Deep Pantry Savings

Today at Kroger, I ran across yet another example for keeping a deep pantry: Sale items. One of my first post dealt with keeping a log book of prices and this is the lowest price on Kleenex of the year. We've bought 16 so far this week, and plan on another trip. The tissue usually hits a yearly low at flu season.

A 57% savings and it won't spoil!!!

 Keep Right On Prepping - K

Reasons to Prep

The first time I saw this I was rolling on the floor. This is one of the reasons that I prepare for my family...so I don't have to deal with this at the stores! Enjoy.

Keep Right On Prepping - K

Theory Based Scenario #3 - Flu Pandemic

Caution: While the likelihood of this event is statistically improbable, it might create a pause in thought.

As preppers, we try to image all kinds of things that can go wrong, and how to plan for them. Most people would consider this a negative mental exercise, but it doesn't affect my mental outlook or attitude, so I continue to make relationships and links between seemingly uncommon things or situations. Some of these scenarios can produce humorous outcomes, or provoke serious thought. While it is a never ending list, at least it's a way to pass the time while trying to keep the mind occupied.

Nature has a way of asserting power over her domain. Most population curves are exponential until it hits a correction. Starvation, disease, and/or predation are the three big players in the population decline of a species. While all three of these are viable candidates for the human correction, I'll primarily focus on the disease part of the equation.

The above graph gives a good example of the bubonic plague doing such a correction. Well, we have medicine, antibiotics, and advanced medical procedures. True, but remember that more and more strains of bacteria are becoming immune or resistant to antibiotics, and viruses are usually only treatable for their symptoms.  Antivirals? This type of viral vaccine is very specific a particular type of virus such as Hep C.

The yearly flu vaccine is a mathematical calculation of the most likely types of flu that will be widespread, thus an antiviral vaccine. The 2007-2008 flu vaccine was a flu cocktail miscalculation and only 44% effective. The yearly flu vaccine, typically a trivalent influenza vaccine, is generally a good preventative measure to get, but still struggles to get 40% of the US population vaccinated. Vaccine manufacturers now estimate 138-145 million doses of influenza vaccine will be produced for the U.S. market this season

A new mutation like the swine flu [H1N1], which is included in this year's flu shot by the way, caused the WHO to issue a worldwide pandemic alert in 2009. A mutation of flu virus that jumps species can quickly causes a lot of problems. The Spanish flu of 1918 killed between 20 to 40 million people. More people died from the Spanish flu in a single year than in four-years of the Black Death from 1347 to 1351.

There is already a National Strategy for Pandemic Flu which is a 233 page PDF.  Education and public service announcements will be the front line of defense against the spread of the flu. It warns of possible threats to critical infrastructure such as the movement of goods and containment or travel restrictions. 

How do you prepare? If in a pandemic event, you'll be seeing this poster. It recommends a two week supply of food and water for your family. I have learned during clinical experiences, that even a bus crash can easily overwhelm a hospital due to staffing policies. A major event would leave all of the area hospitals over-crowded and under-staffed.

Here is my sick list for my family, and we are still working on this list as well: Updated from comments, special thanks to 3 boxes of BS.

1. A sick room.
2. Kleenex (1 box per person/per day)  Aloe Vera or lotioned.
3. Humidifier per room (lessens mucus viscosity)
4. Masks and latex gloves
5. Cough medicine (adult and children)
6. Fever reducers (adult and children)
7. Ability to wash hands
8. Bottled water (hydration makes mucus less viscous) 
9. Easy to prepare foods in case caregiver is sick (soups, broths, hot jello, clear liquids, easily another post)
10. thermometer (covers if available to prevent transmission vectoring)
11. contact numbers - family, doctor, neighbors
12. Tamiflu
13. Decongestants  ( Mucinex - DM) or other favorites
14. Electrolyte solutions  - Gatorade/Pedialight
15. trashcan for vomiting (with trash bags)
16. disposable dishes and utensils for easy cleanup and limiting spread of virus
17. Blood pressure cuff / stethoscope (listen to lungs)
18. Rubbing Alcohol for sterilization
19. Anti-diarrhea medications; Kaopectate, Pepto, to start; Lomidium for severe case
20. Extra sheets and blankets for changing of linens (I prefer white for bleaching/sterilization)
21. Bleach for laundry
22. Lysol wipes for use in public

What other supplies might come in handy? The comment line is open and encouraged.

Keep Right On Prepping - K

2 Years of Blogging & Tidbits

First off, I'd like to thank everyone for reading my musings on my little part of the internet during these two years. It has certainly grown or evolved during this time and will continue to slowly morph. My reasons for prepping have remained the same: family. As a father, it's my duty to make sure that my family is fed, warm, and safe. Which translates into the Prepper mantra of beans, bullets, and Band-aids.

Ed has been moved to a step down critical care unit and will have his heart cath procedure done this week. They needed his kidney function to improve before the surgery because a contrast dye is used to light up the arteries. Thanks again for all of the prayers and thoughts.

Enjoy my first post and as always, comments are welcome.

Keep Right On Prepping - K

First Post and Goals

 plan  (pln)

n.

1. A scheme, program, or method worked out beforehand for the accomplishment of an objective: a plan of attack.

2. A proposed or tentative project or course of action: had no plans for the evening.

3. A systematic arrangement of elements or important parts; a configuration or outline: a seating plan; the plan of a story.

v. planned, plan·ning, plans

 fore·sight  (fôrst, fr-)

n.

1. Perception of the significance and nature of events before they have occurred.

2. Care in providing for the future; prudence.

3. The act of looking forward.

Welcome,

 I wanted to share my thoughts and information about prepping to help others prepare. These posts will be a journey of learning, research, and more importantly action. I have a strong background in the restaurant industry, so I lean heavily towards the food aspect of prepping. I'll be trying many different recipes along the way and honest comments about the product/recipe.  I have a very good background in backpacking, and good at logistics too. I'll be sharing tricks, tips, and hints from the kitchen to the field. I have been blessed with a great wife that is on the same page about prepping (except for antibiotics ) along with two young men ( ages 3 and 6 ).  I have been actively prepping since September of 2011 and consider myself somewhere between rookie and veteran . I want to learn and share.

Update

Ed is improving after a full day in ICU. He was running a 101 degree fever and it has dropped to slightly above normal, and the IV antibiotics is doing its job. They have taken him off the ventilator, and he is breathing on his own without struggling. He is scheduled to have a heart catherization procedure sometime this weekend. My advisor for radiography specialized in heart cath lab, and does call quite a bit at the hospital, and graciously offered to perform the procedure on her off time. Wow, what an amazing offer. I have heard her talk about how great her co-workers are, and declined the offer. Still, I am blown away. I have no doubt that Ed will be in very capable hands while the procedure is being done.

Thanks for all of the comments and prayer warriors. Y'all are awesome!!!

Keep Right On Prepping - K  

Prayers and Thoughts

My father-in-law was take to the hospital where I work today by ambulance. We think that he had fallen on Monday, and wasn't found until this afternoon. He has severe sleeping problems, so for a few days to go by without him answering the phone isn't out of the norm. A close friend that often checks on him found him on the bathroom floor, and seriously dehydrated. Sweetheart made it over, but not before the ambulance crew had hm en route to the ER.

Anyways, he is recovering in Cardiac ICU and he has likely had a heart attack. He is intubated and getting settled into his room. It's still early in the prognosis but keep Ed in your thoughts. I'll update as time allows. Any prayers or warm thoughts sent his way would be greatly appreciated.

Keep Right On Prepping - K

Secrets

I picked up Red Ant With Pincers early today so that we could go shopping for his brother's birthday. Row is actually getting two presents from his brother, and they are safely stored in Daddy's closet.

Yes, this is really Row, the soon to be 8 y/o

K: You can't tell Row that we went shopping for him today, okay?
Red Ant: Yeah, I know. I'll distract him when he gets home.
K: Alright, don't tell him.
Red Ant: I won't.

(Two hours later....about 5 minutes after Row gets home)

Row: So, Daddy...
K: Yes?
Row: I was wondering, where's this present in the Target bag that I not supposed to know about? Can we open it?
K: (laughing) Nope, it's for your birthday.
Row: Oh, okay.

I'll have to make sure that the youngest doesn't know too many secrets, I sense that he can be easily fooled with a Jedi mind trick.

Keep Right On Prepping - K

One of My Random Thoughts

I went by the local hardware store the other day, and saw that they had a leak in the roof, a broken door, and some really worn paint. Man, if one place ought to have everything fixed this should be it.

Keep Right On Prepping - K