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Preppers

Prepping for pandemic...

977 replies

wheresmymojo · 26/01/2020 13:46

I was quite blasé about the novel corona virus outbreak but things I've read today have changed my mind.

I'm not usually a prepper but best things to stock up on for a pandemic?

Surgical face masks?
Latex gloves?
Anti bac wipes and hand wash?

OP posts:
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wheresmymojo · 29/01/2020 19:01

@NaturalBornWoman

I'd wait then until one or two local epidemics occur outside of China - that is really the time to be a bit more concerned.

Fingers crossed it doesn't happen...

OP posts:
Ennith · 29/01/2020 19:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HasaDigaEebowai · 29/01/2020 19:38

There was a british man being interviewed on the radio tonight. He said he has been told he can be evacuated on a flight tomorrow with his mother who has demetia but his wife who is Chinese cannot go with him. But added to that he said he can't physically get to the airport anyway even if he wanted to because of the road blocks which are impassable. Nobody can leave the city. He said in general people are still fairly well stocked up on food because of Chinese new year but water is running low and none of the supermarkets are open to sell water.

Makinganewthinghappen · 29/01/2020 19:39

Hi!
I am new to the idea of prepping for anything but I have decided to get some extra bits in for this. I know by it’s possibly nothing but I had pneumonia as a totally healthy 30 year old a couple of years ago and nearly died of sepsis and so I am finding it hard to ignore this worry!
My husband has an autoimmune condition - no idea how that affects things but he gets a flu jab off the gp so I’m assuming he would be at more risk here. Obviously also have 6 children ages 4-15 !

We are a family of 8 (2 adults 6 children ).

Currently I buy a weeks shop, we eat it I buy another shop - so pretty much 0 stored food.

We live on the Main Street of a very small town but we are surrounded by shops so it has never occurred to me to store extra food in our house before Blush.
In terms of medicines we have a packet or two of things like paracetamol but really nothing else (again we live about 5 doors away from a small chemist).

Today I did my first ever prepping and bought an extra bottle of calpol. But when I got home it occurred to me that spread between my 4 younger children that’s really not that many doses!

Anyway the point is is there a reliable basics list somewhere? That’s recommends pints per person? For things liek food and medicines etc?

I have been reading through the posts on this forum but I’m just getting in a middle trying to figure out what exactly I’m prepping for - is it for being ill, being quarantined I have no idea Grin.

My husband thinks it’s crazy but he did suggest getting some frozen pizzas in so that’s a start.

For space - I have a spare chest freezer and a giant American fridge that are empty and a small fridge which is full of our food for this week.

I am thinking I should fill those up with long life stuff...

HasaDigaEebowai · 29/01/2020 19:42

easiest way to prep food if you have all that freezer space sitting there waiting is just to buy 2-3 weeks of your normal shopping and then bung it all in the freezer.

wherearemychickens · 29/01/2020 19:47

I have just bought some extra bits to top up what was becoming a depleted Brexit stockpile, but I am struggling with what medicines to stock up on. Mine are a bit too old for Calpol and Nurofen now, but apparently not old enough for proper lemsips. Is there anything that caters for the middle?

wheresmymojo · 29/01/2020 19:49

I still take Calpol at 37 because it tastes much better than Lemsip Grin

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MynameisJune · 29/01/2020 21:20

I'm joining in here for what it's worth, I have and 8 month old that i'm concerned about when it comes here. To me it's inevitable that we will get it. In fact with travel now it's inevitable that it will go around the world. So i'm prepping more to stay in the house/garden as much as possible.

We already have bulk dog food, wash powder, toilet rolls, face tissues, kitchen roll, toiletries and nappies (thanks Costco). We still have some stock left from Brexit but need to fill it back up.

I've bought extra calpol and nurofen, will get another bottle of each too so will have 4 bottles of each. We use it anyway. Have loads of paracetamol/ibuprofen for adults but will get some more tomorrow. I tend to go to Home Bargains buy as much as i can there, walk next door to B&M and do the same there, walk next door to poundland and do the same there. Also going to look for Milton Hand sanitiser, it's sold out online but i'm hoping the local shops will still have it.

Food wise we have an empty chest freezer, will get 4-5 loaves of bread, frozen veg, pizzas, meat etc for that. Then some more tinned fruit, sauces, pasta, beans and tinned soup. Will look at the milk situation too.

PickwickThePlockingDodo · 29/01/2020 21:56

To me it's inevitable that we will get it. In fact with travel now it's inevitable that it will go around the world.

I agree, and with a little baby it's sensible to be prepared without being overly panicked.

Makinganewthinghappen · 29/01/2020 22:16

I am going to go and buy some extras for the freezer tomorrow - and some more paracetamol etc. I called my dad tonight - my step mother (who is Chinese) is in China for new year and apparently even where she is (pretty much the other end of China!) people are staying in, the streets quiet etc. She is trying to get out of China now - she was supposed to fly today but it was cancelled.

It made it a bit more real to me so I am going to have a think and if it comes to nothing I have some food put aside for later In the year!

BlackeyedSusan · 29/01/2020 22:46

@wherearemychickens disprol or other dispersible paracetamol.

BlackeyedSusan · 29/01/2020 23:19

If you eat fresh food, butternut squash, potatoes, onions all last a couple of weeks in the fridge, apples last a while too. Cabbage too.

Tinned veg work well in curries. Look up the Brexit recipe threads for ideas.

Tinned beans, (baked and butter, kidney, black etc) tinned tomatoes, chickpeas.

Red lentils cook reasonably quickly, can be stored dry and used in bolognaise, chilli etc.

Dried fruit stores well.

For Brexit I have a butternut squash, cauli, 2kg of onions, bag of carrots sweet potato, potatoes, apples boxes of orange juice, milk, cheeses, olive spread.

Freezer: chicken, frozen onions, peas, sweetcorn, mixed veg, vegetarian sausages, fish fingers, chips, garlic, ginger.

Cupboards: cereals, dried fruit, dried milk powder, soya milk for DD, mixed seeds

Tinned carrots, peas, sweetcorn, mushrooms, tomatoes, kidney, butter, black, black eye, canellini and baked beans, tinned tomatoes, Passata.

Tinned fruit of different sorts.

Dried beans, chickpeas, green peas.

Dried wholemeal rice, pasta of different sorts, spaghetti, noodles, couscous.

Sachets of rice, cupshots, couscous. ( Just add hot water or microwave for 2 minutes)

Stir in sauces. Tins of curry chicken in white sauce. Jars of curry sauce( vegetarian) for DD. Fray Bentos pies.

Custard and rice pudding to replace milk.

Fizzy water, squash, lemonade, tins of pop.

Treats: chocolate, crisps. Sweets.

Spices and herbs, sauces, anchovies, olives to make life taste better.

Coffee, tea bags.

Boxes of fruit juice.

Biscuits, crackers.

You have to choose stuff you eat or can afford to donate to the food bank.

BlackeyedSusan · 29/01/2020 23:24

First aid box.
Paracetamol
Aspirin
Ibuprofen
Kids pain killers
Decongestants
Anbesol
Sudocreme
Cough mixture
Strepsils
Prescription meds.
Mints/ antacids
Antihistamines
Anthesan
Plasters
Dressings
Thermometer
Glucose tablets.

BlackeyedSusan · 29/01/2020 23:27

You may want canestan, germaloids etc. If you are prone to needing those.

Vitamin supplements.

Don't forget birth control.

Ennith · 29/01/2020 23:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Scillyme · 29/01/2020 23:47

After years of brexit batshit crazy posts we’ve now got the plague coming.

The scientific method does not operate on opinion and guesswork.

Just use you fucking brexit stash.

PinkGinAndTacos · 29/01/2020 23:49

Scillyme some people suffer from really bad anxiety with regards to these situations and prepping gives a sense if control. Your comments are unhelpful.

gamerchick · 29/01/2020 23:54

And yet here people are on the prepper board. Snarling because something is out of their control and it makes them feel better.

wheresmymojo · 30/01/2020 01:15

Clearly they read this thread in China...

Prepping for pandemic...
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wheresmymojo · 30/01/2020 01:16

Someone needs to tell him he's wearing it the wrong way round though - absorbent should be inside and waterproof on the outside Hmm

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bellinisurge · 30/01/2020 07:02

"Just use you fucking brexit stash." Ffs - nice attitude Hmm.

Or just look more into being a prepper. Maybe focus on "homestead" prepping. Even in a low key way that your budget and storage space can cope with. That way you don't have a "Brexit stash" or a "whatever " stash, you just have a bit of resilience in your cupboards for any tricky events that can turn up. Like bad weather, unemployment, ill health etc.

So you aren't being reactive, you are being proactive. Forget "Brexit" or "Corona virus" and think about what you would do if you broke your leg or got snowed in or , god forbid, lost your job. You still have to eat, keep warm, have a cuppa, keep yourself entertained, stay healthy and clean. You probably already have stuff in but don't see it as prepper supplies. They are just "supplies " in your cupboard. You have a bit but you are probably short of toothpaste or something. Look at it like that. Don't call yourself a prepper if you hate the word. Call yourself a person with a well stocked cupboard.

its2019ffs · 30/01/2020 07:36

I was wondering whether someone more knowledgeable than me could help.

Dh get these wipes from work and has been given a huge stack of them, would they work on this virus?

gamerchick · 30/01/2020 07:40

They wouldnt work on any virus. They're antibacterial wipes.

Handy to have though.

its2019ffs · 30/01/2020 07:41

@gamerchick have you looked at the pictures? It states that they kill viruses, these a list of viruses they kill in the second photo

gamerchick · 30/01/2020 07:50

I know I read it. Packets say a lot of things.

What would you use them for out of interest? They would be mint for wiping cashpoint keypads down before using.

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