Must-Have List for the Next Pandemic
Now that the worst of the Coronavirus is finally in our rearview mirrors, that doesn’t mean that it’s time to relax and pretend that it never happened. If anything, Covid-19 showed us that we need to take prepping that much more seriously. Shortly after the pandemic began popping up in the United States, store shelves quickly became depleted of items that would have helped families manage the virus more effectively. Now that we’ve all experienced it first-hand, we should be more eager to be ready for future outbreaks. These are some of the must-have items that you should be stocked up on before the next pandemic.
In case you missed this post, 9 Pandemic Habits to Keep and 30 Items You Need To Survive A Pandemic.
Must-Have List for the Next Pandemic
1. Disposable Gloves
Did you know that your hands are usually the number one culprit for why you get sick in the first place? Without you knowing it, you may touch a virus-infected surface and then rub your eyes or itch your nose just a few seconds later.
This is why you need to have a large stock of disposable gloves that you can use when you come into contact with another person, touching a surface while you’re out in public, or when you are taking care of a sick family member.
Another thing to remember is not to leave your gloves out in the open where they can be exposed to bacteria, germs, and harmful pathogens. Keep them stored away in an airtight container. If you don’t have any disposable gloves, please get some. Disposable Gloves
2. Respirator Mask
Let’s be honest for a minute. There’s no denying that this last pandemic was dangerous and extremely contagious, but the chances of dying from the virus were minuscule in comparison to far deadlier outbreaks that have shown up in the past. If we’re ever faced with something like that again, you’re going to wish you had something more than a fabric mask to keep you and your family safe.
I’m not here to argue with you whether a piece of fabric can keep out tiny microscopic pathogens, I just want you and your family to be more prepared the next time around if something more sinister presents itself. Currently, you may think that a reusable mask respirator looks a bit overkill, but you’d be glad that you had them if the odds were no longer in your favor.
3. Eye Protection
We touch our eyes on a daily basis more than we realize. If you happen to be caring for someone who is sick and you fail to wear some type of eye protection, it creates yet another opportunity for you to also be exposed to the disease. You should think about wearing a face shield or goggles so that tiny droplets don’t enter the airspace in front of your face. If the next pandemic proves to be far deadlier you may even see individuals wearing eye protection while out in public. Who would blame them? I purchased some face shields similar to these. Face Shields
4. Medical Supplies
We don’t know how the next pandemic will show up on the scene one day. It could happen following a major disaster that causes countless deaths and serious injuries. If one of your family members gets a deep cut or some other type of injury during the emergency, you’re going to need a first aid kit to prevent an infection. That way it doesn’t have the potential to turn deadly. Your kit needs to include bandages, dressings, antibiotic ointment, hand sanitizers, sterile eye wash, and scissors.
Next to your first aid kit you will want to have a large stash of over-the-counter medicines on hand before the next pandemic because they will be among the first things that disappear off the store shelves. These include pain relievers, fever reducers, antidiarrheal medicine, cough suppressants, and allergy medicine.
You may also want to consider stocking up on probiotic supplements. Not only do they help to keep your digestive system working properly, but probiotic supplements also strengthen your immune system by adding good bacteria into your gut. Vitamin C is something else that your family should be taking on a daily basis to keep your immune system in a more healthy condition, especially during a pandemic. This way you’re able to fight off harmful bacteria, as well as future viruses if another pandemic presents itself.
5. Disinfectants and Antiseptics
Disinfectants can help to stop the spread of bacteria and deadly viruses if you apply them to surfaces that you and I touch most often. Antibacterial cleansers are especially effective when used in areas where you prepare food, and also when used in your bathrooms. You should also consider using them on light switches, remotes, computer keyboards, countertops, and your dining room table.
Antiseptics, on the other hand, are for keeping your skin clean and healthy. These include hand sanitizers and antiseptic wipes, which as you may remember were nearly impossible to come by the first several weeks of the pandemic. You will want to use them every time that you prepare a meal, use the restroom and soap isn’t available, or when you’re taking care of someone in your family who is sick.
6. Other Critical Pandemic Items
You can never be too prepared when it comes to a pandemic. There will always be something that you wish you had remembered, but these are some of the most critical pandemic items that you should think about stocking up on BEFORE the next pandemic. That way you don’t find yourself caught up in a tug of war match with someone over the last bottle of hand sanitizer:
- Plenty of food and water (at least 4-gallons of water per person, per day)
- Water filter
- Baby supplies
- Pet supplies
- Antibacterial soap
- Bleach
- Vinegar
- Thermometer
- Airtight containers
- Trash bags
- Toilet paper
- Paper Towel
- Plastic sheeting (to help separate rooms, cover doors, and windows if the pandemic gets out of control)
- Feminine and other hygiene products
Final Word
This pandemic taught us a number of things. We’ve slowly begun to realize just how frail we are as human beings, but also how important it is for us to be better prepared for the next one. These are some of the must-haves that you should always be stocked up on because you never know when a pandemic could happen again. What are some other items that people should think about stocking up on? May God Bless this world, Linda.
Copyright Images: Healthcare People Deposit photos_239836828_s-2019
I know I’m “that guy” but if you need a respirator AND eye protection then you need a military/law enforcement gas protective mask.
You also need to learn proper decontamination procedures which doesn’t involve wadding up a contaminated mask and shoving it into you purse/pocket.
It’s not easy and many trained military fail, aka NO GO At This Station, when they attempt it in training.
As it is now you put on a mask and breath in as you do whatever. If there is contamination it’s on the outside of the mask. You then place your hands on the outside of the mask and remove it then stuff it into your purse/pocket where it touched everything else. Your hand is now contaminated. You then fix you hair and rub your allergy season eyes. Now your completely contaminated. And so on…
Hi Matt, you know I love your comments, thanks for telling us! I love that you’re “that guy”, we learn from!! I hope none of us have to deal with that kind of “mask”. Thanks, Matt, Linda
Matt, you are that guy! That guy that gives us more information that we didn’t know. I learn a lot from your posts.
Linda, this is a really good post. I just bought us 8 more pounds of beans and 10 pounds of rice. I’ll be repackaging them soon. And am planning on buying up more long lasting food items. We have quite a bit of pasta. Mostly the elbow macaroni, but it’s pasta. My grandmother made a sauce for macaroni. It was similar to what we used on stewed potatoes. It was good and filling. (Similar to a white sauce.)
Hi Deborah, I love all shapes of pasta. I actually love elbow macaroni, I love pasta salads. I know they are carbs but I’m on a budget and I can stretch a meal with beans, rice, and pasta! Way to go girl! Linda. P.S. I love white sauce, you can do so many things with it!
Deborah – would you mind sharing your grandmother’s sauce recipe? I’m always looking for different ways to stretch a meal. Thank you
Hi Christine, great idea! Linda
I am with you. For now I have stocked up on a lot of the same things as some thing is better than nothing. I have a dehydrator so I am planning on dehydrating so much Moore when I get my Mylar bags
Hi Kylie, way to go! I love hearing you have a dehydrator! It feels so good to know we can dehydrate food! Stay safe, Linda
Appreciate it. Apparently my spam filter decided I didn’t need to see this comment.
Masks can be expensive. I prefer the ones that take nato screw on filters. They are much easier than the old M17 style to replace.
CH Kadels has a decent selection
Thanks, Linda, I was thinking I had to stock up again now that the Pandemic is coming to an end (hopefully).
Hi Janet, I sure hope it’s coming to an end, it’s been crazy for months. I pray people can get back to work and enjoy seeing people face to face. And earning a living once again. Stay safe, Linda
Hi Linda,
I really enjoy your post. Know that I always read and take into consideration what is being said. Oh and Matt, that goes for you too.
Hi Sabrina, oh, thank you, my friend. We learn together and can ask questions, Matt is a gem for sure. Stay safe, Linda
I always learn a lot from you, Linda, and also Matt. You both have great information! I’m re-stocking not just for an epidemic or pandemic but also for the damage cyber criminals can do. We saw that with the oil pipeline shut down here recently. We just don’t know what’s coming down the pike…
Hi Paula, thank you for your kind words. It’s a way of life for most of us to keep stocking up. The cyberattack is just the beginning of who knows what, right? Stay safe, Linda
We are far better now, them we were last March, thanks to your posts. Just when I thought I might be guilty of over shopping, inflation started to rear its ugly head. My almost full pantry gives my husband and I a great sense of security. Gas here did not spike because of the pipeline, but with Biden in charge the number of crises can only multiply. This summer may be more violent than last summer.
My thank to Linda for her wisdom, for Matt for his service and to everyone whose input has helped all of us.
Hi Chris, thank you for your kind words, they mean so much to me. I’m writing a post for sometime next week and I got emotional as I started to add the links for people to know what to buy that I recommend. How can a funnel be double the price, or a cookie sheet cost another $3.00. I looked at flashlights, Waterbricks, etc. I am sick of the price increases. I have to admit, I sent Mark on a bacon run to Costco because the price of pork, chicken, beef or whatever is escalating out of control. I need BACON, LOL! I have 20 tomato plants and I wanted to get bacon before we can’t get it. That sounds so spoiled, but I look forward to my BLT’s in the summer. My first red tomato should be ready to pick any day now. WOOHOO! Inflation is real and I’m a bit nervous. I’m glad I have what we need. But I know others do not. I’m praying people see the need to have food storage. Stay safe, Linda. P.S. I’m glad you and your husband are prepared.
Now that the stores are pretty much up to speed with all the things we could not get most of last year, I have been restocking and have a number of bottles of 91% alcohol, rubber gloves, masks, etc.
Hi Leanne, oh my gosh, I love hearing this! I finally had to order the 91% alcohol off Amazon. I was wasting gas driving for weeks looking for it every time I went to town. Our stores in Southern Utah are still not stocked up to what they were before COVID. I’m so glad you have supplies and food! Stay safe, Linda
We are topping off pasta, rice & canned goods, especially canned proteins like fish & corned beef every trip to the grocery store. And canned fruit.
I also had ordered a supply of calcium hypochlorite for water purification & some Steramine tablets to put away for disinfecting the kitchen & bathroom if we run out of other products.
Here in NW Florida we will soon have to be careful about heat exhaustion. My son works construction & was told about Body Armor drinks to prevent the electrolyte depletion that high heat & high humidity causes. I’ve convinced my husband to try these as he is very prone to heat exhaustion. I’m keeping a few cases on hand.
I also have found coconut water to be very helpful with dehydration & even nausea. I like FOCO brand, which I usually find in the Hispanic food section of a couple of our grocery stores.
We are also building a good sized chicken coop, will be covering the attached run and have new biddies ordered from a local source. If the rain holds off, we should get the coop done this coming week.
We also are going to try doubling the amount of fuel storage this year. It was sobering with last week’s gas shortages to realize that while we have a significant amount put away, it would only fill our vehicles 1 time each. Between hurricane season & the present administration’s actions, I think we need a bit more of a cushion.
Hi BDN, oh my gosh, I grew up on canned corned beef!! I need to get a few cans! Heat exhaustion is scary and can be deadly. Great reminder about the Steramine tablets, they have a ten-year shelf-life! I just learned about them! Good to know about coconut water! You know by now I love to hear about new projects like your chicken coop! The fuel shortage, there are no words to explain how we can get hacked in our country. Then to pay 5 million dollars…..what’s next? Our infrastructure is so antiquated, we will become a third-world country when it collapses. The price of gas is ridiculous! Our present administration….God help us all, we will need it for sure. Stay safe, Linda
You, too Linda! & God Bless all of your readers! For anyone interested, there is an Intersessors For America website where you can learn how to pray for our nation from a Biblical viewpoint. It was started back in the 1970’s but I just found it 2 years ago. They send out weekly updates on issues, many of which are not being addressed in MSM or social outlets. It has been gratifying to join others in Scripturally praying for our nation, as well as to learn of so many issues that are being addressed at the local & state levels. Prayer warriors, you are not alone!
God Bless!
PS… our weather forecast has just been changed from 4 days of solid rain to 6 days of suuny skies. The Taj Mahal Chicken Palace will get done this week after all! Thank you, Lord! Amen!
Hi BDN, oh, thank you, we can all use some prayers right now. I love this: The Taj Mahal Chicken Palace will get done this week after all! You made my day! Hugs, Linda