Before any pandemic, there will always be signs. Usually, there will be a few people with strange symptoms that puzzle doctors. There will be an incubation period… and after a while the patient’s condition either deteriorates rapidly and/or he dies within days.
Doctors may be stumped and not know what went wrong or what the disease was. Without proper prognosis, all treatments are akin to taking shots in the dark and hoping one hits the target.
An infectious disease will cause those who encountered patient zero to also be infected. The news and media will start reporting more and more cases. If you’ve been paying attention to the news, you’ll know if this is an impending health disaster.
The moment you know that close contact with an infected person can cause the disease to spread, you need to find out if the disease is airborne or is it contagious enough to spread like a flu.
If the answer is yes to either question, you must follow the protocol below.
- Evacuate
This is your best option. If you are well-prepared, you’ll have funds set aside to take you and your family out of the affected area for a few weeks. It’s best to move to somewhere rural for the time beinguntil authorities get a grip on the situation.
- Avoid crowds and people
The best way not to get infected is to avoid other people. You’ll never know who is infected. You may need to take a break from work or isolate yourself and your family at home.
- Public transport
Avoid public transport. These are hotbeds of bacteria and diseases can be passed on easily through close contact.
Rent a car if you don’t have your personal vehicle. The extra expenses are worth it because it will minimize your risk. Remember to wipe down the interior of the car with disinfectant and clean the door handles, etc.
- Get supplies
In the event you can’t evacuate, if you’ve been a responsible survivalist, you’ll have food and water supplies to last you quite a while. If you don’t have any, do get as much supplies as you can.
Food is more important because, water will usually not be interrupted in a medical disaster. You should always boil your water before drinking.
- Boost your immunity
Eat clean and consume vitamin C supplements daily. Avoid alcohol and other detrimental foods. Your goal should be to strengthen your immune system so that you body will be less likely to succumb to the disease.
Avoid hard exercise and do not get stressed out because these will lower your immunity.
- Safety precautions
Wear masks whenever you go out. Carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer to clean your hands and arms. Avoid touching common areas such as door knobs, elevator buttons, etc. Avoid touching your face as much as possible.
Clean your house well. Disinfect the doors knobs, common areas, etc. Mop or wipe the floors with disinfectant. Keep the living area pristine and as germ-free as possible. Do not wear shoes into the house.
When you return home, always place your clothes into the wash and wash them quickly. Do not sit on the couch or bed with your street clothes on.
You may wish to use an air purifier at home to make it safer.
To conclude, do whatever it takes to reduce your risks of catching the disease. Common sense will tell you that you’ll be safest when you’re away from other people and when you practice cleanliness and hygiene all the time. This is your best safeguard against getting infected.