So what are doing to get ready?
We've been living with endless news of Swine Origin H1N1 for about 3 weeks now & about the only thing we're clear on at this point is that it's not inclined to go away from what we can see & that it doesn't appear to be severe; not yet at least.
Many, (myself included), are going on the premise that it will stick around this summer, albeit at a lower attack rate in the northern hemisphere. Then come flu season, it will hit much harder. How hard is anyone's guess but I'm thinking that barring significant mutation, it will hit as a very wide reaching seasonal flu, leading to all sorts of problems in health care systems.
So, if you think this strain will cause problems this summer or fall, to any degree, what are you doing to get as ready as you can be? If you're generally prepping inclined, have you or are you contemplating making any significant alterations to what you grow/buy, etc. in order to be more ready?
Me first...we're poor & live pretty close to the edge. I'm assuming we have until traditional flu season, (4-6 months), until this really ramps up. We're cutting out what little discretionary spending we've got left & working harder at paying down a line of credit we have. I'll be slowly rebuilding the pantry over the summer, leaning heavily on loss leaders & other sales. We have a fair bit of 'credit room' should we need it & if it starts looking back, I'll be making Grocery Runs From Hell. Have to wait until then though, SO won't even think, (wisely so), of adding any debt unless we must.
This is the summer of getting healthy. Now that family health issues are resolved or resolving, I'm cracking the lifestyle whip - on myself. I can only suggest to family members. Balanced meals or balance over the day as much as possible. Multivitamins every other day or so, just in case. Having worked up to 4 miles of brisk walking most days, Friday, it's back to my jog/walk routine every other day, increasing the job portion every week. Lots of time in the fresh air & sunshine & plenty of sleep - no excuse not to have the windows open every night now - temps never drop below 35 degrees.
Blood pressure checks every time I have to be in a drug store. Most here have the machines, so it's easy. Any medical issues will be promptly addressed - something I generally avoid doing until I'm dragged in kicking & screaming.
I went through my medical supplies 2 weeks ago & have a short list of items that need to be replaced or topped off. Most will come on sale as soon as this wave wanes. I do need to pick up some sheets & other basic linens - much of mine are getting threadbare & I usually don't have that much on hand.
I can always be more careful with handwashing & I time shopping trips so I'm not in crowded stores.
I no longer mention anything prep or flu related to neighbours & watch my mouth about "having picked up TONS of that canned soup on sale!" There are some around here I'm aquainted with who think nothing of using neighbours as a convenience store. Low profile, baby!
And I'm still looking for a hidden patch of land somewhere for veggie gardening - if I can find one that kids & vagrants haven't already found. Wish me luck with that. As crops come in this summer & fall, I'll be doing a lot more freezing than I've ever done & it's time I relearned canning.Been a looooooooooong time.
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