Being prepared for potential self isolation

[HazeyJaneII]

Having seen a couple of posts from people really struggling because they have to self isolate and have nothing in - I wondered whether it might be an idea to have a thread with ideas of how to be prepared 'just in case.'

Things like

• checking local Facebook board for volunteers groups
• checking local council have a wellbeing hub, with volunteers who can help, sticking number on fridge
• checking with neighbours, to see if they'd be happy to pop a few bits in, with favour returned if it goes the other way
• have a few extra essentials /medicines
• set up a network with friends or neighbours to help

Anything else?

Isn't there a Preppers board somewhere on here full of threads with helpful info like this?

Sorry I don't know where it is exactly but it might have a thread with a lot of this stuff already.

I know people can be a bit put off by the idea of 'prepping', so possibly wouldn't have ever looked on there or hidden it...(plus it hadn't occurred to me there would be a thread there!)

I just thought that with everyone potentially being in the position of having to self isolate without any notice, it might be a good idea to have a general post with ideas and as a reminder to get these things in place.

Ah yeah you've probably got a point!

I know that we were fairly prepared in March but since then we've used most of the stuff that was set aside, etc. Probably a lot of people like me!

Most people I know have been adding extras to shopping since April so they have enough for self isolation. There are lots of foods that will keep and easy to store for such a time. I’d only want to bother a volunteer as an absolute last resort.

I have a couple of new toys for the kids, to be used in the event of unexpected self-isolation. We have had that situation a couple of times already and the kids go feral pretty quickly, so a bit of novelty helps. Side issue, but I think that other thread is nonsense!

Have some local friends/family whom have different bubbles to you especially regarding schools so you can text them shopping lists.

Good waterproofs for walks in all weathers and a box full of craft stuff from The Works. I'd have gone mad without them.

Food wise we have some easy to prepare extras and I double cook and freeze so we have two weeks of dinners that we can reheat.

I have one more bottle of laundry liquid as if we are self-isolating washing towels and bedding at 60c will become my new hobby I would imagine.

I am keeping my library book stash full. Reading fiction it transpires for me at least is an invaluable escape during these uncertain times.

I have a stack, bought in sales, of fancy bubble bath and shower gels, face masks and pampering items as it all can't be baking and Netflix.

Buy any small DIY job items you need, glue, sealant, whatever to get round to the annoying mini jobs you haven't got round to yet.

I have a couple of 1000 piece jigsaws, some sewing repair jobs, Christmas decorations craft set and boxes of old papers to sort, file and thread.

I need to go through the many 1000s of digital photos I have taken and get a number to print out for an album finally this will take more than 2 weeks so that should help.

Medicine cabinet is fairly well stocked, as are our prescription items and vitamin supplements.

And we have extra toothpaste which we usually don't.

Just bits and bobs.

Sure I've forgotten loads.

I have the next 6 weeks of Tesco slots booked and Amazon prime.

You might want to buy an oximeter to monitor oxygen levels. Thermometer if you haven't got one. Flu remedies.
Prescription medicines as far ahead as poss.

make sure you keep enough in for two to three weeks of food of the stuff that will last. (easier to ask a mate to pick up bread and milk and not a whole shop)

include over the counter medications such as paracetamol, strepsils and ibuprofen etc

vitamin d : start taking supplements.
have some dinners that just require heating if you need to feed kids and feel shit. (eg batch cooking in freezer. sachets of microwave rice, tins of curry and a tin or two of veg to add)

have some snacks kids can help themself to. eg boxes of fruit juice, crackers, bread sticks, fruit, if they are old enough teach them to make toast/sandwich.

have some food you can eat by just adding water... noodles, cupasoup, or couscous if you feel too knackered to cook.

keep a spare loaf/bottle of milk in the freezer

arrange with a friend or two that you will drop emergency supplies to them if they do the same for you.

kids entertainment: google play card/dvd/stickerbooks
blankets or duvet for the sofa to supervise from.

have the numbers of relatives the kids can call for help written somewhere as well as saved in phone.

Make sure you have a stash of cat food. You can live a fortnight on pasta and tomato sauce if you have to, but you wouldn't want to share a house with a cat who was being asked to live off pasta.

These are all brilliant

We have had to do a couple of self isolation periods, and as we were shielding at the beginning and now, had quite a while for making sure we had a plan and stuff prepared if we needed to isolate, were ill or ds needed to be in hospital.
It's good to see what other people have sorted, because sometimes your own focus tends to be all on one thing.
I know it is much more difficult for some people, but hope some ideas of how to be a bit more prepared filter through.

A stash of food- we have 3 freezers and a Brexit stash so fine for this.
Vitamin stash- especially vitamins C and D.
Medicine stash- we have calpol, calprofen, inhalers, lemsips, ibuprofen, coughmedicine, tissues, antacids
Stuff to do- Netflix, prime, Disney +, books, activity books, crafts, Lego, board games.
Stuff for home learning- A4 paper, printer cartridges, pencils/ pens/ colours, card, glue etc
Wine!

We have a few days of frozen and canned food, including some microwave meals in case we're not well enough to cook. We also got some formula milk in case I get too ill to breastfeed, although we don't know if DS will take it. Our medicine box is fairly well stocked anyway.

Currently Tesco has good availability of delivery slots. Our local Co-Op does same day delivery, and the corner shop is on Deliveroo. Toiletries can be bought on Amazon Prime. We also have a few local friends who would be happy to pick things up for us (as we have already for them!) So we're not trying to keep in enough things for a fortnight, just for a few days until we can get delivery.

It's worth thinking about the sort of things you're likely to want when sick. I had a really nasty vomitting bug in the summer (not covid!) and craved fruit juice. It's not something I normally drink so didn't have any. I now have a few cartons tucked in the back of a cupboard. I have a loaf in the freezer and a jar of marmite for the same reason.

It's also worth being aware of your local resources. I live out in the countryside. Deliveroo and Amazon fresh - suggested repeatedly on one of the threads in question - don't come out to me, so I need (and have) a more comprehensive stash of staples than someone more urban.