Prepping for a Pandemic... 15

[FuckThisWind]

A lot of us have been here before. We Prepped for Brexit. Some of us are Heathcare workers. We prepare for the worst every day. It's difficult to predict what will happen in our lives. In our lifetime. Will we get Cancer? Will a huge meteorite wipe the world out?

One thing is for sure, this new virus is either affecting us, or is going to affect us all very soon. You are all already onboard. I hope you are prepared and much as you can be. And in the meantime this thread is here to support us all.

This week will bring many new challenges. We are almost certain to have some sort of lockdown. Like other parts of Europe. We aren't special. We aren't different. We are all
fragile souls. But I hope we live to tell the tale.

God Speed.

So, daughter is also complaining of stomach pain, about an inch to the right of her belly button. She has mentioned tummy pain a few times over the last 2 weeks but with her other symptoms of temp I'm now questioning if it might be appendicitis (but she does have the cough). She's saying pain is a 7 out of 10. Think I'm going to have to call 111

We are in day 3 of homeschool. I am NOT a natural teacher (and Im trying to keep a business going at the same time). Thank goodness so much is available online!

Checking in. Haven't managed to get on and read threads since Friday, not even going to attempt to catch up!

Hope everyone is staying as safe and well as they can.

Some questions in my head if anyone can help...

I was a Brexit prepper and I’m proud not to have contributed to the shopping chaos this week. BUT my prepping will need to be back filled shortly - we are using hand soap at a rate of knots - and none anywhere I’ve happened to be - ditto hand sanitiser. I had one open and one prepped and saved - again both from the autumn. I’ve now just opened the second and will want another soon - particularly as I’ve just decanted half of the new one into a bottle for my 86yo Grandma. I’ve got two boxes of paracetamol but my period is due today and one box is therefore going to get used.

When IS the supply chain likely to catch up? I feel like we are never going to see sanitiser again! Surely someone knows something about it. It’s never mentioned on the news. Maybe if we knew there would be availability people would stop being such wankers.

That article about the dr I had an awful, awful dream last night about not being able to breathe. Really did scare me.

What upset me most about the doctor was this bit:

When did the situation go down?
" On Wednesday 4 March I was swabbed, Thursday the positivity was confirmed. Fever stayed around 39. In the evening I barely started breathing. In a few minutes I lost smell and taste, I could see less and less. Headaches and dysentery have also risen due to oxygen deficiency ".
Who took her to the hospital?
" I phoned, but there was no room. I knew I couldn't hold on long. I was breathing, but oxygen was lost in my lungs. At 23 a colleague called me to tell me that a bed had cleared. X-ray confirmed pneumonia had burst ".

He was a doctor who had been made ill by his work. And still no bed was available until he was almost dead. 😢

@bobbby - let us know what they say. 🌷🌷

@Nomorewineever - how bad is it? Is there literally no soap? Even when they've restocked. Washing up liquid or bar soap are both fine.

We're washing our hands lots as I don't want to get ill with a tummy bug. I'm not so worried by CV once we're in the house.

I'm off to see Mum and Dad (83 and 86 and both with health issues especially Mum who has heart failure, boarderline diabetes and high BP... she's frail enough as it is) Taking this little package over. Thank God for being prepper at times like this! None of this was bought within the last 6 months apart from the Zoflora! (The pom-pom hat to knit was a gift to me, but I'm no knitter - Mum is amazing!)

They have a cleaner come in once a week and I don't know what to advise them yet. Do you think they should cancel (they would still pay her) or ask her to wear a mask which they can provide (do you think that would offend?) It's so hard knowing what to do for the best. I'll wear a mask while over there today.

What is lovely though is 3 of their neighbours have already either phoned, called or popped notes in to say contact them if they need anything (I live 30 mins away). It's good to see the best coming out in people as well as the worst!

How do you respond if someone asks you to reach proportionately for this covid ?

React*. ( not reach)

Morning everyone, can’t believe we are starting another school week.

My sons football has been called off for at least 2 weeks...how can children still be in school if they can’t play football??

Soap (hello, Secret lurker on the prepping boards here) you could try getting some ‘melt and pour’ soap base online - that gives you instant soap where other soap making methods take a while to ‘cure’.

@HasaDigaEebowai have you read up on deschooling? It's a process a lot of home schoolers go through if they start off home educating after their kids have been in school.
Different if school is supporting their learning but if not might be good for them to have at least a short early Easter break.

@MrsWhites That’s what is surprising. After dh’s polite and firm email the school has responded with cancelling parents evening and all other events like storytelling with relatives etc but has not cancelled the clubs. Still advising parents to bring the kids to school and to react proportionately (saying very few cases are only diagnosed in the U.K. so we need not worry) I’m fuming over that because there will always be fewer cases as they aren’t testing anyone who are not admitted to hospitals anyway.

@Nomorewineever there is still soap in shops but it goes fast. I would drive of you can go early mid week rather than the weekend or evenings.

@sorry that shoulders I would advise you*

@bobbbbby oh I hope your little girl is ok, defo call 111.

Wow just been on Facebook and 2 self help groups have been set up in my area, one local and one city wide. So many people wanting to help. It's so heartwarming and has made me feel a bit less helpless knowing that I can actually do something to help!

Could I suggest, if you’re looking for fresh fruit and veg, seeing if there’s a local veg box service? We use ours off and on and I’ve asked for a delivery this week (and explained about the self isolation!) its £11.50 and I’ve attached a breakdown of the contents. It’s useful on so many levels because it’s delivered free of charge, supporting a local business and keeping clear of the shops if we weren’t isolating :/

Don’t know if this has been mentioned but jet2 urgently trying to get uk citizens home today. Via any airport possible. Family from Scotland got a 4 hour warning to get a flight to England out of Spain

@Sprayitall, exactly! Our school does seem to have cancelled after school clubs but they are still having daily worship/assembly which the whole school takes part in!

My PIL managed to get the last flight out of Vietnam yesterday, arrived home this morning to self isolate now.

Both feeling well but FIL has flushed cheeks. MIL has asked me to drop over the thermometer I got as part of my preps.

Even DH now admitting I've been right all along.

Thanks Veneto for sharing the Italian financial measures. I do hope the UK follows suit as we (self employed and small businesses) will really need it!

All that I've read of the last few days (wanting to send sick kids to school, countless excuses to not to isolate etc etc) has really shown me that we need a full lock down. Hiding the elderly and vulnerable will not work because everyone else won't do what they are directed to do unless forced too.
We need a full lockdown.

I home educate my dc. Firstly what I’ll say is that when I took the eldest two out of school (youngest never went) there was quite a fraught period where we all adjusted to such a difference in lifestyle. In those early weeks I often wondered if I was doing the right thing, it is such a big adjustment. But things settled down and it became a lovely, wonderful thing. Children all doing well academically, have lots of home ed friends and we’re all less stressed and a lot happier. Sorry if this sounds like a school bashing post, it isn’t. I just wanted to say that if things are difficult when your children are first home from school try to not worry as it will get better as everyone settles into their routines and gets used to the change and one another’s company.
One tip is something I’ve used many tines over the years, type into google ‘learning resources’ followed by whatever subject is really interesting your dc at the moment. Books/tv show/games etc. We’ve always done this and the dc love it and don’t see it as learning as it’s a subject they love yet they’re still learning loads at the same time. A lot of resources incorporate all the core subjects alongside whatever the activities are.
If anyone has any questions about home education please don’t hesitate to ask me and I’ll do my best to help.

My Aloe plant isn't looking right , it appears to have weeds growing out of it, do I pull them? It's grown so much however I'm not sure I'm looking after it properly, any advise on how much and often to water it?