Death To Zombies

Since human to human transmission has happened in two countries, the level was automatically elevated to Level 5.  There were initial reports that seeminly healthy 25-45 year olds were the ones dying from the flu.  The first person to die from Swine Flu in America however was a young child.

Level 5 can be explained best by the organization that created the levels.  Check out their explanation at this link.

I’m not yet concerned to the level where I don’t want to leave the house yet but that’s just my call.  That said, purchasing face masks wouldn’t be a bad idea if you can find them.  Washing hands a bit more frequently is of course a good idea.  If you’re sick with flu like symptoms then avoid others and go to a doctor so they can get you some anti-viral medicine.  Unfortunately anti-virals work better when the disease is caught in very early stages, so err on the side of caution if you can afford to go to the doctor’s office.

Photo by Podknox

This is one of the first Army guides I ever read.  I was in the Explorers in Maryland at the time and we were attached to a Light Infantry National Guard Armoury.  My Sergeant provided me the book and told me to prepare classes to teach during the weekend.  I didn’t do a great job teaching but I learned a lot about how to teach an a lot about survival.

The manual is available via rapidshare.com.  The link to it can be found at this post on drunkenstepfather.com.  I don’t generally recommend the website as there’s a lot of adult material there, but this is a useful PDF, so you may want to go check it out.

When I was in the Army we had a field manual that instructed us on how to create an emergency airway.  I hesitate to call it a tracheotomy because I’m not a doctor and am not sure if the emergency procedure rates such a grand term.  But the bottom line is, I know how to punch a hole in someone’s throat if they can’t breath.  That said, I’d have to be really sure of the person dying and no ambulance being close by or I wouldn’t attempt the procedure.

But I believe in being prepared, so I can see how I would like to have a kit that has sterile tools to make this sort of procedure easier.  And that’s just what you get when you spend $145 on the LifeState Emergency Pocket Airway.  It hangs on your keychain and just waits for the day when you need it.  It’s not cheap, so I may not buy one right away, but it’s on the to buy list.

Source: KK*

So, I was reading over the PDF, that ToddMW was kind enough to link to, that explains how to prepare for tornadoes and hurricanes.  I primarily want to work on building a shelter from storms but on page 10 I did stumble upon a checklist of items that should be in each home during emergencies.  These are items that should be stored INSIDE your shelter because there’s a fair chance that storm debris may trap you inside your shelter.

An adequate supply of water for each person in your home or small business  (1 gallon per person per day)
Non-perishable foods that do not have to be prepared or cooked (if these include canned goods, remember to bring a manual can opener)
Disposable eating utensils, plates, cups, paper towels, etc.
A first-aid kit, including necessary prescription medicines, bandages, and antibiotic ointment
Tools and supplies:
flashlight (one per person; do not bring candles or anything that lights with a flame)
battery-operated radio or television and NOAA weather radio
cellular phone or Citizen’s Band (CB) radio
extra batteries for the above tool
wrench (to turn off gas and water)
insect repellent and sunscreen
personal hygiene items such as hand wipes and toilet paper
Extra change of clothing per person (store in plastic trash bags to keep clean and dry)
Appropriate outer wear (e.g., sunglasses, ponchos, jackets, gloves, headwear, boots, etc.)
Bedding materials such as pillows and blankets or sleeping bags
Special items for:
babies – formula, diapers, bottles, powdered milk
children – entertainment items such as books, games, or toys
adults – contact lenses and supplies, extra glasses, and a sufficient supply of  prescription medications
pets – appropriate supplies such as water (1/2 gallon per day), food, leash, ID tag, carrying container, etc.
Additional items:
important documents such as insurance documents, a list of all your important contacts (e.g., family, doctors, insurance agents), banking information, leases/mortgage, proof of
occupancy (such as a utility bill), and a waterproof container in which to keep these documents
ABC2  rated fire extinguisher
roofing tarps or plastic sheeting
roll of large heavy-duty trash bags and duct tape
money (cash)

So, I pass this list in most categories but I don’t have some of this documentation in a watertight case and my fire extinguisher is not an ABC grade extinguisher.  Finally, I also don’t keep much cash at home.  These are all relatively easy things to fix, so I’ll ad them to my shopping list and get them fixed this week.

The most serious question still remains, “What do I do about a tornado shelter?”  I spoke with my grandpa about it and we have an idea but it’s probably not going to be fit for FEMA.  Still it’s better than nothing for this year at least.