At 1PM Monday January 3rd, 2022, Senator Tim Kaine started his 2-hour commute from his Virginia home to Washington DC. This 2-hour commute turned into a 27-hour ordeal. A surprise blizzard, dumping about a foot of snow paralyzed both lanes of traffic on Interstate 55, causing hundreds of motorists to be stranded along one of the East Coasts busiest thoroughfares. Senator Kaine stated he had a warm coat and a full tank of gas. He also stated he hadn’t had anything to eat except an orange that a family coming back from Florida was handing out from the box of oranges that they had picked up while vacationing.
Senator Kaine was in a highly traveled route, one where you would not expect that traffic could be at a standstill for over 24 hours. Luckily, no one needed medical care during this ordeal. It could have turned out disastrous.
Moral of this story: A weather emergency can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere.
Commuting, whether by car, bus, subway, train, or bike can have unexpected emergencies that can spell disaster for the unprepared.
Just because your travels take you through highly populated areas doesn’t make you immune to the perils of adverse weather events.
Winter travel can be life threatening, especially if you haven’t prepared.
In high rainfall areas flooding is common. Roads can be swept away from flood waters; rivers can overrun their banks. Mudslides can close roads. High winds can knock down power lines and tip over high sided vehicles. Fog limits visibility and can be treacherous. Avalanches are also a danger. While driving home 2 men were caught in an avalanche that buried their car. Luckily, they had cellphone service and were able to call for help.
Medical preparedness extends beyond what is in your medicine cabinet (which is important). In the case of cold weather, being prepared is essential.
At home you are in a much more stable environment compared to travel. Hopefully you have thought about what to do if your lights and source of heat are out for an extended time due to a weather event (ice storm, high winds, tornado, hurricane, etc.) If not, take a few minutes to note and make a list of what you may need. There are many lists and advice on the internet. So, I won’t go into too much detail. However, a home based medical supply list should include:
- Basic first aid kit
- Prescription medication and a way to prepare and take it
- Flashlights with extra batteries (Headlamps are handy, it frees hands for other chores, especially in a medical emergency)
- A safe way to stay warm (indoor safe propane heater, for instance)
- Backup power for anyone on oxygen or cpap or other medical devices.
Even a last-minute trip to the grocery store before a storm can prove life threatening.
If you must drive in this weather there are some apps you can download to your phone that could help you decide if, when and best route to take. These should only be used for areas with strong cell phone coverage. An essential item for anyone traveling in rural or spotty cellphone areas is the Garmin GPS. These devices were issued to staff at my place of employment when I worked in rural Idaho. These and devices like these are used by backwoods skiers, hikers, and rural workers. These devices use satellites and can send a SOS signal to whomever you set them up for, along with EMS services.
A few well thought out items can mean the difference between life and death when traveling. Not having a change of socks after stepping out of the vehicle to clear snow from the exhaust can lead to hypothermia. Know the signs of hypothermia and what to do.
Skipped medications can also be life threatening.
Action Plan:
Inventory your car, take note of what you have and what you need to get prepared. If your main source of travel is subway or bus, dedicate a small backpack to items necessary to wait out an emergency if transportation comes to a halt for an extended period of time.
Some travel items to include would be:
Note- if traveling on public transportation you won’t be able to carry all items listed, nor will you need to. A small pack with extra meds, drinks, food, and a flashlight may be all you need. Consider your own situation and take it from there)
- Laminated maps of area traveling (If leaving area and unfamiliar with where you are headed)
- GPS tracker
- Cellphone with recharger and/or extra battery
- A few days’ worth of medications and way to administer (insulin vial, syringe, etc.)
- Snack bars and boxed juices, bottled water
- Extra pair of socks, shoes, hats, and gloves
- Hand warmers
- Raincoat or poncho
- Headlamp and flashlights with batteries
- Basic first aid kit
- If traveling with child still in diapers make sure have extra, plus wipes
- Whistles with lanyard to signal for help
- Extra blankets, sleeping bags, etc.
- Tow strap
- LED road flares
- Shovel and small bag of kitty litter for under wheels stuck on ice
A few other considerations:
- Let someone know where you are going, route and when expected to arrive.
- Take into consideration passengers if traveling by car. Ages, needs, and if stranded for long period of time activities like color books, etc. for children.
- Remember to always try to keep your gas tank at least half full. Even short commutes can turn treacherous. Inclement weather can cause gas shortages.
- Top off windshield wiper fluid, use fluid rated for below freezing weather.
- Avoid rushing to the grocer during weather events by keeping pantry well stocked.
Over the past two years we have been subjected to upheaval on every level of our lives. What we thought was stable, consistent, and taken for granted is not the case.
Unlike regional disasters the global pandemic is and will continue to affect every facet of life. To put it bluntly, our infrastructure is crumbling before our very eyes.
Everyday life has been affected on every level. Chip shortages which are used in the manufacture of computers, appliances and our vehicles are headline news. The transportation industry has taken a hit. Ports are clogged with ships waiting to unload goods. Illness has prevented workers from working in the agricultural fields and meat processing plants. Avian influenza (bird flu) has affected flocks in several states. In Kentucky alone 240,00 chickens tested positive and will be culled.
The global pandemic has affected our way of life.
Our dependence on other countries for our medications is often overlooked.
All one has to do is to look at the list of medication shortages facing our country right now. As of this writing there are 165 listed.
Our dependence on China and India for medicines
In July 2019 the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission held a hearing on the United States’ growing reliance on China’s pharmaceutical products. In the discussion, Gary Cohn, then chief economic advisor to President Trump, argued against a trade war with China by invoking a Department of Commerce study that found that 97 percent of all antibiotics in the United States came from China. “If you’re the Chinese and you want to really just destroy us, just stop sending us antibiotics,” he said.
According to Dr Sakthivel Selvaraj, Director, Health Economics, Financing and Policy, at the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) New Delhi, India imports almost 80% of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and intermediates from China, which is huge and needs be reduced. These ingredients are used in the manufacture of over the counter and prescription medications. India imports these ingredients due to the fact the production cost is 20-30% less in China.
Some of the medicines India relies on Chinas API to manufacture are:
- Paracetamol (Tylenol)
- Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
- Metformin (Glucophage)
- Acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin)
- Ofloxacin (Floxin)
- Metronidazole (Flagyl)
- Ampicillin (Antibiotic)
- Amoxicillin (Antibiotic)
- Ascorbic acid (A form of vitamin C)
- Intermediates, on the other hand, are chemical compounds that are used in producing APIs.
In March 2020 India banned 26 drugs from export. A month later they lifted the ban on 24 of these drugs due to pressure from the U.S. At any time, a country could shut its export doors, due to political pressure, illness, transportation logistics, shortage of APIs or other reasons.
Will there be more medication shortages?
Given the fact that our dependence on vital, lifesaving antibiotics and other drugs is in the hands of other countries, until we can start to source and produce these medications in our country the outlook is very poor.
On a positive note: In August of 2021 the FDA approved a, USAntibiotics , based out of Bristol, Tennessee to produce two of the most widely prescribed antibiotics , Amoxicillin and Amoxicillin Clavulanate.
In addition, in response to the Cares act the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine will conduct a study to examine the security of the medical product supply chain and provide recommendations. This study and implementation will take time. Our infrastructure will need a major overhaul to implement this.
This is a step in the right direction, however
What can we do?
Action Plan
- Get out your notebook and go to your medicine cabinet. Pull out all your creams, drops, supplements and any other treatments you have. Write them down. Start with prescription medications first. Check the amount and refills you have left. If this is a medication for a chronic conditions (Diabetic, high blood pressure, etc.) Do you have enough to get you by for a few months if supply chain is disrupted or totally collapses? When is your next appointment to get these medications refilled? If you are running low contact your medical provider and ask for a few months stock to have on hand in case of supply disruption.
- How are your other medical supplies stocked? If you are low on antibiotic ointment, burn cream, bandages, get those stocked as well.
- Be prepared. A well-stocked medicine cabinet with emergency antibiotics is a step forward in the right direction. Antibiotics can treat many infections before they become life threatening: Strep throat, skin infections, travelers’ diarrhea, animal bites, urinary tract infections, ear infections to name a few.
Be prepared. The hard fact is that our supply chain is disrupted, and it isn’t coming back anytime soon.
(An often-overlooked medical prep)
If the past 2 years have taught us anything it is how fragile our supply chain is.
A well-stocked pantry offers so much security on many levels. Knowing that no matter what is going on in the world you are able to feed yourself and your family is peace of mind.
As food prices continue to climb will become increasingly necessary to take a look at your household’s food supply.
There are many freeze dried foods in #10 cans available for long term storage. A simple review of the labels reveal many of these are not a good choice for populations with special dietary needs. Food allergies, high sugar content, etc.
Nutritional deficiencies lead to disease and illness
It is highly advised that you attempt to get nutrition from your food. However, in some instances a good quality vitamin supplement may be necessary. Consult your primary care provider for guidance.
The CDC website on nutrition and benefits of healthy eating is a good place to start to learn about nutrition and how food choices affect health.
Take out your notebook and write down all the people in your household.
Note the following:
- Does anyone have special dietary needs?
- Food allergies?
- Diabetic?
- Low sodium/ cardiac diet?
- Kidney diet?
- Low oxalate diet?
- Difficulty swallowing or chewing?
- Autism? (Some with autism have aversions to some food textures and tastes)
- Any very young in the house?
- Recent injury or surgery? The body requires more protein and vitamin C, along with minerals to repair and heal.
- If you live in a warmer climate, do you have oral rehydration items stocked (Pedialyte, Gatorade, or better yet oral rehydration powder?)
- Ample supply of juices, water, etc. for emergencies, such as low blood sugar in diabetic household members?
- Do you have food and medication stocked for minor illnesses, such as diarrhea, nausea, constipation, allergic reaction to food or drink (hives, rash, etc.)?
Assessing each person’s diet, itemize your pantry. Are you able to provide the necessary diet with what you have stocked? Could you make a few adjustments in your food to accommodate everyone?
Also consider age and sex. An older woman will require less calories than a young man.
Children- they can be quite finicky. Do you have stocked foods that are shelf stable, nutritious and something they will eat?
Does anyone in your household have difficulty chewing or swallowing? If so, what accommodations can you have ready to make sure they are able to eat?
A well-stocked pantry takes into consideration all of the above, and also is nutritionally balanced.
Action plan:
- Assess everyone in your households’ dietary needs.
- Record in a notebook what your panty already has. For instance, if there is a diabetic in your home white rice may not be a good choice for them. However, white rice may offer a lot of readily available calories for someone working outdoors.
- Make a menu for each person with special dietary needs. Start with a 3-day menu, then a week, 2 weeks, etc. Most menus can be rotated every 2 weeks. This makes meal planning much more manageable. The goal is to eventually have a years’ worth of healthy food stored.
- Budget extra for your weekly/ monthly trip to the grocers to fill in the gaps.
- When at grocer’s pick up extra items on your list to fill in the nutritional gaps. This may take several weeks to accomplish.
- Store food in cool dark dry area
- Itemize, date, and organize your food.
- Rotate food.
Food preparation
Scratch cooking is often more inexpensive and nutritious than prepackaged meals. If you haven’t learned to cook this is a great time to learn. Involve all members of the household.
If you are lucky enough to know a good cook, ask them if they could teach you. If not there are some wonderful channels on You Tube that can help you get started. A very popular You Tube channel– Mary’s Nest is a great channel to start with. She has many videos teaching how to transition to a traditional food’s kitchen on a budget.
Also, fermented foods, which are found in every culture of the world are an excellent source of vitamins and health promoting probiotics. They are easy to make and store well.
Microgreens, nutrition powerhouse
In addition, microgreens provide fiber, vitamins, and enzymes. Sprouting seeds, such as broccoli, alfalfa, mung beans, peas etc. are a fast, easy, inexpensive addition to your food supply.
