The Prepping Thread - A Newer Beginning ;)

annieb64

Markin-I would have to keep a towel in my locker which is at the other end of the building so would probably forget to take it with me. If I can get some paper towels I will keep a couple in my jeans pocket.The bathroom isn't used by the public and we have about 30 volunteers-not all in the building at once.

I doubt if everyone does wash their hands properly-I've seen how a couple of them do the washing up so try to make sure I make my own tea now..

[Deleted User]

The easiest thing when washing hands not in your own home is to shake hands vigorously and NOT dry them, it takes very little time for them to dry by evaporation and humans have warm hands which helps.  I always pull down my sleeve and use this and my elbow to open the door and subsequently do the same on the outer door to the toilet area if there is one.  In a charity shop you are, like I am, more likely to pick up a problem by putting stock on shelves and tidying up stock which will have been handled by many, many people and also by being on the till (my job) and handling money.  I make sure the first thing I do when I get home is to do an absolutely rigorous hand wash before I touch anything else and I make sure I keep my gloves on to open the door into the house and don't touch anything in the house except the tap to turn on the water, then clean it after use.  It's as much as anyone can do.

Si_Clist

If the supermarkets and the suppliers have a plan to concentrate production on "the essentials", it's going to be really interesting seeing what "the essentials" are.  I can see some people getting really grumpy when they discover what they can't buy ...

C_J

From our local newspaper just now - but nothing we don't already know, I guess.

The Government has unveiled its battleplan to tackle the coronavirus.

The outbreak of the disease could lead to a fifth of workers being absent, cause police to drop low-priority cases and force the NHS to delay non-urgent care.

The 27-page document sets out the UK-wide response to Covid-19 amid widespread concerns about the impact the virus will have on people's wellbeing, the economy and public services.

Measures aimed at delaying the spread of the virus could include school closures, "reducing the number of large-scale gatherings" and encouraging greater home working.

The Government's response is in four stages: containing the outbreak, delaying its spread and mitigating the impact of the disease once it becomes established, and alongside that, a research programme is aimed at improving diagnostics and treatment for the disease.

Amid warnings about the impact on the global economy, and with Chancellor Rishi Sunak forced to draw up plans in his Budget to counter the disease, the document acknowledged the potential impact on businesses.

"In a stretching scenario, it is possible that up to one fifth of employees may be absent from work during peak weeks."

The Government's response is currently in the containment phase, along with research being carried out and planning for the delay and mitigation work.

Officials hope to delay the peak of the virus until the warmer spring and summer months when health services are less busy.

Here are the key points from the Government's plan to tackle coronavirus in the UK:

- If police lose "significant staff" numbers to illness, they would "concentrate on responding to serious crimes and maintaining public order".

- In a "stretching scenario", it is possible that up to one fifth of employees may be absent from work during peak weeks.

- Everyone will face increased pressures at work, as well as potentially their own illness and caring responsibilities. Supporting staff welfare "will be critical" for businesses.

- The UK has stockpiles of medicines for the NHS, plus protective clothing and equipment for medical staff.

- The public can help delay the spread of the virus by washing hands with soap regularly, not spreading misinformation and relying on trusted sources. They should also ensure family vaccines are up to date and check on family, friends and neighbours. They should also check Foreign Office advice before travelling abroad and be understanding of the pressures the health service is under.

- The public will be asked to accept that "the advice for managing Covid-19 for most people will be self-isolation at home and simple over the counter medicines".

- If coronavirus becomes established, there will be a focus on essential services and helping those "most at risk to access the right treatment".

- During the mitigation phase, when the virus is much more widespread, "pressures on services and wider society may become significant and clearly noticeable".

- The Ministry of Defence will provide support as needed, including to essential services.

- There will be increased Government communication with Parliament, the public and the media if the virus becomes more widespread.

- All Government departments to have a lead person for coronavirus.

- If the virus takes hold, social distancing strategies could include school closures, encouraging greater home working, reducing the number of large scale gatherings and closing other educational settings.

- It is possible that an outbreak or pandemic of Covid-19 could come in multiple waves.

- Non-urgent operations and other procedures could be cancelled, and hospital discharges monitored to free-up beds, with appropriate care in people's homes.

- Hospital worker shifts could be altered and leavers or retirees called "back to duty".

- Measures exist to help businesses with short-term cash flow problems.

- There is a distribution strategy for sending out key medicines and equipment to NHS and social care.

- This strain of coronavirus is new and people have a lack of immunity to it, meaning "Covid-19 has the potential to spread extensively".

- Everyone is susceptible to catching the disease and thus it is "more likely than not that the UK will be significantly affected".

- There could be an "increase in deaths arising from the outbreak, particularly among vulnerable and elderly groups".

- While most people will suffer mild to moderate symptoms, similar to seasonal flu, some will need hospital care due to pneumonia developing.

- Young children can become infected and "suffer severe illness", but overall the illness is less common in the under-20s.

welshbabe88

Just watching the old 1970s series Survivors on YouTube - great inspiration for end of the world catastrophe!

tboo

GreyQueen said:

tboo said:

I have just purchased 4 x 25l water carriers off Amaz0n, £23.99, nearest camping store was a bit away so seemed best option

When full will store them in the understairs cupboard

A word to the wise; weight.

1 litre of water weighs 1 kilo aka 2.5=2 lb.

25 litres = 55lb

4 x 55 lb = 220 lb or 15 and a half stones. Depending on the cupboard floor, and the joists, that could well be a problem. I would be tempted to keep them downstairs, ideally on a concrete sub-floor.

If you ever have to store plastic containers on naked concrete, please be aware it causes plastic to rot and fail over time. Which is why my plastic water barrels on the allotment patio are actually sitting up on sections of fencepost wood, rather than just on the concrete slabs. HTH

Blimey, didn't realise they would be that heavy

The cupboard is solid floor with carpet so should be ok

maryb said:

make a note to yourself to change the water every three months.

That's good to know thanks

GreyQueen

Si_Clist said:

If the supermarkets and the suppliers have a plan to concentrate production on "the essentials", it's going to be really interesting seeing what "the essentials" are.  I can see some people getting really grumpy when they discover what they can't buy ...

I guess the supermarkets will temporarily reoganise their shelving and turn space devoted to the frivels over to the staples, subject to the manufacturers being able to supply the quantities which the public want to buy. Good news for companies packing tinnery, TP, cleaning products etc, not so good for others. It will be interesting to see what is In and what is Out. My money is on baked beans being on the In List.

[Deleted User]

It would be useful if the government published a list of just what would be available on the essentials list and also a sensible programme for using these products.  At least in wartime the advice and rationing were accompanied by leaflets suggesting how to make best use of the rations and what your family was allowed on the points system to keep the population as healthy and nutritionally fed as was possible.  We have so much nutritional and economic experience these days surely there will be advice and recommendations published if we do go to such extremes.


I think the safest and most sensible course would be not to predict the future because it is still not established just how this will pan out but to wait and see if it is actually as disruptive as   some people think it will be and if things do become dangerous try to keep as low a profile as is possible and disappear from public view as much as is possible, even put a notice on the doors to the effect that the disease is in the house and it would be a brave looter who would chance their arm breaking in wouldn't it?

Si_Clist

MrsLurcherwalker said:

... We have so much nutritional and economic experience these days ...

Indeed we do - but we also have microwaves, and instant meals, pizza, Not Poodles, king size bags of crisps and all the other carp on which many folk seem to rely.  I wouldn't mind a crisp tenner for every supermarket shopper who considers all that sort of stuff to be essential ...

DianneB

welshbabe88 said:

Just watching the old 1970s series Survivors on YouTube - great inspiration for end of the world catastrophe!

I was thinking about that series only this morning, don't think I could bear to watch it!!