Ebola was all over the news over the last couple of weeks. It was seen to be the new apocalypse and so bad that members of the general public were woken from their slumber and started their first steps towards prepping for an event. If you are one of these then congratulations you have accepted that the government isn’t going to save you and you have to do something yourself. You are now one of a very small minority.
Think about all the scare stories you read, terrorism, H1N1, Muslims and preppers with guns. Then think logically about it, consider the facts and then draw your own conclusions and not what the media has decided your conclusions are. Lets take Ebola as the example for all of these. Bear in mind I’m not a medical expert so these are my views only. Feel free to panic if you think it will help.
Is it real concern?
Yes. Ebola is a terrible disease and a horrific way to die. You definitely don’t want to go that way.
Ebola is statistically only a real danger though, to certain high risk groups. Those that visit the hell hole that is Africa, either on business or pleasure. Those in the medical area who treat the ill. Remember that we bring Ebola patients back to the West for treatment. We are importing it ourselves. However statistically it is unlikely that you will win the lottery but people do it most weeks so it is still a real threat to you and yours.
So, I can get it so how is it passed on?
From what I read it is passed on in a similar way to colds and the flu. Air borne with coughs and sneezes and by fluids from an infected person. Again, the medical area gets the first hit as well as daily contacts such as close friends and family. Kids catch everything and then pass it on through school as kids are always in close proximity to each other.
Why are you not concerned?
I am concerned, but I see this being no different to the Flu. I don’t know anyone that works in a hospital nor anyone that travels to Africa. My precautions over the Flu and other such illnesses cover me for this. It is one of the many things I prep for.
So, what do you suggest?
Well, a couple of things.
1) Now you have recognised that there are concerns you need to prepare for then extrapolate that to more likely issues and prepare for them. It doesn’t take much, you don’t need a £50M bunker, just extra food, water and medical supplies plus the skills to use them like your grandparents lived. Read up about what others are worried about, could that impact you?
2) Keep an eye out for any infectious diseases. Prepare in advance by making a kit of face mask, gloves, glasses, a mouthpiece, bleach or sanitiser. Take them with you and wear them when you think the situation warrants it. Take some hand sanitiser, bleach in little bottles so if you do get some discharge you can clean up. Take a mouthpiece so if you need to give mouth to mouth.
3) If anything happens locally go into lockdown by staying at home till it burns out. Do some extra shopping and then go home and stay there. Phone work, school, etc. and tell them you have been coughing and sneezing. They will be begging you not to come in.
4) If you need to treat someone, because you can’t take them to hospital, then make sure you are covered from head to toe in disposable clothing, wear goggles, face masks and gloves when you interact with the patient. Keep the patient in a separate room, cover the bed with plastic, like the old four poster beds and dispose of all the bedding, sheeting when you are finished and bleach the whole room, and yourself, after. Bear in mind that few recover from this so you don’t want to take any chances. If you think looking after someone is an option then read up more on the treatment and handling protocols.
Like many health scares though it is vastly over-hyped. It is something you could definitely do without but you are very unlikely to get it. Think about the old scares, history teaches us a lot; Terrorism, have you or anyone you know been impacted by a terrorist directly? H1N1, Anyone you know get this disease? Gun control, know anyone shot by a legal gun owner? I’m betting not one of these has directly impacted yourself just people you know knows someone who has been impacted.
Ebola is another overreaction designed to get the public panicking and demanding the government do something, anything to save them. People will demand borders are closed, people put under quarantine and millions will be impacted by the precautions. The government will swing into action because of public demand and do something, anything even though it will make little difference while we still go to these hell holes and import ill people to treat in local hospitals. That distracts us from sky high tax, stealth taxes, the latest edicts from the EU and criminals running amok with impunity among a million other things that the government doesn’t want to do anything about. Concerns that actually do impact us directly on a daily basis but luckily for them we are so easily deflected with the aid of a helpfully compliant media.