Pandemic

A pandemic is an epidemic of infectious disease that has spread through human populations across a large region. Think ebola, cholera, smallpox and influenza to name a few. A big concern of scientists is the developing antibiotic resistance of some "superbugs".

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General Threats

Day After SHTF

Where will the next pandemic come from? It can be carried by an airline passenger. It could be brought into the United States by an illegal alien via our southern border. It could be delivered by a BioTerror attack.

Many will tell you that it’s not a matter of if, but when. I believe that the world is becoming increasingly more likely to see a major event. It’s a process that is highly predictable.

A pandemic outbreak in today’s world would likely travel much quicker, and could cause far more deaths than previous pandemics. Think that almost 100 years ago, when we had the 1918 pandemic, it could take months to circumnavigate the globe. Today, it can be accomplished in a day. With more individuals traveling than ever before, the opportunity for a pandemic strain to spread is greater than it has ever been.

Be Aware of Current Events:

The best precaution a Prepper can take against a pandemic is being aware of current events. Moving away from highly populated urban centers will help. But there are also biohazard steps that you can take.

Read our post on Pandemic Survival Supplies:

The first thing you need to do, is make sure you have your essential needs covered. In the case of a pandemic, the essentials include water, shelter, food, sanitation, medications, and personal security. During a Pandemic, the less contact you have with others, the better your chances are of staying healthy.

Previous pandemics have gone through communities in a matter of six to eight weeks; at a minimum, you should have at least a six to eight weeks’ worth of emergency supplies on hand at all times. Once you have that covered, you can then set a goal to stockpile enough for 3, 6 and then 12 months.

Keep Your Distance:

The best way to improve your chances of staying healthy during an outbreak is to practice social distancing. This means limiting your contact with others, and staying at least 6 feet away from people if you do have to go out.

Practice Good Personal Hygiene & Sanitation:

Just like with any person to person diseases, the key to prevention lies in good hygiene. Hand washing is obvious, and when used for 30 seconds even a simple alcohol based hand sanitizer, that has between 62 and 75% ethanol, can be enough to kill pretty much any pandemic pathogen.

Hospitals, Shelters & Large Gatherings Should Be Avoided:

If you’re sick, then by all means you probably need to consult with a medical professional for medical advice. That being said, hospitals will be ground zero in the war and should be avoided if at all possible. Also, if you can, avoid shelters or areas where large groups of people gather, especially in close quarters, as disease spreads more quickly in those environments.

When venturing Out, Where a Mask:

Actually masks are really a last resort and cannot be relied on to 100% stop infection. Do not allow them to give you a false sense of security. Respirators are designed to help reduce, not eliminate, exposures to infection. With that being said, having some N95 Medical Masks is something that should be in every good survival medicine kit.

These articles will help.