#16,418
One of the key messages of this blog over the past 15+ years has been the need to have, and to be, a `Flu' or `Disaster Buddy'. To prearrange with family, friends, or neighbors a mutual assistance agreement, where you would be there for them, and they for you, during an emergency.
Time To Line Up A `Flu Buddy'
In An Emergency, Who Has Your Back?
More than 32 million Americans live alone (see chart below), and while many of those are younger people who are waiting later to get married, a side effect of our longer lifespan and high divorce rate is that many of these single households are held by those over the age of 65.
Whether we live alone by choice or by happenstance, we all share a common vulnerability. If we get sick, or injured, there may be no one around to notice, or to help.
As a paramedic I saw a significant number of people who lived alone who either died, or spent miserable hours or even days incapacitated and unable to call for help, due to an illness or accident.Another vulnerable group are households with only 1 adult, and minor children. This too is a growing demographic, with more than 5 million households falling into that category. If the adult falls seriously ill, then even more are potentially at risk.
No one really knows what Omicron is going to bring in the months ahead, but there are strong indications we could see a major wave of (hopefully mild) disease. Even so, many hospitals may be overwhelmed, and the majority of people who fall ill (from Omicron, Delta, or Influenza) will have to be treated at home.
My `flu buddy' and I have discussed the logistics of how we'll deal with this pandemic and we'll stay in daily contact with one another by phone. If either of us run a fever, or develop symptoms, we'll up that to a call twice a day.
While we are both fully vaccinated (including booster), we won't unnecessarily expose each other to the virus,If either one of us becomes ill enough to need physical help, we'll visit each other at least once a day to make sure the other has what they need. We'll use face masks and hand sanitizer for personal protection, and be as careful as we can.
The time to have this type of conversation with friends, relatives, and neighbors is now. If you don't feel comfortable actually caring for someone who is sick, you can at least promise to check on them daily, leave `care packages' at their front door, or even call an ambulance for them if necessary.
This is also time to update and print out a 1-page (or wallet-sized) medical history on yourself, and all members of your family (see Thanksgiving Is National Family History Day) in case you need to see a doctor who doesn't have your medical information.Frankly, having (and being) a `Flu' or `Disaster Buddy’ to friends, neighbors, and relatives should be part of everyone’s family disaster plan. Four years ago, I had to evacuate due to Hurricane Irma, and my disaster/flu buddy took me (and my cat) in for 5 days no questions asked.
Although the government can do a lot during a pandemic, some of the simplest and most effective things we can do involve taking care of one another.While some people invest in a stockpile of freeze dried food, or buy the latest survival gadgets, and think themselves prepared . . . I can assure you that having people you can really depend on in an emergency is the greatest prep of all.
