vegetables canned soup

• peanut butter and jelly

• coffee, tea, and hot chocolate

• powdered juices

• nuts and dried fruits

• beef jerky and preserved meat

• pasta and noodles

• instant soup mixes

• flour

• baking essentials such as baking soda, salt, and yeast

• sugar

• pickled vegetables

• dried milk

• evaporated or condensed milk

• trail mix

• applesauce and gravy

• cookies

• candies

• chocolate

• oils such as olive oil, vegetable oil, and coconut oil

• crackers

• oatmeal

• pancake mix

• cereals

• chicken, beef, and vegetable bouillon cubes

• soy sauce, vinegar, and sriracha

• honey, maple syrup, chocolate syrup, and agave syrup

• salt, onion flakes, cinnamon, and ginger

• macaroni and cheese and instant potatoes

• canned meats like tuna, sardines, oysters, chicken, turkey, pork, sausage, and spam

• milk formula or baby food for very young children

• pet food for your pets

You should also stock up on the supplies you’ll need to stay healthy at home. These items include:

• Hand soap and sanitizer

• Bleach or disinfectant cleaners

• Toilet paper

• Kleenex

• Prescription medication

• Fluids with electrolytes like Gatorade and Pedialyte

• Garbage bags for medical waste disposal and trash

• Plastic gloves

• Diapers for very small children

This is a long list of things that you can purchase. You can purchase the things that you would most need and you can start buying it batch since it can be quite expensive.

There’s also a possibility of power outrage if a large number of the working people get sick or they also have to stay home. Have enough supplies to survive without power for several days or weeks, including flashlights, lanterns, a hand-crank or solar-powered radio, and butane stove or a solar oven cooker to be able to cook

When a pandemic reached a global level, schools will close to prevent the spread of the disease and they could last for weeks or even months.

Most likely all work will either be closed or will be done at home.  It would be wise to always have savings when these situations arise. You should also start to learn how to be able to take care of your family in times of a pandemic.

Talk and connect with your friends, family members, neighbors, and even government and private organizations for the event you’ll need information, medical assistance, food, and other supplies. 

Research also for alternative ways for wellness and being healthy. A good immune system will help you fight viruses. Learn about natural remedies and vitamins from herbs too.

And lastly, take action before the global pandemic is declared. Practice prevention with your family now. Don’t get tired to wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds more frequently, keep your hands away from your nose, eyes, and mouth, wear an N95 mask when you go out, and clean and disinfect as often as possible.

Here is a list of some items you can purchase cheaper and can stock-up to prepare for a global pandemic.

Pandemic safety Kit

A pandemic kit would come very useful since it’s a complete set of personal protective equipment (PPE), supplies such as N95 masks, and sanitizers to help prevent the spread of infectious germs and viruses.

Water

You can stock-up no gallons of water or buy water in bulk that’s contained in bottles.

Water Purifying drops / Water Purifying Tablets

Water purifying drops or tablets can be lifesavers in a worst-case situation when you run out mineral water and purified water.

Sanitizers

Cleaning sanitizers and hand sanitizers are much needed in every pandemic that needs to be dealt with and be protected from.

70% Alcohol

You will be able to save if you buy 70% alcohol by the gallon and have each family member a bottle each that can be refilled.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C gives a lot of benefits to the body and one of them is to boost your immune system and to protect you from getting coughs and colds.

Vitamin D3

One of the benefits of Vitamin D3 is it fights disease. It also helps to reduce your likelihood of developing the flu, according to 2010 research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Trusted Source.

Tissue Paper

You can buy tissue paper in bulk. There are already reports of panic buying of tissue papers in the supermarkets.

Canned Goods

It’s wise to stock up on canned goods since they have a longer shelf life and they are very convenient during a pandemic. There are a lot of canned goods that you can choose from. 

Fruits and Vegetables

There are chilled vegetables and fruits that you can stock. It would be good to have these in your diet to keep you healthy. They could also come in preserved, dried, canned, and frozen.

Food Supply Survival

There is a ready food supply survival kit that includes up to 60 servings of different food that are individually wrapped and some even have 25 years shelf life. You just need to add water, wait 12-15 minutes and enjoy delicious and hearty food with no cooking necessary. It resembles military packed food that they take with them.

Medicines

Always have any nonprescription drugs and other health supplies that include pain relievers, stomach remedies, cough, and cold medicines, fluids with electrolytes during pandemics.

N95 Masks

Choose a NIOSH-approved N95 mask. It’s the only recommended mask that can protect you from breathing in small particles in the air. It’s capable to filter out 95% of very small 0.3 micron particles.

Surgical Masks

The next go-to mask is the surgical mask that is 3 ply or more. It’s cheaper and they can filter 80% of particles. Some surgical masks have filtering features of more than 80%.

After Thoughts

At this point in the coronavirus outbreak, we just hope it doesn’t turn into a global pandemic. 

We must admit that at the back of our minds we might be thinking, what if it does? And when can it happen?

We just need to be always ready and to be always prepared. We can’t wait for the last minute to be ready to deal with it.

In case of a potential global pandemic, let’s all be vigilant, united, and protected to surpass this plague in due time.