Have You Prepared a Flu Emergency Kit?
By: Tanya Jolliffe,
SparkPeople Blogger
9/14/2009 6:29 AM
: 69 comments
: 13,082 Views
There are many unknowns as the fall cold and flu season draws near especially related to the threat of the H1N1 virus.
Of course, we all hope our families stay healthy and avoid any cold or flu illnesses this year. However, with children back in school, sports teams back in play and talk of pandemics throughout the news, we all may do well to follow the old Boy Scout motto of being prepared.
What if your entire family becomes ill and no one feels up to running to the local store to get what you need. What if home confinement was required to control the H1N1 virus spread rate? Would you have what you need on hand? Here are some basics for preparing a flu emergency kit.
The President has declared September 2009 as National Preparedness Month and encourages everyone to "recognize the importance of preparing for potential emergencies beforehand." To be prepared, we are all encouraged to have a three-day basic emergency supply kit in our home.
Here are some of the basic supplies encouraged for this kit.
Consumer Reports has expanded this basic list to encourage preparedness in case the H1N1 outbreak is severe. They recommend having enough non-perishable food and water for your family for up to two weeks. A time of illness is not a time to worry a great deal about balanced nutrition. Instead, focus on taking care of yourself and your family.
Here are some foods for illness for your kit.
Once family members are feeling better and have been free of vomiting for 24 hours, the diet can progress to other more solid forms of bland foods. One important step toward fast recovery and taking care of yourself and your family is having what you need on hand when an illness strikes your home.
Other suggested items to consider keeping in your flu emergency kit includes:
Did you know September was National Preparedness Month? Do you have an emergency kit at your home? Will you consider creating an emergency flu kit this year?
Of course, we all hope our families stay healthy and avoid any cold or flu illnesses this year. However, with children back in school, sports teams back in play and talk of pandemics throughout the news, we all may do well to follow the old Boy Scout motto of being prepared.
What if your entire family becomes ill and no one feels up to running to the local store to get what you need. What if home confinement was required to control the H1N1 virus spread rate? Would you have what you need on hand? Here are some basics for preparing a flu emergency kit.
The President has declared September 2009 as National Preparedness Month and encourages everyone to "recognize the importance of preparing for potential emergencies beforehand." To be prepared, we are all encouraged to have a three-day basic emergency supply kit in our home.
Here are some of the basic supplies encouraged for this kit.
- Water – approximately a gallon per person per day for drinking and sanitation.
- Food – non-perishable food items and items to open foods and preparation containers. Foods such as packaged tuna or salmon, nuts and nut butters, crackers, dried fruits, soups or Ramen noodles, dry cereals and powdered milk ensures you will maintain a balanced diet that is nutrient rich during a stress-filled time. Don't forget baby formula, baby cereals, baby food and nursery water if you have babies in your home.
- Battery-powered or hand cranked radio with a NOAA weather radio. Don't forget the extra batteries.
- Hand cranked or battery-powered flashlight with extra batteries.
- Whistle or air horn so you can signal for help or be located in a black out situation.
- Dust masks or bandanas that can help reduce and filter air before inhalation.
- Moist towelettes, personal hygiene products, disposable diapers and sealable garbage bags for personal sanitation.
- Basic tools like a hammer, wrench and pliers
- First aid kit including antihistamines for allergic reactions, pain relievers, bandages and tissues and any medications that must be taken. This recommendation can be difficult and it would be helpful to think about alternative plans should having an extra supply not be feasible. Perhaps keeping all necessary medications in a zip lock bag so they are easy to locate if an emergency arises is one idea. At the very least, make sure you have an up to date list of all medications and dosage requirements kept in your first aid kit so correct replacement medications could be obtained. If you take medications that require refrigeration, think ahead about how you will store it in the event that you have no electricity.
- Make sure your cell phone has been programmed with ICE (In Case of Emergency) information. Most new phones have this option already included at the top of the contact listing. Make sure numbers and personal information have been updated. On older phones, set up an ICE listing in your contacts, including several numbers to be called should you need help and unable to direct whom should be contacted. This should be done for every cell phone in your family including those carried by children.
Consumer Reports has expanded this basic list to encourage preparedness in case the H1N1 outbreak is severe. They recommend having enough non-perishable food and water for your family for up to two weeks. A time of illness is not a time to worry a great deal about balanced nutrition. Instead, focus on taking care of yourself and your family.
Here are some foods for illness for your kit.
- Canned broths and soups
- Clear carbonated beverages and ginger ale
- Clear juices
- Decaf coffee or tea
- Flavored gelatin with sugar
- Honey for tea (should not be given to babies under the age of one)
- Sports drinks or powders that contain electrolytes
- Plain dry boxed cereals and saltine crackers
- Applesauce and fruit leather
Once family members are feeling better and have been free of vomiting for 24 hours, the diet can progress to other more solid forms of bland foods. One important step toward fast recovery and taking care of yourself and your family is having what you need on hand when an illness strikes your home.
Other suggested items to consider keeping in your flu emergency kit includes:
- Fever reducers
- Cough and cold medications and lozenges
- Hand sanitizers which contain at least 60 percent alcohol for times and places when soap and water are not available.
- If you select a surgical mask, be sure it contains an FDA rating of at least N-95. If they are used, be sure to replace them often and dispose of them immediately after use.
Did you know September was National Preparedness Month? Do you have an emergency kit at your home? Will you consider creating an emergency flu kit this year?
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Comments
- 9/19/2009 2:34:52 PM
Sounds like an excellent idea!!!
Then again, we've never been put in the position where there might be a generalized "marshall law type of situation" where citizens might be restricted to their homes in the event of a pandemic outbreak of high magnitudes!!!!
THANKS FOR THE GREAT TIP TANYA!!!! - 9/17/2009 6:28:53 AM
Think power outages, trees down, tornados, hurricanes, big fires, or major illnesses in the whole community. In most of the world today, and in most of the time of the human race, these major blips have occured. Earthquakes, volcanoes, winds, illnesses. Having an emergency bag is good- & I hope most of us have 'emergency contact spots' set up as well.
If I'm lucky, I'll never, ever need it. But having a small space to be prepared for a few days of emergency makes sense.
Thanks for the reminder. I grabbed some of my water leaving for a trip, & I need to replace it. - 9/15/2009 11:21:28 PM
As far as a flu kit is concered, because I worry about expiration dates, the only things in my kit (another free tote bag) are the expensive facial tissues (I generally use handkerchiefs), a salve that I love when my nose gets sore anyway, some crystlized ginger and pepermints for nausea and a book I'm dying to read. Soup and saltines are always in the pantry and my filter water pitchers are always there.
Whatever your kits are, I suggest you think of something that will make you feel normal. In the movie OhGod! George Burns tells John Denver to shave while they talk because it would make things seem more normal. Whatever it is, some knitting, a crossword puzzle book, some music, a bible; include something that will make you feel more normal. It doesn't have to be in the kit. Just save space and put it on the list taped to the outside of the bag. - 9/15/2009 4:13:52 PM
Robyn - 9/15/2009 12:11:56 PM
Like one of the previous posters, maybe I didn't understand the whole concept. But when the title is Flu Emergency Kit and it includes certain things for evacs and things of that nature, it seems to be on the over reacting side of things.
Some I may get together like the medications and certain food and drinks. I know I am low on that stuff especially medications. - 9/15/2009 11:34:51 AM
Everybody, please know that the seasonal flu can be just as deadly as H1N1. - 9/15/2009 11:12:07 AM
Do you have an emergency kit at your home? No, but I have most of the items on the list always on hand.
Will you consider creating an emergency flu kit this year? I will consider purchasing a few things on the list that I don't have in my house, but also plan to get a flu shot and encourage my hubby to do the same. I don't understand, though, why you need a battery radio, a flashlight, an air horn, and tools? I thought this was a flu emergency kit, but it reads more like a tornado emergency kit. Maybe I didn't understand the premise of the article.
- 9/15/2009 10:25:15 AM
- 9/15/2009 8:43:11 AM
Thank you so much for this list. I would have never thought of a number of the things that were listed. I saved it to my Spark Favorites so that when I get to the library (my printer is not working), I can print it out and start collecting.
I really appreciate the time that someone spent putting this together for all of us.
I will be getting the flu shot (as usual) and also the H1N1 shot because I have heart problems and chronic bronchitis with emphysema. - 9/15/2009 4:41:43 AM
Good combo article btw. - 9/14/2009 11:59:31 PM
for those wondering where to keep it, just make sure your pantry has enough food to get through a week without going back to the store and that you have a couple of boxes of meds on hand - not that much space. 5-gallon water jugs can be stored in the garage or back yard, or if you don't have that, store them in the coat closet floor space. also, the fluid in your canned goods counts as fluid toward your day, and most (MOST) emergencies don't interrupt the water supply, so store some, but know that if you have a little less than 1 gallon/person/day, you'll likely be just fine. www.ready.gov has TONS of good information... - 9/14/2009 8:19:46 PM
I keep the kit in the travel trailer, out of the way, and out of sight of raiders. - 9/14/2009 3:09:10 PM
As for the flu items, most are also kept on hand. Fortunately or unfortunately, the flu has already hit our area (Atlanta), including the H1N1. My youngest, who is a freshman in high school, spent an entire week on the sofa thanks to some version of the flu, along with many of her classmates. - 9/14/2009 12:18:00 PM
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