Prepper’s know more than anyone that the likelihood of a deadly virus taking out huge portions of civilization is very possible. In fact, deadly outbreaks have happened before during. Remember the Black Death that took an estimated 25 million lives in Europe?
Despite the advances in technology and medicine, we are still vulnerable to deadly viruses that can spread faster than we can control. So, knowing what to do in these situations could keep you alive. Learn more about what steps to take to save your life during a viral outbreak.
Stock Up on Medical Supplies
Preparation is always your best asset in an emergency. Make sure that you stock up on medical supplies in your shelter, including anti-bacterials and vaccines. Also, get hazmat suits or gas masks. You never know the extent of the virus and how bad it will be so having plenty of survival equipment is vital.
In addition to these materials, make sure you have enough water. Most likely, you will need more water than you think to stay hydrated and healthy.
Other things to stock up on are:
- Duct tape
- Antiviral medical face masks
- Trash or biohazard bags
- Goggles
- Nylon or plastic gloves
- Antiseptics
- Soaps, sanitizer, and disinfectants
- Thermometers
- Electrolytes
Get Extra Survival Gear
In addition to stocking up on medical supplies, you need to make sure that you have common survival gear. This gear might include flashlights, batteries, stoves and gas for cooking. Make sure you have heaters, blankets, rags, and clean materials for taking care of the sick. Even quarantine gear could keep that nasty virus from getting into your camp.
Having extra survival gear is important so that you have the basic necessities to take care of individuals who do get sick and to keep everyone else healthy. Plus, if your group picks up any extra travelers, keeping them alive will require even more resources.
Keep Your Health Up
If a virus breaks out, you will want your immune system to be strong. Keep vitamins or supplements onhand to help boost your immune system. When cooking or rationing food, be sure to get all the nutrients you need to fight of any sickness you may get.
It’s also good to get enough sleep and drink plenty of water to keep your body functioning properly. Also, physical exertion and exercise will help keep your body in good shape to fight off any diseases.
Stay Still
In all the TV shows about epidemic outbreaks, the characters go searching across the country for survivors or cures. That is just not realistic. Staying in one place increases your chance of survival dramatically. Knowing the terrain and being able to safely stay away from the virus is crucial.
If you happen to meet up with individuals from out of town, do so very cautiously. Traveling across the terrain introduces you to more unknown variables, which could impact your survival chances. Stay in a safe place, and defend it as long as you can.
Scientists and the CDC (Center for Disease Control) will take care of a cure. Staying alive long enough to get the cure should be your main priority.
Become a Germaphobe
For you to survive, you need to be as careful as possible to stay away from the virus. A lot of times, we may not know how a virus gets spread. Don’t touch things with your hand that sick people have touched. Avoid going outside or being around other people who are sick, if possible.
If the virus is airborne, use a hazmat suit, gloves, and a gasmask when you need to. If you run out of water, boil or filter everything that’s not pre-packaged before you drink it in case some form of the virus travels through water. Wash your hands frequently, and use hand sanitizer.
Becoming a germaphobe will help you avoid getting sick.
Plan for the Unexpected
Many people do not understand the severity of a viral outbreak and what it could do to the infrastructure of our society. There is no telling what could happen when disaster strikes, so it is vital that you prepare for the worst.
Try to learn how to do as much as you can on your own. For example, purifying water, treating illnesses, sewing, etc. The CDC says you should plan on most basic services shutting down, including hospitals, phone companies, post offices, banks, government functions, etc.
Don’t Spread the Virus
Viral outbreaks are so dangerous because they spread easily and quickly. As morbid as it may seem, if you do get infected, stay away from healthy people. If you love someone, do not let them near you, or they may become infected too!
As hard as it may be, try to survive on your own or with others who are already sick and quarantine yourselves. Don’t travel around looking for a cure. Stay by a radio so you will hear if there is a cure.
To get more ideas on how to prep for any disaster, check out Prepper’s Base.