Prepping for a pandemic: 20 must-have items

Are you prepared for when a pandemic occurs? In order to survive one, you must have every essential thing at home. Before a pandemic occurs, prepare these 20 essential items in order that may help you and your family survive through it. (h/t to ModernSurvivalBlog.com)

1. Water – It is a must to have a stock of clean drinking water that will last for months. Each person must have at least one gallon per day – half of it will be used for drinking, while the other half will be used for hygienic purposes. You may also want to think about buying a quality drinking water filter, in case the water needs to be filtered.
2. Water storage – Water storage is particularly useful for a temporary isolation room.
3. Food – There must be food stored for every member of the family living in the household that should last for at least three months.
4. Liquid bleach – Prepare at least five gallons of liquid bleach for each person for sanitation purposes. Keep in mind that bleach will lose about half of its effectiveness after a year.
5. Purple nitrile exam gloves – Store at least four boxes of these gloves. These gloves provide the highest level of chemical protection available.
6. Quality respirator mask – For respiratory protection, include quality respirator masks to your pandemic survival list. If within proximity, have the patient wear one.
7. Face shield – For eyes, nose, and mouth protection, prepare face shields. It is important to protect these body parts as they are possible entry points of infection.
8. Antibacterial sanitizer – An antibacterial sanitizer, preferably with benzethonium chloride, will be useful for thorough hand sanitizing.
9. Clear plastic sheeting – A clear plastic sheeting will be used to set up an isolation room.
10. Duct tape – The duct tape will be used for setting up an isolation room and securing plastic sheeting.
11. HEPA filters – Prepare enough high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters for the whole house to filter air.
12. Portable toilet and waste bags – The portable toilet will be used in the provisional isolation room.
13. Heavy-duty contractor bags – Prepare 50 heavy-duty contractor bags for each person to be used for provisional toilets, contaminant disposal, and garbage.
14. Ordinary kitchen trash bags – Ready 100 ordinary kitchen trash bags for each person for ordinary garbage.
15. Kitty litter – Include 25 lbs. of kitty litter per person which will be used to clean up the body fluids expelled by sick people. They can also act as provisional toilets.
16. Toilet paper – For every person, prepare 100 rolls of toilet paper for personal sanitation.
17. Paper towels – Ready 20 rolls of paper towels for each member of the household.
18. Aggressive anti-grease formula soap – Include an aggressive anti-grease formula soap to your pandemic survival items list.
19. Disposable coverall suit – Likewise, add a disposable coverall suit to your list for overall body protection.
20. Chemical-resistant gloves – To protect the hands when handling dangerous wastes, prepare chemical-resistant gloves.

Things to do during a pandemic

Now that you know what to do before a pandemic, here are some tips on what to do during a pandemic. (Related: Pandemic Preparedness Audio Course Launched: How to Prepare for any Pandemic (with Dr. Sheldon Marks).)

• Avoid close contact with infected people.
• Keep your distance from other when you are sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
• Wash your hands frequently.
• Refrain from touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Practice other good health habits, such as getting enough sleep, exercising, managing stress, staying hydrated, and eating healthy food.

Read more stories on preparedness tips for a pandemic and other survival situations at Survival.news.

Sources include:

ModernSurvivalBlog.com

ArtOfManliness.com

Ready.gov