The last flu pandemic was NOT 1918!

[Taz]

Just look at the Hong Kong flu - much ado about little.

Obviously you were either not here, or not in an area infected. I was working in the SF Bay area and we had no place to put the bodies. In my hospital, after we had filled all the closets, furnace and ac rooms, etc., we started hiding them under patients beds. We would drape sheets over the bed down to the floor. And yes, we had to put live patients in those beds. The morgues were full and our small hospital had none. We even had medical staff dying. I worked 18 hour days for 23 days without leaving the hospital. Finally I went home with an oxygen bottle for "just in case." I slept for days. My parents drove up from Southern California to care for me. But I don't think I ever got the flu....just exhaustion. As far as I know, I have never had the flu and hope that immunity holds true with whatever comes down the pike. I do not take flu shots because I don't want to rattle my immune system in any manner. But I do see that Chubby Hubby gets his.

Taz

 

[Keesha]

1959 & 1970 Flu

Anyone know what kind of flu went thru in 1959 and in 1970 ?

I was in the hospital in 1959 with it. Missed about 4 weeks of school.

Then in 1970-71 ...not sure, my husband and I both got very sick - very quickly. My in-laws and I took my husband to the hospital emergency room. They had no room. People in beds in the halls. I passed out in the waiting room. Didn't even know I was getting sick.

My in-laws took us home - back to our place and my sweet mother in-law took care of us. I remember little of that two weeks. I know I went from a size 14 dress to a size 10 by the time I was over it.

My mother in law never caught the flu but when she got home - my father in-law was getting sick with it. She had to have been exhausted but she cared for him too thru it

It would be nice it those times gave me/us some immunity but in reality I doubt that it did.

 

[fruit loop]

The flu itself doesn't kill

Death occurs from secondary infections, and the 1918 flu was no exception. People DID survive it. Either the patients got secondary infections, or their immune systems were so overwhelmed that organs failed (which is what caused the hemorraghing)

People today have a much better chance of fighting flu, including superflu. TREAT THE SYMPTOMS.

I suspect that many more people have had bird flu, and simply survived it. Most people don't go to the doctor with flu, remember. Therefore, we only hear about the deaths which makes it sound worse than it may be.

I don't believe those stories about people who were "fine" in the morning and dropped dead in the evening. THEY HAD NOT BEEN SICK FOR JUST ONE DAY. One must be exposed AT LEAST 24 hours (usually it's around 72 hours aka 3 days) before in order to become infected.

There are many, many cases of people who hid their illness as long as they could because they had to go to work! This contributed to the spread and the idea that the person had only been sick for a day. yeah, because they hid it for a couple of days.

I had the Hong Kong flu during the epidemic. Oddly (odd because of my severe respiratory disease) I only got a nasty case of bronchitis with it, while the adoptive mother was hospitalized with pneumonia.... The 1988 flu, however, knocked me on my butt and I couldn't even walk around my house. I think that was the A-Taiwan strain. Weird.

 

[fruit loop]

From my series on the Corkboard

OTHER - PREP 101: Part 24, Death in Your Shelter

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I welcome tips here, because this is a sensitive subject and legalities enter into it.

Death in a crisis becomes a real issue, as evidenced by the chaos in New Orleans.

Complete independent, long-term survival with no support from government services makes this a very real issue. I personally would not lay my loved on a sidewalk.

Although a few legalities arise, I believe independent burials by individuals could be legally defensible to local officials once the dust settles.

Consider these facts: No state requires that a funeral home be used. No state requires embalming either, although most states require burial of unprepared remains to occur within 24 hours of the death.

Most regulations concern reporting the death and perhaps requiring an autopsy if the death is suspicious or was unattended, or pertain to where remains can be buried. It's entirely possible to be buried on your own property if you wish, providing it's not near a water source, etc, and some communities require a concrete grave liner. Burial on your property will be your best bet in a catastrophe.

Rule out cremation right now. Burning, as any homicide detective will tell you, is a terrible way to dispose of human remains. It doesn't work; it takes hours at very high temperatures to completely cremate a body.

Burial is the quickest, most sanitary way to dispose of a body. Select a spot away from the home and where contamination with your water source will not be an issue.

Since this is likely a friend or loved one there will naturally be emotional issues that must be dealt with. I recommend that you treat the death as you normally would -have a memorial if there's time and allow others to pay respects or view the body if they wish. This obviously assumes that the death did not occur from an epidemic and that infection is not a concern.

Most families have traditions in the event of a death. Observe these as closely as time and circumstances allow. This will help prevent additional trauma to you and everyone else with whom you share quarters, especially the children.

Build a casket if there are materials, but this may not be possible. If not, I recommend wrapping the body in layers of cloth or plastic sheeting to protect the remains as much as possible (in the event that they must be disinterred after the disaster for legal reasons) and preparing the grave.

Dig the grave as deeply as possible, 4-6 feet. Cover it with rocks once the body is interred, both to mark it and to help prevent its being disturbed by animals.

Document the death as much as you can, in other words, create your own death certificate. Have witnesses, if any, sign it and attest to the circumstances of the death. Note where the body was buried. Include the date and time of death, the decedent's name and address if known, and the cause of death if it can be determined. Make notes as to medical history as this will be helpful later - "He was a diabetic for 20 years and we ran out of insulin."

When the disaster is over, report the death to the proper authorities. The worst that can happen is that you'll be cited for "dumping a body" and that's usually a fine. Under the circumstances I can practically guarantee that this won't happen, as there are many more crises that FEMA will be dealing with, and you did not act with criminal intent but out of sheer necessity. The body may or may not have to be disinterred and reburied elsewhere - such as a proper cemetery - depending on local laws.

Good luck.

 

[fruit loop]

A few helpful hints

OTHER - PREP 101: Part 14, Flu/Illness Preps

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a plan I used as a single person through several bouts of flu and pneumonia. I had no one to stay and care for me and during several battles with these bugaboos could barely stand. This might be useful during a pandemic or just a nasty round of flu. Can be adapted to fit multiple people, especially if the primary caregivers themselves fall ill.

DISCLAIMER: During a bout of "Bird Flu" ie, a "Superflu" you're going to need antiviral meds and more support....but this might aid in nursing.

Remember that flu is a virus and antibiotics aren't going to help. Your body must cure the illness itself via your immune system. Keep in mind that most people recover quickly from influenza and you aren't going to die....you just wish you would. The big danger is to young children, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems. The odds are quite good that you'll recover fully within a couple of weeks...which may or may not be a comforting thought while it's going on.

Well. Moving right along.

The flu comes on suddenly, but you should have a day or at least several hours before you must take to your bed. This is what you'll need...and these items should already be part of your prep stock. If not, shop for them NOW.

Pick out your sickroom, which may or may not be your bedroom. Consider your needs: you'll need to cook and get to the bathroom. Which room is most vital, and which is closest? During one severe bout of flu, I lived in a townhouse with the bathroom upstairs and the kitchen downstairs. I chose to reside upstairs for the duration of my illness so I could have the toilet and shower close by. The bathroom is also a source of drinking water.

Prepare your bed. Keep extra blankets nearby for chills, and clean sheets. I suggest NOT making up the bed as usual: don't tuck in the sheets, etc. Lay the clean sheets on top so that you can simply pull or push them off when you need a change of linen. Simply unfold the clean sheets and lay them on the mattress. Remember that you're going to be weak, and even simple tasks such as making up the bed can sap a lot of energy.

Have clean underwear/nightwear next to the sheets and blankets so you can change quickly and easily.

On your bedside table, lay out your fever-reducing meds (aspirin FOR ADULTS ONLY, tylenol, ibuprofen) and your cold meds. I highly recommend Contac's Severe Cold and Flu formula and Theraflu (which tastes terrible; add a teaspoon of honey or sugar). Nose spray if you use it, lip balm for dry lips and cold sores, lotion for fever-dry skin, your boxes of tissues and some baby wipes (these are great for quick clean ups, or to freshen up if you become to weak to shower). Also have a clock and a pad of paper. This is to help you keep track of when you took your meds, which can quickly become a blur due to the drowsiness many of them cause and the disorientation caused by fever.

Put the PHONE nearby. Suggest having a buddy system with a trusted friend. Notify this person that you are ill, and arrange to have them call you at predetermined times. This person will know that if you don't answer at the proper time, something is wrong and it's time to send the paramedics to your house.

You will also need a 32 gallon trash can. This is to hold all the trash that you will accumulate during your illness. You may wish to have a second one, or at least a large laundry hamper, next to it for your dirty clothing and linens.

Chamber pot and toilet paper: Have this next to or near the bed in the event that you become to weak to make it to the bathroom. Get a large orange drywall bucket from Home Depot. Double-line it with the trash bags, and cover the bottom with kitty litter. After use, sprinkle in a fresh layer of kitty litter.Some camping stores even sell toilet seats that fit the drywall buckets!

Trash bags: for the chamber pot if you need to change it, and in case you need to vomit. used ones, filled with trash, go in the big trash can.

DINING: Remember, again this assumes that you have prepped for your illness and that these items are already in your kitchen ready to go.

Bring the microwave out of the kitchen and put it on your dresser, or someplace near your bed. Put your paper plates, cups, and plastic silverware next to it. If you have an ice chest, this should be nearby. I have the Coleman Extreme Ice Chest, which keeps ice for up to five days in 90 degree plus weather. I kept my juice, water, etc in it.

FOOD TO STOCK: Canned soups, bouillon cubes, canned pudding, bottled fruit juice or juice boxes, hot tea, sodas, crackers, powdered cocoa mix, whatever turns you on that you think you can eat.

Books, the tv, whatever for amusement if you feel up to it.


My bed is in the middle of my room. I had my nightstand for my meds and the phone. Next to that was my pile of extra blankets, then my stack of clean sheets. Then my stack of clean clothes, the chamber pot and its supplies, then the big trash can.

On the other side of the bed is my dresser. That's where I put the microwave and the foodstuffs and the ice box.

Note that all this allowed me to use the toilet, access my meds, change into fresh nightgowns, change my sweat-stained sheets, and cook and eat with a journey from my bed of only a few feet.

Hope this helps someone.