#18,624
For the first time since 2017/2018, the United States finds itself in a High Severe Flu Season (see CDC FluView Week 6) - with the CDC estimating at least 29 million illnesses, 370,000 hospitalizations, and 16,000 deaths this season.
The CDC's respiratory disease dashboard shows current impact of flu across the country. Although we may be approaching the peak of the season, we could still have weeks of heightened activity ahead, and influenza B often surges in the spring.
According to the United States census, roughly 30% of the population lives alone; a number that has nearly quadrupled since the 1940s. Many (like myself) are older individuals, who are more likely to be severely affected by influenza.
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.
Someone you can call if you get sick, who will then check on you every day (by phone, social media, or in person), make sure you have the food and medicines you need (including fetching prescriptions if appropriate), help care for you if needed, and who can call for medical help if your condition deteriorates.
Those people who care for others, like single parents, also need to consider who will take care of their dependents if they are sick.
My idea was originally for a pandemic scenario, but we've seen several severe flu seasons since then, and it really doesn't matter what virus has got you (COVID, Flu, Norovirus, etc.) , if you're splayed out on the floor and unable to call for help.
My `flu buddy' and I have discussed the logistics of how we'll deal with any epidemic. We'll stay in daily contact with one another by phone, if either of us run a fever, or develop other symptoms, we'll up that to a call twice a day.Although we are both fully vaccinated against flu and COVID (including boosters), we won't unnecessarily expose each other to a virus. If either one of us were to become sick enough to require physical assistance - we'll do whatever is needed - but we'll use N95s and hand sanitizer for personal protection, and be as careful as we can.
Now is the time to have this type of conversation with friends, relatives, and neighbors. 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.
In 2010 I expanded the idea to include being a `Disaster Buddy' (see In An Emergency, Who Has Your Back?). Over the years my Flu/Disaster buddy and I have come to each other's rescue a number of times for emergencies both large and small (see Signs of Life).
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.
