Home Alone . . . With The Flu

My `under-the-bed’ flu kit

 

# 9301

 

Although you can never really know what kind of flu season lies ahead, early indications are that the H3N2 virus is leading the pack and that a new strain – not covered in this year’s vaccine – may have an impact (see A `Drift’ In A Sea Of Influenza Viruses). 

 

Years in which H3 viruses dominate often produce more severe flu seasons – particularly among those over the age of 65.

Like many Americans, I live alone.  It is a demographic trend that has been increasing for decades. A couple of years ago the Census bureau reported that 1 in 4 households had just a single occupant - greater than at any time in the past century.

Currently, 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 spend 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.

In 2007, I suffered my last serious bout with the flu that laid me up, delirious and unable to move, for about 24 hours. I described the experience HERE, and since I live alone, it inspired me to take steps in case it ever happens again.

 

First, and perhaps most important, I’ve moved my cell phone charger to my beside table.  My phone now goes with me when I retire at night, that way I can call for help if ever the need arises.

A sensible precaution for anyone of my years.

 

Second, I made a simple under-the-bed flu kit (see photo at top of blog). In a small plastic box, I keep:

 

• A couple of pouch Sports drinks (rehydration)
• A bottle of acetaminophen
• A bottle of expectorant pills
• Imodium pills
• A thermometer
• Throat lozenges
• Surgical masks for me to wear in case I have to call for help or have visitors.

 

As a result of this little `flu-life adventure’, I also began to promote the idea of having – and being – a `flu buddy’ in this blog. Particularly for those who either live alone, or are the sole adult caregiver in a household.

 

A `Flu buddy’ is simply someone you can call if you get sick, who will then check on you every day, make sure you have the medicines you need (including fetching Tamiflu if appropriate), help care for you if needed, and who can call for medical help if your condition deteriorates.

 

While various governments floated the idea of having a `flu friend’ or buddy during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, the truth is, influenza kills tends of thousands each year – and so this should be a yearly reciprocal arrangement – not just something you arrange for during a  pandemic.

 

About 5 years ago, I reworked this `flu buddy’ idea into a more generic `Disaster buddy’ concept (see In An Emergency, Who Has Your Back? ). The idea of setting up a `mutual aid’ agreement with a friend, relative, or trusted neighbor is the same – just expanded to cover more than just an illness. 

We live in uncertain times, and frankly, I can’t imagine not having a disaster buddy or two.  No one likes to impose on a friend, of course. But if you’ve already established a `disaster buddy’ relationship  – one that is fair and reciprocal – it shouldn’t be considered an imposition.

Now - before a disaster occurs - is the time to sit down and talk to your friends, family, and neighbors about how you will help one another during a personal or community wide crisis.

 

For more on increasing your level of preparedness, a partial list of some of my preparedness blogs include:

 

The Gift Of Preparedness – 2014 Edition

When 72 Hours Isn’t Enough

An Appropriate Level Of Preparedness

NPM10: A Simple Weekend Mini-Prep

 

 

Note: Today is Day 4 of National Preparedness Month.  Follow the campaign on Twitter by searching the #NPM10 hash tag.

 

# 4869

 

 

Being prepared is a habit, one that takes time (and practice) to establish.  

 

Even though I consider myself reasonably well prepared for most emergencies, I have – on occasion – regretted not being better prepared.

 

One night about 3 years ago I felt a bit unwell (feverish and tired) and laid down.  The next 24 hours were lost in a feverish delirium as I came down with a  brief, but violent, viral infection.

 

Although the bathroom and kitchen were but a few steps away, I was too weak, and too delirious, to even fetch myself a glass of water.   My cell phone was in its charger in the living room, so I couldn’t call for help.

 

I remember laying there knowing I should be taking some acetaminophen to quell the fever and forcing fluids . . . but I was simply unable to do so.   

 

Luckily, I recovered enough that the next evening I was able to get up and rehydrate myself.  A few days later, I was almost human again.

 

I, like millions of others, live alone.  

 

And those of us without an in-house support system (and particularly single parents raising small children) need to take extra steps to prepare for this sort of event.

 

Since that long night’s journey into the next day, I’ve made two simple changes. 

 

First, I’ve moved my cell phone charger to my beside table.   My phone now goes with me when I retire at night, that way I can call for help if ever the need arises.

 

Second, I made a simple under-the-bed flu kit. 

 

 

In it, I’ve got:

 

A couple of pouch Sports drinks (rehydration)

A bottle of acetaminophen

A bottle of expectorant pills

Imodium pills

A thermometer

Throat lozenges

Surgical masks for me to wear in case I have to call for help or have visitors.

All of which fits in a small plastic box.   Any small container would do.

 

And of course, my cell phone close at hand.

 

It’s a simple prep.  One that I put together with things I already had around the house and in my medicine cabinet. 

 

But a prep is useless if you can’t get to it when you need to.

 

Since then, I’ve had one occasion to use this `flu box’, although I wasn’t anywhere nearly as incapacitated as I was 3 years ago.   It was more of a `flu comfort kit’ than an emergency prep.

 

It did, however, give me a reminder to replace the sports drinks (always check expiration dates!).

 

For those of you hesitant to plunge into personal preparedness because it seems too daunting  . . . sometime all it takes is a simple first step.

 

Putting together a simple flu kit may seem like too insignificant of a prep to bother with, but believe me, I wish I’d thought of it before I needed it.