Letters From Readers

[Reasonable Rascal]

This column will be composed of letters I receive from readers of this site. Identities are removed for privacy reasons.

I receive some good observations, questions and more, and feel they are worth sharing.

Enjoy.

Reasonable Rascal

[Reasonable Rascal]

Everyone is always asking what to stockpile.

One way to know what is important is to take notes on what your internist keeps in his office by way of supplies. Then, when you take your prescription to the pharmacy and have to wander around for 1/2 hour, you
can price out what you don't have, and buy the stuff that is on sale.

Couldn't find iodine swabs today. Was looking for alcohol preps. Couldn't find by that name, but bought alcohol swabs. Also saw an ankle brace on discount. Hmm! Had to open up another plastic container for supplies this afternoon.

I was amazed by the low volume of on-hand supplies the doctor's group had for just regular needs. Given that I surmise that the doctors don't have a warehouse and operate on the "just in time" principle, I think that we are going to be in trouble in Los Angeles if there is ever a real emergency.

[Reasonable Rascal]

You brought up a very sensitive topic. The responses suggest that there are really at least three areas of discussion.

1. The notoriety of hospitals for harboring germs.
This is not a new topic, just under discussed. Hospitals are famous for having lingering pneumonia germs. If I had an infectious disease or potentially terminal condition, I would want fresh air or coldness to kill germs and sunlight.
I visited a regional hospital in China in the 1970s. In the middle of winter, there was no heat and the windows were wide open. All surfaces were washed down with soap and water daily.

2. The lack of public ability to deal with infectious diseases.
In the 1950s, homes were quarantined. It did no good in preventing the spread of germs, but it was good public relations. A French author once wrote a short story about a group of royalty that provisioned a fortress and when the Red Plague appeared, withdrew with friends into the castle and barred the way against everyone else. To celebrate their good fortune, they had a masked ball. The Red Plague showed up in costume.
When the Spanish influenza of 1918 went around the world, the only place that did not suffer deaths was a remote island in the Pacific. And our "survivalists" think that they will go to the hills? LOL!

3. Minor home preparations.
When you listen to the radio about government preparations, you are supposed to be impressed. The numbers work out that the government has the equivalent of a pickup truck in supplies for each hospital in the country in those 50 ton secret medical supply depots.
I have no medical skills. I can't perform surgery. However, I am 100% prepared for the 90% of the situations I would face: burns, cuts, scrapes, infections, flus, bacterial infections, viral infections, pain.
I picked up another tube of triple antibiotic last night. Also should have picked up some large feminine pads, but will do that the next time I am in the discount store.

[Morrigan55]

Here's another point along these lines: if you are a mom, you are experienced in treating all types of minor illness-fevers, infections, cuts, bug bites, poison ivy, colds, sore throats, blisters, stomach flu, rashes. You probably have at least one bottle/tube of each type of these meds, including cough drops! You may not be able to do surgery, but you will be able to treat alot of general stuff that comes up everyday. Stockpile these meds, bandaids and Neosporin and you will be adequately prepared, IMO.