So what do it do if I am just realizing that I need to prepare
Posted by preparedcitizens on October 13, 2008
First off, congratulations! You have just taken the very first step toward preparedness.
And it wasn’t a small one.
I remember all too well those first feelings of awareness. It was scary. I felt as though a virus lurked on every surface and I remember feeling very uncomfortable around people who were coughing or sneezing and it wasn’t even seasonal flu season. All in all, not a bad thing, but we don’t need to jump the gun quite yet. Actually the fear is a good thing and I hear it’s a pretty normal reaction.
I remember purchasing a whole lot of hand sanitizers, vitamins, over the counter medicines like acetaminophen. I practically drove my family batty reminding them to use their hand sanitizers before they ate, before they touched their faces —-and there was no actual threat of a pandemic yet.
It is good to start to change behaviors soon, especially with small children. I am 48 years old and I learned a lot from watching videos about proper handwashing techniques :blush:. But take it from me, pacing yourself is a wise thing to do.
Education is our number one tool.
Antiviral medicines and vaccines will not be available to us so becoming familiar with some of the resources that we have available literally at our fingertips is the best thing that we can do. Sharing this information with family members is also important, especially those who are not yet aware of what is coming.
Do not be surprised if friends and family are resistant to the information at first. It is a lot to take in initially. If they are connected to the internet, point them in the direction of the new resources that you yourself have discovered.
Word of mouth is the best way to share that there is a need to be aware but the internet seems to be the best educational tool that we have for now.
The federal government has also done a good job of creating opportunities for us to become better prepared for pandemics and other disasters.
The key thing to remember is – you are not alone in your new awareness. Many people are already preparing their homes and their families for what is ahead. Start slowly and build up your basic supplies. Anything that you would normally need every day is what you will need during a pandemic, just larger quantities.
It is also a good idea to make sure that dental care is up to date. An abscessed tooth due to decaying teeth may be harder to have addressed during a pandemic, other preventative measures should also be addressed now.
Social networking sites like Facebook or Myspace are great ways to keep in touch with friends and family in order to reduce the feelings of isolation when we are sheltering in our homes. And it is also a great way to discuss our preparedness activities friend to friend.
Hope to see you on Facebook!
