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Preppers

Prepping For Pandemic..... 11

999 replies

ItsNotJustTheFuckingFlu · 05/03/2020 20:33

Thread 11.

This prepping for a pandemic pack was posted one one of the previous threads, I thought I’d post for this thread as there’s more people joining the threads. I had a quick scan through the last couple of thread to find a list that’s been posted a few times but couldn’t find it. The pack seems a bit end of days in some parts buts it’s got some useful ideas.

Pandemic Preparedness Pack

The Emotional Prep thread started by @Neome might be worth a look for those of us feeling anxious as things ramp up.

Emotional Prep Thread

Also attached a screenshot of a post on previous threads by @blackeyesusan (hope you don’t mind) with storage ideas for those of us living in smaller homes.

Prepping For Pandemic..... 11
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RhubarbTea · 07/03/2020 14:56

Today at DC's swimming lessons a member of staff came and cleaned the handrails in the balcony area with some kind of spray and kitchen roll plus the banisters leading up to it. Which was both good and a bit eeek.

My local co op has almost completely sold out of loo rolls (I went in for a 4 pack and had to buy 9!) and soap, and there is no cheap own brand paracetamol or ibuprofen. Other things like flour were also low and bread mixes were gone.
Same sort of thing in big Tescos. Although our Sainsburys was relatively well stocked and there were shelf stackers glowering at people in almost every aisle as they refilled things. Flour all gone though. I felt guilty buying one UHT milk to add to my stash and got such a condescending look from the young lad stacking in that section. Pfft.

People on the train were pressing the doors open button with an elbow, and everyone seems to be talking about it in public if you overhear conversations which gives a feeling of tension and as though everyone is sort of keeping it together but people are pretty twitchy. There has only been one case in my county so far...

Had the chat with DC's Dad about when to call it in terms of stopping swimming lessons and other activities, as we home ed. He said when they close a school in the immediate area. It's really hard to judge when to just hunker down, I think I'm struggling with that aspect the most. The uncertainty.

I'm also finding the situation is starting to affect my mental health, as I've realised how long this is potentially going to drag on for and I'm homesick for a world in which this didn't happen. I was looking forward to so much this year. Ah well...

BanKittenHeels · 07/03/2020 14:56

@hankyspanky what kind of garden space do you have

This is awful: Coronavirus: Hotel used for quarantine collapses in China, trapping 70

misscockerspaniel · 07/03/2020 14:57

Thank you lovely people, I have just walked to my local farm shop and bought tomato seeds (sadly, no Lidl available) and sowed them in old egg boxes.

I usually buy vegetables lose but am now buying them pre-packaged. Growing them (if they grow for me) is a good solution.

VivaLeBeaver · 07/03/2020 15:03

It’ll only need another 24 cases tomorrow (which I’m sure will happen as a minimum) for it to have doubled in 3 days. So the doubling rate is speeding up.

Puppycorn · 07/03/2020 15:13

@Orchidflower1 I’ve seen some disgusting women not even bothering to flush. Makes me gag. it’s very bothersome when dd wants to go. Horrible isn’t it.

@GalOopNorth Your garden sounds lovely. I have couple of fruit trees too but it was all planted by previous owners.

mybrainhurtsalot · 07/03/2020 15:26

Has this been posted before? It’s a timeline of the illness for the first CV case diagnosed in the US. It shows what symptoms appeared on what days etc. It comes from this research paper: www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2001191

Prepping For Pandemic..... 11
NatoPMT · 07/03/2020 15:29

Just been shopping and everything bar gel is in stock near me. Got long life guacamole, sour cream and salsa - yaaaaaassss!! Didn’t even know they existed

There has just been a fight on my street with mounted police and all sorts - atmosphere is tense due to football crowd acting jittery

BanKittenHeels · 07/03/2020 15:35

Co-op currently have long life (until end of May) wraps, tacos and various things like long life guac, salsa etc. on 2 for £3 (iirc).
The guac isn’t bad actually, we use it when we go away on long trips in our RV.

We are now discussing turning over a chunk of our lawn to more veg. We can just about take it and still have space for the kids and dogs to run off some energy.

WelliAmNot · 07/03/2020 15:44

2 Cases in Medway (Chatham) believed to be linked to the Maidstone case...

MeadowHay · 07/03/2020 15:45

Are most people prepping in case of having to be isolated at home for ages or in case of disruptions to supply? Or both?

I want to be prepared enough, but I don't want to panic buy and end up with too much of unnecessary stuff and disadvantage other people.So I'm just not sure how much of everything to get in. Although also increasingly aware that time feels like it's running out to get anything in of certain things as round here it's impossible to buy hand sanitiser anymore and there is a lot less stock of loo roll and tissues around too.

Also, eventually, if everyone is going to get it and it's going to be everywhere, will people still need to isolate? For example we don't expect people with other viruses (including flu) to follow such strict self-isolation regimes. If corona becomes ubiqituious like flu, surely those restrictions will also disappear? Same with testing, we don't test everyone for flu virus, we aren't going to continue testing hundreds of thousands of people for the virus if it's everywhere, will we? This outcome will affect supply of things I suppose but on the other hand will reduce the need for people shut in at home so there will be a slight trade-off there maybe in terms of being able to go out and look for goods more easily but then the downside is lots of shops might be closed or not have the stock?

Puppycorn · 07/03/2020 15:45

Was chatting to a friend and she thinks the number we see now is what it was a week ago and is not up to date . she also thinks it should have gone up in thousands now. was shocked to hear that . I’m now wondering if there is any truth to it..
@RhubarbTea I feel the tension too and everyone gritting their teeth behind their smile. I just want this to get over and want normal days to return. I was so looking forward to this year too and it’s not even March ..

For others who are like me trying to sort the finances a bit.. I think to apply for a credit card if you are eligible but don’t have one yet can be a good idea. Just to be a little more prepped.

sideorderofchips · 07/03/2020 15:46

I'm preparing to be self isolating for the most part

Puppycorn · 07/03/2020 15:55

@MeadowHay I have prepped just normal day to day stuffs to eat for two weeks now (think if everyone is stuck at home and need to eat) and have boring but survival items like rice and pasta to last for couple more weeks on hand (one 500 gm pasta lasts for 3 dinners at home) I have also prepped a little section with go-to ready made foods in case everyone falls ill to last for a week. So maximum for a month or so until all this frenzy subsides a little and a proper plan is laid out.

NatoPMT · 07/03/2020 15:58

@MeadowHay

The isolation is to reduce the peak of infections. No one has immunity to this. No one has been vaccinated so if 20% of everyone infected needs a hospital bed, that’s a lot of people and they are trying to stem the health service being utterly overwhelmed

Seasonal flu has been vaccinated against so the most vulnerable are less at risk, they are the ones who need beds. The nhs know what to expect and plan for it. We don’t know what to expect with cv

Next year may be a vaccine roll out for cv to stem a new wave. Some will have immunity. They will know which antivirals reduce critical cases to less critical

Next year should be less of a health crisis

Every year thereafter will be more managed

It’s the initial infection peak they need to control

To control the health crisis when it’s this new and unknown, the isolations, possible shut downs and quarantine will reduce the number of hospital admissions

To do that they need us indoors and fed

They can’t feed us all. The poor and vulnerable can’t feed themselves

We are doing this to protect ourselves and then hopefully reduce pressure on feeding those who haven’t prepared

Hope that helps

Puppycorn · 07/03/2020 16:06

I also suggest people to share their phone numbers with elderly neighbours (that’s what I have done) who can’t do supermarket runs If you are comfortable. I know and I get weird looks here when I offer to do that but it’s quite normal where I grew up for youngsters to take care of the elders. Also it’s very risky for them now.

tryingtoprep · 07/03/2020 16:14

One thing that should be done now. Food banks usually food to last a few days? People using them should be given two weeks worth. I realise that relies on there being enough to give. Might be easier to have an emergency Covid fund set up asap to give out grants or loans - either directly to those in need or to food banks to buy extra provisions.

I don't know how useful or safe this is but I looked up DIY nebulisers. In case hospitals reach capacity. A doctor in the US used empty plastic bottles. Many of his patients weren't covered by insurance for proper nebulisers. I'll try to find the link again.

BanKittenHeels · 07/03/2020 16:28

Are most people prepping in case of having to be isolated at home for ages or in case of disruptions to supply? Or both?

Both. Although disruptions and the behaviour of members of the public is my primary concern. I worked in a London Emergency Department (I suppose it was still A&E back then!) during the 2011 riots and have not one iota of trust in a chunk of the population, mostly because of the on going impact of austerity.

I’ve examined the back of every packet in the house to see where it was manufactured and have researched component parts/ingredients in order to make sure we don’t fall short of things we need/like/use.

Orangecake123 · 07/03/2020 16:29

Saw it announced on BBC news 200+ cases now.

YoursTunbridgeWells · 07/03/2020 16:34

@tryingtoprep yes please to the link

@RhubarbTea I'm homesick for a world in which this didn't happen

Me too. You couldn't have put it any better. I get snatches of normal when I lose myself in a book or film or when walking the dog.
I'm almost at a stage of grief. I know that sounds melodramatic but so much would be so different if it wasn't for this.

I'm going to be open and I expect to get judged. my DS has severe MH issues. Really, really extreme. And I think this will push him over the edge. He cannot cope with change, he cannot cope when his normal changes. He relies heavily on CAMHS who I expect will shut the second things get tough. I just hope we get to get the specialist psych appointment in 10 days we have waited so long for. Managing him has pushed me over the edge so DH has become the faily lynch pin. I am terrified something will happen to DH who is over 40 and has smoked for years. I know I will lose DS if that happens and I am powerless to stop it. Nobody's going to help in a lock down, I can't see any MH services will be provided in any case - going to A&E (which you are supposed to do) is not going to be possible. I am at a complete loss over this one.

Sunshinesky1981 · 07/03/2020 16:35

Quick question that I'm hoping someone could help me with. We have some hand sanitizer at home but it is only 50% alcohol. Just wondering if I could add surgical spirit , which is 95 % if i could bring the al8level up to 70%. Just trying to work the measurements per 100 ml

Readyme · 07/03/2020 16:38

@JustVisiting9 I've been making my own bread for 15 years and never bothered with a bread machine. However if you have the space and money then I'm sure you won't regret it if you enjoy homemade bread.

@PinkyU I would probably try and cut it down to two weeks of food just to give you a bit of spare money until the end of the month of you really need it.

@Effieray I've used real seeds for years. I've found the seeds really reliable and the bonus is you can see save and save yourself some money for next spring/summer.

@MeadowHay we are prepping and planning for a number scenarios enforced isolation because we are ill, withdrawing from society if it gets really bad and if supplies become difficult to obtain.

We always have a decent store of food and toiletries at this time of year being in a rural area that gets a lot of snow (although this year it's mostly floods) meaning we can hunker down if needed.

Today I have been doing a lot of Spring cleaning while DH takes care of DC. I really needed to gain back some storage space, all my usual spots are full of tins. It has helped me to think of what I need and do not need going ahead.

This week I need to focus on my garden jobs and organising the start of our new home school year. We usually start after Easter but This year I'm going to bring it forward a bit early to keep our familiar routine in place.

fuckitywhy · 07/03/2020 16:40

Interesting question sunshine. Looking forward to seeing if there's an answer!

NatoPMT · 07/03/2020 16:43

I like the community ideas, I think we have to hold on to our humanity very tightly

@BanKittenHeels - I am in London and mentioned the 2011 riots a couple of threads ago as my point of reference for when people get desperate. And they weren’t desperate then, we have that decade of deprivation added on top - I completely agree. I am frightened for what people are going to experience and then for what it will bring as a result

I also hear the grief too - we think this can’t happen to our country, but why not? It’s happening right now in Syria. Iran is falling, Palestinian has been suffering beyond comprehension - we aren’t immune, we just haven’t had the circumstances for it to happen to us yet

Legoandloldolls · 07/03/2020 16:50

No loo roll in Costco. Well that's esculaed quickly.

tryingtoprep · 07/03/2020 16:53

@YoursTunbridgeWells blogs.webmd.com/from-our-archives/20110706/homemade-asthma-nebulizer-a-new-use-for-recycled-water-bottles

I'm sorry you're so worried. It's horrible isn't it and hard not to be scared. I'm an ex-smoker with an underlying condition, DP smokes, and we have family in their 80s.

Far easier said than done, I know, but try not to let it take over you. Prepare for the worst but hope for the best. Nothing's definite. If nothing else, it's more important than ever to enjoy life and time with your loved ones. Just having fun, doing things you all like but with a few little precautions taken. Flowers

The positive for me is this has brought me back to prepping. I've missed it! I always feel so much better being prepared. Stopped doing in when moved to a smaller home.