Prepping for Brexit thread

Farway

pgoncalv said:

Oranges are the ones that are having supply shortage, I heard that spanish drivers have been naturally reluctant to drive long diistances and that is having an impact on supply and so prices. 

From what I've seen the problems seem to be the much vaunted EU open borders have been slammed shut across the EU with restrictions on who can enter each country, hence lorries & drivers are not allowed to cross some borders, no doubt this is much exaggerated by those with axes to grind

There was a bit on this morning's news about ferries though, nothing to do with Brexit but all to do with CV and travel, in a nutshell they are losing money & will stop if not bailed out, and some of our food comes over on ferries of course. I assume they'll be bailed out similar to the Channel & Scottish Islands flights

[Deleted User]

I'll settle for keeping us well and safe and not having to add to the NHS's burden by being irresponsible and not adhering to strict and total social distancing.  Political things can come later.

pgoncalv

Farway said:

pgoncalv said:

Oranges are the ones that are having supply shortage, I heard that spanish drivers have been naturally reluctant to drive long diistances and that is having an impact on supply and so prices. 

From what I've seen the problems seem to be the much vaunted EU open borders have been slammed shut across the EU with restrictions on who can enter each country, hence lorries & drivers are not allowed to cross some borders, no doubt this is much exaggerated by those with axes to grind

True, the tendency to turn inwards would not happen so much if the EU would benefit from deeper support. For what I read, issues wiith transport across borders were mostly in central Europe, Hungary was an obvious expected case but there were/are many more which was/is unnaceptable.
What I also saw is that despite a massive difference in infection rates between Spain and Portugal, the 7 largest borders were kept open and merchandise and people accessing medical services across the border were not stop. And I did watch that despite some Spanish pharmacists raided Portuguese ones for gel etc just before the border closed, there was understanding of the predicament the country was getting into. 

daz378

I was an active prepper  5 or 6 years ago   but last year   was just maintaining my stocks....im active now..  i actually  think brexit contingency planning   with regard to essential supplies    may  help with current situation..... i hope anyway....stay safe

Merlin's_Beard

pgoncalv said:

TheCheerleader said:

pgoncalv said I see we agree, however to be safe and given some signs some of it is being driven polically, I'd propose a compromise: the Dyson stuff, whatever it turns out to be  should be trialled on Mr Johnson and co first. That still leaves waste of taxpayer money to be shared amongst us but safety would not be so easily compromised. 

My cousin took part in trialing the Dyson ventilator, he’s picking up nicely now.

Great, that mjust be a relief. And all the best, wishes of a full recovery. 
I am curious, is this an invasive version ora CPAP, like a diving mask that pressurises oxigen into the lungs.
Italians found CPAP reduces need for invasive ventilation by 50% and since this technology is out of patent and cheap, it is being adopted all around. Great when people collaborate for public health and leave politics an nationalism aside. 

I believe Dyson are producing a true mechanical ventilator called a CoVent.
However, the Ventilator Challenge UK consortium are mass producing CPAP devices as well as ventilators as part of their remit, with Mercedes F1/UCL having a CPAP device that a) is now approved for NHS use and b) has the design openly available for others to copy. They've taken machines usually used to make pistons etc and now they're making 1,000 CPAP devices a day.

DigForVictory

Re-reads & realises, yep, walked into that one. D'Oh!
Hey - we need such laughs as we can find (say the idiot who spelt her favourite tree the cheery tree & not the cherry...)

This whole mask issue has come up trumps for me - suddenly I have a use for all the hair elastics I shoved into a drawer when i learned longhairs try to use ones without metal bits. Also the garish wired gift fastening tape (think gardeners wired tape but in festive party colours, ulp) now can be devoted to improving the fit across the bridge of the nose & need Never Be Seen again!

I see GPs surgeries & pharmacies are being asked to stay open over all the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend - has anyone suggestions on ways to say thank you that do not bring them risk but do respect their hugely appreciated role?

[Deleted User]

There's not very much we can do BUT the landlord at the local pub who is providing food boxes for anyone who needs them at no profit to himself and our lovely milkman who managed to get some of us sacks of potatoes are both getting a bunch of freshly picked rhubarb wrapped in a leaf from the allotment the next time we have contact with them which will be Tuesday for the pub and hopefully this Saturday for the milkman .  When this is all over there will be something substantially more appropriate but the rhubarb is something we have and can give as a thank you gift rather than use it ourselves, we've other things to use and fresh produce is a bit thin on the ground at the moment isn't it?

pgoncalv

Merlin's_Beard said:

I believe Dyson are producing a true mechanical ventilator called a CoVent.
However, the Ventilator Challenge UK consortium are mass producing CPAP devices as well as ventilators as part of their remit, with Mercedes F1/UCL having a CPAP device that a) is now approved for NHS use and b) has the design openly available for others to copy. They've taken machines usually used to make pistons etc and now they're making 1,000 CPAP devices a day.

I was aware that Dyson is looking to get into the medical devices field. Ventilators are expensive and I believe this is due to the need to have a good process to ensure that any faults are handled with the the required urgency. 
Patient safety requires any software being deployed to meet strict controls and testing, that staff using it are appropriately trained, that there is monitoring of any fault reports so that any manufacturing and design issues result in decommissioning the relevant faulty batches, addressed by new models, etc.  
Essentially trying to develop and patent a new device and evade these controls puts patients at risk and enables profits to be made with no apparent downside. Hence if ministers get involved in this and press MHRA (since EMA is no longer responsible for UK), additionally to having to be accountable, and we are talking about potential criminal negligence here, I would feel much more relaxed if the rush would mean people that ministers personally know are the guinea pigs. Obviously that does not address the need to make sure processes are put in place by these manufacturers if they pass clinical trials  and that it is clear what staff and training is required for safe use. 
CPAPs are a simple design, out of patent and they do not require the same level of monitoring in use as the patient is conscious. 

DigForVictory

Jammed in testing apparently - 13th April FT & Guardian - seems the "blue sky thinking" & bluesky engineering is off.
There are a lot of (unsubstantiated) stories of businesses making contacts but the gubbyment not making contact let alone sorting specs, times, funds.
If the CPAP machines can help, hallelujah. 

DigForVictory

And today, first new ventilator passes the tests - I wonder if that'll make the news...