Each autumn squirrels scurry to and fro across the forest floor preparing for the coming season. In small burrows they create caches of acorns to be used as insurance against winter’s scarcity. A squirrel’s instincts drive it to prepare in advanced for coming adversity so when that time comes, the odds of survival are stacked in the it’s favor.
Similar behavior is also found in other creatures in various forms. Bears will pack on the pounds prior to hibernation, building the necessary fat stores to provide it energy throughout the winter. Other animals take more short-term measures, such as a mountain lion storing the carcass of a kill, eating some now and saving some for later. There is a lesson to be learned from this primal behavior, namely that the preparing for a survival situation in advanced will make survival in the moment much less difficult.
As I write this article, COVID-19, otherwise known as the novel coronavirus, has achieved a foothold in multiple countries and threatens to spread around the globe. This particular strain of coronavirus is highly infectious, but perhaps what is more infectious is the panic that has already reached far beyond any quarantine zone. As uncertainty and fear has taken hold we have seen people fall back on their own primal instincts similar to those mentioned above. Store shelves have been stripped bare as people collect their own acorns and cache them in their pantry at home. This is a prudent decision, but one that’s not as simple as going to the supermarket and loading your cart with anything and everything in sight. To properly prepare, you must consider the circumstances of the situation, your own requirements, and what you can do to properly address each in the most efficient way possible. Considering the circumstances of the coronavirus outbreak, lets look at some simple steps one can take to ensure they are prepared for what may be ahead.
As localized outbreaks of the coronavirus become more prevalent it is likely more and more people will find themselves under quarantine. Localized measures may be put into place to restrict movement; one may find themselves sick and be forced to isolate themselves at home. Under either of these circumstances there will be an increased need for self-sufficiency as our usual means of attending to our daily needs at home will be disrupted. The general consensus is that 14 days is the recommended amount of time that one should be prepared to shelter-in-place. Fortunately, it is unlikely that basic utilities will be disrupted in the event of a quarantine. Access to necessities such as clean water, cooking fuel, and shelter will remain undisturbed, making preparations for such an event far less difficult than other natural disasters such as floods, fires, and earthquakes.
Under those parameters, ask yourself what is it that you need to be both safe and comfortable at home. The core of your preparations for dealing with the coronavirus should be focused around sustenance, health, and hygiene. For simplicity’s sake I will address each individually:
Sustenance
Sustenance is defined as food and beverage items that will provide nourishment. When creating an emergency food supply, chose items that are part of a well-rounded diet that will meet one’s nutritional requirements for good health; protein, carbohydrates, and fats must all be included. Variables such as the number of people being supported, dietary restrictions, and food storage capabilities must be taken into account as well..
Here are a few staple items, how they can be used, and the roles they serve nutritionally:
Rice– Affordable and long-lasting, a modest supply of rice will provide ample calories and carbohydrates. In fact, merely ten-pounds of rice packs a whopping 16,000 calories. Rice is easy to store and has a long shelf-life. It can be eaten on it’s own or as a ingredient in various recipes.
Beans- Rich in protein, fiber, and carbohydrates, beans are an excellent addition to prepared meals. The simple addition of beans will greatly improve the nutritional value of even an otherwise lacking meal. Available canned or dry in bulk, beans serve a similar role as rice in regards to their convenience and versatility.
Nuts/Nut Products- Packed with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, nuts and nut products such as peanut butter and other spreads are nutritious and loaded with the calories required for sustained activity. One 15oz jar of peanut butter contains 2,470 calories. Used as a spread, something as simple as peanut butter and on slice of whole wheat bread is healthy and sustaining snack. Alternatively, trail mixes are available in many different varieties. A trail mix including dried fruits will provide the best nutritional value, while a trail mix containing chocolate candy pieces nourishes the soul as well as the stomach.
Oats- Two pounds of 1-minute oats contains 4500 calories. Oats serve as a core ingredient in a number of breakfast options. Cooked oats sprinkled with cinnamon is a tasty way to start the day, quarantine or not. With electricity still being present, be sure to stock up on frozen berries that can be added for a sweet morning treat. As an example of how different stocked items can be combined, one 1/2 cup of 1-minute oats mixed with 2 tablespoons of peanut butter contains 340 calories, 19 grams of fat, 12 grams of protein, 33 grams of carbohydrates, 6 grams of fiber, and multiple vitamins and minerals. One jar of peanut butter provides 13 servings of this power-packed breakfast creation, leaving 17 more servings of oats to be used in other ways.
Canned goods and other non-perishables: Options abound in this category. Soups, stews, meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, and more can be found canned. I feel their use is rather self-explanatory. Moreover, items such as dehydrated backpacking meals and MRE’s are reassuring to have as an emergency last-resort, though I don’t recommend using them as your primary emergency food items.
These are examples of some common food items that should be kept on hand, but by no means an exhaustive list. It is also important to include comfort foods such as one’s favorite snacks and desserts. This is paramount to keeping spirits high and fending off “food fatigue”. Eating the same bland foods repeatedly becomes monotonous and unpleasant, even to the point that an individual may chose not to eat despite their hunger. Avoiding food fatigue is necessary to the health of both the body and mind.
In times of pandemic, emergency food supplies should be kept untouched unless access to usual food sources is limited or sheltering-in-place is necessary. Prevent immediate use of your emergency food supply by purchasing regular groceries in large quantities. Should an event such as a quarantine be implemented suddenly, one is likely to already have an adequate supply of their regular food on hand. Once the regular food supply is exhausted, move onto the emergency food supply. Keep the regular food supply and the emergency food supply separate. By keeping large quantities of one’s regular food items on hand, they will be able to prolong the need to use their emergency food supply, thus extending the time that they will remain self-sufficient in an emergency. An added benefit of purchasing food in large quantities is that it allows one to make less frequent trips to the grocery store, as their regular food supply will last far longer before needing to be restocked. This is an excellent form of social distancing, as it limits time spent in highly-trafficked public areas (such as supermarkets) that increase one’s chance of becoming infected.
Health
Thought to have originated in bats, COVID-19 is a zoonotic virus that mutated to spread across species in December 2019. Prior to then, COVID-19 was unable to infect humans, but a recent mutation of the virus has changed that. Scientist and medical professionals have scrambled to better understand the virus, but so far have failed to discover adequate treatment measures. As it stands, the accepted medical response is to address accompanying conditions such as fever and respiratory troubles. More mild cases can be managed at home, while more severe cases involving respiratory troubles require hospitalization. Severe cases are addressed with oxygen treatment or mechanically-assisted breathing through the use of a ventilator.
Due to COVID-19’s remarkable transmission rate, it is likely that you or someone you know will become infected at some point throughout the pandemic. Fortunately, the majority of cases do not require hospitalization. Home treatment is centered around managing symptoms as the infected person’s immune system responds to, and hopefully overcomes, the virus.
Symptoms should be managed in a way that provide relief for the infected person as they ride out the illness. Below are some items that should be kept on hand for home treatment and their applications:
Thermometer– The most common symptom of COVID-19 is a fever. The ability to determine if one’s temperature is elevated at home allows for a quick and coordinated response before hospitalization may become necessary.
Fever reducers- Managing a fever may be the difference between the mitigation or the progression of the virus. It has been reported that anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen are not recommended, but acetaminophen has been used successfully in managing mild symptoms.
Flu medicine– While they won’t treat COVID-19, flu medicines may help to alleviate symptoms such as fever, cough, chest congestion, and body aches. Certain flu medicines also contain sleep aids to ensure the infected will be able to rest despite their discomfort.
Prescription medications- Currently it is still uncertain to what extent international supply chains will be affected. The ingredients to many of the prescription drugs in the United States are sourced abroad in countries such as China and India, both of which have been facing their own COVID-19 outbreaks. Stocking up on any prescription medications used to manage chronic conditions will provide a buffer should that medication later be unavailable.
An often-overlooked aspect of health in times of pandemic is the importance of diet and exercise. The importance of a nutritious diet has been stated above, but the subject of fitness cannot be ignored. A light calisthenic routine can be done at home even under quarantine. Exercises such as push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, squats, and more can be done to strengthen the body and occupy the mind.
By looking at data originating from countries such as China, Italy, and South Korea, it is clear that even first-world healthcare systems are likely to be overwhelmed by the influx of coronavirus patients. Because of this, people arriving at hospitals and clinics with other medical conditions may not receive treatment at all as COVID-19 patients are prioritized. In Italy it has been reported that many have died of other ailments because medical staff were unable to provide treatment as they prioritized the latest victims of the highly infectious disease. Medical events such as cardiac arrest, strokes, and other chronic conditions may be unavoidable, but often times a hospital visit involving trauma can be avoided by simple risk mitigation. Take care not to put yourself in dangerous situations that increase your chances of needing medical attention.
Hygiene
As we all participate in the efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19, it is imperative that we all practice proper hygiene and sanitation. To do so we must understand how the virus spreads and what we can do to stop it.
COVID-19 is remarkably efficient in regards to human to human transmission. The primary form of infection is through water droplets. These droplets can be spread through coughing, sneezing, and even breathing. Because of this it is recommended to keep a distance of six feet between yourself and others in public spaces to ensure minimal direct exposure. However, direct exposure is not the only risk. As infectious water droplets are emitted they land on surfaces that may be commonly handled by the rest of the general public. Objects such as door handles, handrails, ATMs, pin pads, and other surfaces are likely vectors as hundred of people a day utilize them. Even if direct contact with the infected can be avoided, public surfaces likely cannot. To protect oneself, practice the methods below to minimize the chances of contracting or spreading the illness:
Masks- There has been debate over the efficacy of masks. While N95 masks and other medical/industrial grade respirators have proven effective in protecting one from infection, common surgical masks have shown mixed results. Contradictory studies fail to provide us with an agreed upon answer in regards to the level of protection surgical masks provide for the wearer. However, they have been proven to keep the infected from freely spreading the disease as the masks trap the infectious water droplets emitted by the wearer.
Hand sanitizer- It is wise to carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer to use immediately after contact with a public surface. Supply shortages have lead to hand sanitizer being a hot commodity and is difficult to find in stores as a result. If one is unable to find hand sanitizer in stores, a homemade alternative can be made from isopropyl alcohol mixed and suspended in a ratio of aloe vera gel.
Gloves- Medical exam gloves are a more readily available option to protect against transmission through contact with public surfaces, but they should be used with caution. As the gloves are used they will pick up and carry the virus on them. This may lead to cross-contamination as you handle your own belongings, such as a cell phone or the steering wheel of a car. Gloves are best used on a single occasion the discarded afterwards to prevent cross-contamination.
Hand soap- The washing of one’s hands with warm, soapy water for twenty seconds has proven to be the most effective form of sanitation. When a sink is available opt to use it instead of alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Not only is hand washing with soap more effective, but it will also extend the amount time your supply of hand sanitizer lasts. Being that hand sanitizer will likely remain difficult to acquire, it is one’s best interest to use it only when necessary.
Disinfecting wipes- Despite one’s best efforts, cross-contamination is difficult to prevent. The merit of disinfecting objects like door handles is obvious, though less-obvious objects must be considered for maximum protection. The object that is most likely to infect through cross-contamination may be in your pocket at this very moment: a cell phone. As we go about our days we use our phones multiple times, spreading what we’ve touched across the screen then pressing it against the face as we make and take calls. It has been confirmed by Apple that the screens of smartphones are unaffected by the cleaning agents in disinfectant wipes and their use has been recommended.
This current pandemic will not be the end of the world. There is no reason to stockpile guns and gas masks. Even in the event of a quarantine, access to food will be available under all but the most dire circumstances. Still, it is in an individual’s best interest, perhaps even their civic duty, to prepare. In times of hardship, it is important that we show solidarity and protect the most vulnerable in our society. Like animals in a pack, if we work together and everyone does their part, we will overcome.
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