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Of all the major disasters that could happen in the near future, a pandemic is one of the most likely. It’s a simple historical fact that pandemics happen on a regular basis, and scientists believe they are going to become more common in the 21st century.
Why? Partly because we live in an urbanized world where someone with a contagious disease can hop on a plane and spread it to another country immediately. Not to mention all the gain-of-function research being done in labs around the world. What if a dangerous virus leaks out of the lab?
(Many experts believe that’s what happened with covid. If that’s true, then we are still overdue for a naturally-occurring pandemic.)
Now, epidemiologists are very worried about bird flu (H5N1) because for the first time ever, it appears to be spreading among mammals. In the past, it has jumped from birds to humans, but it never spread among humans, or any other mammals.
This means it could only be a matter of time before it evolves and starts spreading through people. And before you shrug it off, thinking it won’t be any worse than the covid pandemic, you should know that unlike covid, bird flu has killed about 60% of people who have contracted it.
My fear is that since the covid-19 pandemic wasn’t as deadly as originally feared, people aren’t going to take pandemics seriously anymore. But they should. If bird flu spreads among people and kills over half of the ones who get it, it could bring down our entire civilization.
So if you haven’t started preparing for a pandemic, now is the time. Here are the top 25 supplies you should have on hand so you can survive the next pandemic (in alphabetical order):
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1. Antimicrobial Masks
These are one of the best ways to protect yourself when you’re out and about during the height of a pandemic. You can get the cheap disposable masks (although they are currently sold out on Amazon), or you can get one high-quality mask that you can use until the pandemic is over.
2. Antibacterial Soap
Another layer of disinfectant defense. Be sure to have plenty of antibacterial soap on standby.
3. Bleach
When cleaning your home, be sure to use large amounts of bleach to help kill off any pathogens. You can also use it to purify water (just make sure it’s regular, unscented chlorine bleach with between 6 and 8.25% of sodium hypochlorite).
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4. Bottled Water
In the case of a pandemic, your water supply might not be safe to drink, so you will want to have ample storage of bottled water on hand.
5. Duct Tape
Aside from being useful for a wide number of other applications, you will need duct tape in addition to plastic sheeting in order to construct a quarantine area.
6. Echinacea Tea
This is my favorite tea, partly because it helps boost the immune system.
7. Emesis Bags
Better known as vomit bags, emesis bags make dealing with a sick person who is vomiting much less problematic and, more importantly, less dangerous to those around them.
8. First Aid Kit
During a pandemic, medical facilities will be overwhelmed (they’ll also be the last place you want to visit unless you have to) so be prepared to take care of minor injuries yourself with a good first aid kit.
9. Goggles
Protecting your eyes from contact with infected fluids and material is crucial, so invest in a quality pair of goggles.
10. Hand Sanitizer
I only use this when there’s a bad bug going around, and then only after I’ve been out.
11. Heavy Duty Trash Bags
Once you dispose of an infected item or material, the last thing you want is your trash bag tearing open and spilling it out, so invest in a supply of heavy-duty trash bags.
12. HEPA Filter
In the same way that antimicrobial masks can filter the air that you inhale, installing a HEPA filter can help filter the air that goes into your home.
13. Kitty Litter
Kitty litter can be used to soak up the fluids of a sick person, making it easier to clean up without coming into contact with them.
14. Over-the-Counter Medications
In addition to stocking up on your prescriptions, you will want to ensure that you have plenty of over-the-counter meds such as painkillers, cough suppressants, and anti-diarrheal medications available as well. These items will fly off the shelf during a pandemic.
15. Plastic Gloves
These are indispensable in a pandemic, allowing you to touch people and things that may be infected without worrying about coming into direct contact with the infection.
16. Plastic Sheeting
Plastic sheeting can be used should you need to create a space to quarantine someone who has become infected or to seal off a space to shelter yourself.
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17. Prescription Drugs
Prescriptions are difficult to stash away, but for the same reason it’s a good idea to have a first aid kit, it’s a good idea to have a supply of any prescriptions you might require.
18. Probiotics
During a pandemic, anything you can do to strengthen your immune system is worth doing.
19. Rubbing Alcohol
This can kill almost any bug out there, allowing you to completely disinfect your home, tools, skin, and anything else that might need it.
20. Sports Drink Powder
Drinks like Gatorade or Powerade, or anything with lots of electrolytes will be important for keeping yourself hydrated if you do get sick.
21. Thermometers
No-touch thermometers were used extensively during the last Ebola outbreak, and for good reason. They allow you to check a person for fever without having direct contact with them.
22. Toilet Paper
Proper sanitation is essential to keep a pandemic from spreading, so stock up on toilet paper and any other sanitary items you may frequently use.
23. Tyvek Suit
Disposable Tyvek suits offer full body protection, making them a great idea if you have to leave your home or come into contact with an infected person during a pandemic.
24. Vitamin C
Another great way to boost your immune system. I like to take EmergenC because it also includes other important vitamins and minerals, and it tastes really good.
25. Water Purifier
If you don’t want to rely on bottled water during a pandemic, you can use a water purifier, but not a water filter. Most filters, even the kind preppers put in bug out bags, won’t filter out viruses. For that, you’ll need to boil your water or use a high-quality water purifier.
With all of these supplies on hand, you’ll be as ready as you can possibly be when the next pandemic strikes.
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First on the list should be Common Sense! Which America lacks alot of. 4 booster shots and all the vaxxed in my area got covid anyway…. LOL! Dumba$$’s
COVID-19 is not killing people…
Weak immune systems and bad doctors are.
The PCR test are rigged.
The death counts are false.
Mask are useless.
The Vaccine is the poison.
The government and news media are lying too you.
Well said Rob.
At Davos they were discussing, amongst other things the economy.
However, some of these things on the list I have a lot of, others I don’t have much of, and some things I dont have any of.
Thanks for the reminder.
please do serious research until you understand the differences between virus and bacteria before depending on any preventions and treatments, especially information obtained from online blogs, it really can become a matter of life or death.
the hype about wearing N95 “medical” masks to prevent inhaling COVID viruses is a lie. The viruses are much smaller and easily pass through the pores of N95 masks.
Puppy training pads can be repurposed for creating a clean area to prep a wound or to help contain body fluids. Having a box of them on hand is a good thing.
I have used AirBorne many many times, & it always knocks out colds & lessens flu. I think it saved me during my dance w/ C-19. There are copycats that are cheaper, BUT–
In my holy opinion, everyone should stock up on AirBorne. It comes in chewables & fizzy tabs.
Sambuca or elderberry wine might work, too.
Comments are all good, but you can use a Berkey filter for viruses . Per the company, treat the water with bleach then the purifier filters out the bleach problem taken care of!JR
It’s February 2021 and I just found this article, a good list of items the only thing I would disagree with is the plastic/vinyl gloves, they do not stop body fluids from going through the glove. The best type is nitrile as used by Ambulance officers, Drs, etc.
No touch thermometers won’t work if SHTF.
Dang hard to find the old mercury thermometers.
I’ve seen the old mercury thermometers at Meijer before. In fact, I purchased one just last month. Check in their pharmacy area, with the other thermometers. Might check same spots at Walmart and Kroger too.
Are you a Mitten resident?
My Grandmother recently passed away,long story short. She was a diabetic and I now have like 40 bags of insulin Syringes. Are they good barter items? What can I possibly do with so many of these things?
Take a lesson from Freddy Krueger – use them as WEAPONS.
A syringe can be used as a pin oiler.
Dunno why she had 40 bags at 10 per bag.
As far as bartering, those might be a bit hard to exchange for things you want.
Depends on the DRUG ABUSER…
Health author here. Wrote about the Four Thieves Forumal with herbs and ACV in The Healing Powers of Vinegar and another version in The Healing Powers of Essential Oils. Also, DIY antibacterial soap. I discuss which oils contain what antiviral compounds and safety smarts. Couldn’t hurt. Plus, which oils help you to chillax.
Addressing prsmith’s comment 8-27-19, antibiotics don’t kill viruses. Colds & flu’s are viruses.
Ionic silver, grapefruit seed oil, tea tree oil (only for skin & surfaces) are natural organism-killing natural substances available over the counter. Also check into astragalus, elderberry, echinacea, goldenseal, olive leaf extract, oregano oil, and research other over-the-counter immune system helps. Apple cider vinegar (and white vinegar as well as lemon juice) is a disinfectant, and can be consumed in small quantities, as well as kill germs on surfaces, and on fabrics. Hydrogen peroxide is also a disinfectant (and can be used in the mouth and then spit out.) Isopropyl alcohol comes in 70% and 91% for skin and surface use. If can’t get alcohol, grain alcohols like whiskey, vodka, gin, have some disinfectant properties on surfaces also. Baking soda has some disinfecting properties, but I wouldn’t rely solely on it.
Also, as long as we have electricity, a distiller boils & distills any water put into it..
All good suggestions. We need more ideas for natural pain killers. The only ones I can think of are Arnica Montana cream for sore muscles and the pellets for head injuries. and the other one is coffee enemas which is a great pain reliever. I haven’t taken aspirin or acetaminaphen in about 20 years because it does intestinal damage. Really not good for you and risky to take when there are no hospitals or doctors available. Coffee enemas were discovered during WW1 in Germany as a painkiller, relieves constipation, and a detoxifier. It was used in place of morphine when they ran out. I use it when I have a headache. Cant beat it. Its fun too!
you know , you can raise opium poppies . the seeds can be bought online .
All that (good stuff!) and no mention of oral antibiotics? A wipe might prevent a scratch from becoming infected or it might not. If you get the Flu or Pneumonia or a water borne bacteria or you were too late treating that scratch, you’ll want oral antibiotics. Talk to your doctor about your need, s/he might give you a round or two of several types but don’t stop there, antibiotics for animals are not restricted – talk to a vet about the problem and ask them to help choosing additional antibiotics. This is a complex subject and done improperly you could set yourself up for superbugs so do your homework.
Echinacea tea=antibiotics
gallon jugs of bleach for disinfecting purposes will disappear FAST – pool shock – any of liquid or powdered forms will suffice as a cleaning substitute – it’s a concentrated chlorine and just needs to be diluted down …
a useful tool for heavy duty and large area disinfecting is a pump up garden sprayer – if you need to disinfect a group of people, a vehicle or an entire room/building this is the tool for the job
Learn to make Elderberry syrup. This syrup has been studied and shows it to be as good as, or better than Tamiflu. Tamiflu is a prescription that must be started within 48hrs of your first flu symptom. The flu is so bad in parts of the country that they are running out of medicine.
Elderberry syrup is easy to make and a lot cheaper, with Tamiflu running about $80 to $100 per prescription.
Elderberry has no funky side affects like Tamiflu.
Would like to learn to make Elderberry syrup. Thanks !!!
yes tell me how to make elderberry syrup
seattleelderberry.com/products/original-diy?customer_posted=true#feedback-bar–newsletter
Has a kit for $18
wellnessmama.com/1888/elderberry-syrup/
Has directions for making syrup
mountainroseherbs.com/search?page=1&q=elderberries&utf8=%E2%9C%93
Great place to purchase herbs, etc. They are currently out of dried elderberries but do have elderberry powder that might work
I make an elderberry tincture instead of the syrup. It is shelf stable and lasts much longer than syrup. Depending on how many people in your family, though, syrup is great. I am single so only me using it and I find that the elderberry tincture, lasting longer and being shelf stable, is my better choice. I simply infuse a quality vodka with the dried elderberries. I put the dried berries (and I think the powder would also work) in a jar and cover it with vodka. I label and date the jar. I shake the jar daily for about 6-8 weeks and keep it in a cupboard in the dark. At the end of the infusing time (depends on how warm your location is – 6 weeks minimum but 8 weeks if your home is cooler), strain the infusion through several layers of a tightly woven unbleached muslin or coffee filter. Put the infusion in dark dropper bottle(s). Label and date. I use 6-10 drops in a small glass of water and dose myself a couple of times a day – morning and evening – BEFORE I get something. If I have a cold or flu, I dose myself every 3-4 hours.
Just keep in mind if you have an autoimmune illness, it is immune stimulating and can be problematic for some.