Pandemic Survival

In many ways pandemic survival is much like any survival situation. You will need food, water and shelter but you also must have medical supplies to prevent infection or to care for yourself or other who may be infected.

Flu Survival Kit

If an infectious disease, such as H1N1, leads to a quarantine order, you will be required to remain at home. Should a quarantine order be issued while you are away from home keeping a pandemic survival kit in your vehicle, office drawer or school locker will provide you with the items to avoid contamination. Nitro Pak offers a 72-hour flu survival kit that contains the basic supplies for one person. You can also make your own using items available through Nitro Pak.

Adult N100 Respirator

Respirator Masks

Medical respirators like the N-95 are a necessary item for any pandemic or flu survival kit. There are N-100 masks available as well. The number represents the amount of air borne contaminants such as bacteria and germs that are filtered out of the air before you inhale.

These masks should not be worn more than 12 hours at a time. Respirators with a valve should not be used by sick people. The valve that allows the air to pass out of the mask does NOT contain a filter. Men who have facial hair should be aware that medical masks may not fit properly unless the facial hair is removed.

Water

Katadyn Exstream XR
Purifier Bottle

Water is a must during any emergency. It is possible that a temporary disruption in both electricity and water will occur. Store a minimum of one gallon of water per person per day at home. Keep a high quality portable water filter like Katadyne Extreme Water Purifier Bottle or the Katadyne water purification tablets in your flu survival kit. Both of these products remove all harmful contaminants including viral and bacterial agents.

If you turn off the in bound valve to your water heater when the power goes out the water inside will be safe to drink. The water in the tank of your toilet is also safe to drink. Remember that if the power goes out you will need to find an alternative method for human waste disposal. Portable toilets and bio-bags are available through Nitro Pak.

Emergency food

If you plan ahead it is easy to store a few weeks of food at home. Any survival kit should contain high calorie, high protein ready-to-eat foods. Survival tablets, protein bars, power bars and easy to fix foods such as meal packets from the 275-serving Emergency Survival Food bucket are all good choices to put into your kit.

Medical Supply Kit

Specific items for illnesses should be added to your home first aid kit. Hand sanitizers that are 99% effective are necessary. Other items such as electrolyte replacement drinks or powder, cough syrup, throat lozenge’s, non-aspirin fever reducers and anti-inflammatory and diarrhea medications should also be included. Medical respirators for those who are healthy and those who are sick should be included. Surgical gloves will provide protection for those caring for sick people. School-aged children should never put any OTC medications in their school kit.

Personal Information

Copies of your photo ID and emergency medical card should be included. These will alert authorities to your medical condition and contact information should you become ill while away from home. Include any prescription medication you take and emergency contact numbers.

An outbreak of any deadly disease will be devastating. With a little preparation you will be able to protect and take care of yourself and your family.