2008 December - 1st Aid

Preparedness Newsletter
December 2008

“Right now, this very moment, is part of our eternal progression toward returning with our families to the presence of our Father in Heaven...”
“This is the day of our mortal probation. We might compare our eternal journey to a race of three laps around the track. We have completed the first lap successfully and have made wonderful progress. We have started on the second lap. Can you imagine a world-class runner stopping along the track at this point to pick flowers or chase a rabbit that crossed his path? Yet this is what we are doing when we occupy our time with worldly pursuits that do not move us closer to the third lap toward eternal life, the greatest of all the gifts of God.”
Joseph B. Wirthlin, General Conference, April 1998


Spiritual Goal: Decide as a family how you can better remember and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.
Provident Living Goal: Review your insurance coverage – (life, household, vehicle) Do you have enough?
Basic Storage Goal: 100 cans vegetables per person
5 pounds raisins or other dried fruit per person
5 pounds dried vegetables per person
72-Hour Kit: Battery powered radio
Battery powered flashlights
Batteries
Expanded Storage Items: First Aid Kit


Thought:
“For the righteous the gospel provides a warning before a calamity, a program for the crisis, a refuge for each disaster. The Lord has warned us of famines, but the righteous will have listened to prophets and stored at least a year's supply of survival food.”
Elder Ezra Taft Benson “Prepare Ye”, Ensign, January 1974


Christmas Gift Ideas

Do you need some fast Christmas ideas? Here are some ideas to help your friends and families be prepared:

For stocking stuffers:
warm hats flashlight and batteries gloves or mittens
swiss army tool/knife travel games for backpacks emergency blankets
socks match kits (waterproof) tweezers and clippers
flint and steel for fires basic first aid kit small sewing kit
soap and holder sample size shampoo compass
mirror or reflector rain poncho whistle
headlamp


Other gift ideas:
1.Food storage gift certificates
2.Foam clothing, warm coat, wool socks, and cotton socks to wear next to the skin
3.Matches and odorless/smokeless candles
4.A practical oil lamp. Don't forget the lamp oil!
5.Hiking boots
6.Sleeping bags and pads
7.Kerosene heater or gas grill or propane lantern
8.Wood stove, Coleman stove, or indoor butane stove
9.An inexpensive wool blanket, then sew fabric around it to keep it from being too scratchy
10.A case of dry-pack food, canned garden seeds, canned butter, or canned cheese
11.Fill a backpack with emergency gear
12.A cookbook on how to use food storage or “Back to Basics” book
13.Water storage containers or water filter
14.Folding camp shovel, ax, survival saw or hatchet
15.Bread mixer, grain mill, or wheat grinder
16.Solar oven kit or food dehydrator
17.Sprout mix or powdered honey
18.Pressure cooker
19.First Aid Kit
20.Weather band radio

First Aid
“All members of the church should be trained in basic first aid skills.”
You are likely to encounter an emergency needing first aid attention several times during your life. You can learn what you need to know to handle emergency situations by attending first aid training and reading books on first aid.

Basic First Aid Kit
This first aid kit is different than the one in a 72-Hour Kit. This is much more comprehensive and not as portable. The kit and a first aid book should be stored together in an easy to reach location. The contents should fit the needs of your family. Creating your own individualized first aid kit with the things your family needs may be better than buying a pre-assembled kit. Label everything properly. Keep a list of everything that needs to stay in the kit and replace items when needed.

Here are some items you may want to consider including in your first aid kit:
Consecrated oil Vaseline, lip ointment
Prescription drugs Iodine
Antibiotic ointment Hydrogen Peroxide
Aspirin Table salt
Tylenol, Ibuprofen Baking soda
Ipecac Rubbing alcohol
Diarrhea medication Sunscreen, insect repellent
Laxative Water purification tablets
Eye drops Soap
Nasal spray Gatorade or Pedialyte
Burn ointment Epsom Salt
Benadryl Chlorine bleach
Cough Medicine, throat lozenges Hand sanitizer
Dressings:
Adhesive tape, roll 2” wide Cotton Swabs
Bandage, sterile roll 2” wide Cotton balls
Bandage, sterile roll 4” wide Ace bandages
Bandages, large triangular Gauze pads (4x4)
Band aids, assorted sizes Butterfly bandages
Medical tape

Other necessary supplies:
Tweezers Sanitary napkins
Small flashlight Tissues
Plastic spoons, plastic knives or popsicle sticks
Scissors Matches
Pocket knife Clean sheets
Needles and thread Medicine dropper
Emergency blankets Splints
Safety pins Rubber gloves, sterile gloves
Paper and pencil Cold pack
Thermometer Plastic sheeting
Dental floss Paper cups, 3 ounce
Razor blades Wash cloths, towels

Books on first aid:
Standard First Aid and Personal Safety, American National Red Cross
Boy Scout Handbook
Boy Scout First Aid Merit Badge Handbook



In the event of a pandemic flu or an outbreak of bird flu or a bioterrorism incident, be prepared to care for sick family members at home. The emergency plan for these situations includes sending one family member to a central location to get the medication needed for the entire family and any information needed to care for family members at home.
Pandemic flu and bird flu are not the same thing. Pandemic flu is a global outbreak of human disease. Bird flu refers to a large group of different influenza viruses that primarily affect birds. Occasionally, these bird viruses can infect other species, including pigs and humans, but the vast majority of bird flu viruses do not infect people.

Pandemic Flu Planning Checklist for Families
At Home:
Store water, food, and other essentials. Prepare to get by for at least a week on what you have at home.
Store medical and health supplies.
Make household emergency plans.
Prepare for possible changes in health care. There may not be enough medical supplies, health care providers, and hospital beds for all persons who are ill.
Decide difficult decisions about who receives medical care and how much. Talk about the possibilities.
In a severe pandemic, you may be advised to stay away from others and from public places.
Think about how you would care for people in your family who have disabilities.
Decide who will take care of children if schools are closed.
At Work:
Prepare to stay at home.
Know policies related to absences, time off, and telecommuting.
Encourage planning. Have a plan for making sure essential work can get done if large numbers of employees are absent for many months.
Explore other ways to get your work done. Find ways to reduce personal contact, such as emails or phone conferences. Plan to work from home whenever possible.

In Your Community:
Know your neighbors. Talk with with family, friends, and neighbors to make sure everyone is prepared. Be ready to help neighbors who are elderly or have special needs.
Know school policies about illness and being absent. Be prepared for school closures.
Volunteer with community groups. Assist with planning for emergency response to disasters.

Prevent the spread of illness in your home:
Physically separate patients from other people as much as possible.
Designate one person as the main caregiver for the ill person.
Watch for symptoms in other household members.
Wear surgical masks – both patient and caregiver – they must be worn at all times when in contact.
Wash hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer after contact with a patient or an object in the area.
Don't touch your eyes, nose, or mouth without first washing your hands for 20 seconds. Wash hands before and after using the bathroom.
Wash soiled dishes and utensils used by a flu patient in a dishwasher or with warm water and soap.
Soiled linen and laundry used by a patient can be washed in a washing machine with warm or cold water and detergent. Wash hands with soap and water after handling soiled laundry.
Place tissues used by the ill patient in a bag and throw away with other household waste.
Clean counters and other areas in the home regularly using everyday cleaning products.
Stay home if you are sick.
Cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing; use tissues or the crook of your elbow.
Use tissues to contain mucous and watery discharge from the mouth and nose.

Know the symptoms of influenza, which may include:
Sudden onset of illness Fever higher than 100.4 F
Chills Cough
Headache Sore throat
Stuffy nose Muscle aches
Feeling of weakness/exhaustion Diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain
Note: A vaccination will not be available at the beginning of a pandemic. Once a pandemic virus is identified, it could take six months or more to develop and produce large quantities of vaccine.


Biological Incidents:
Anthrax: skin, intestinal, or inhalation infection that is caused by bacteria. Symptoms begin within 7 days. Symptoms: Skin – blisters with black center. Intestinal - nausea, loss of appetite, like stomach flu. Inhalation – flu-like symptoms that progress to severe breathing problems. Not contagious. Antibiotics should be started as soon as possible.
Botulism: Muscle-paralyzing disease caused by exposure to a bacterial toxin. Could be released in air, water, or food. Symptoms: Blurred/double vision, slurred speech, drooping eyelids. Can lead to paralysis. Not contagious. Antitoxin/supportive care/ventilator.
Pneumonic Plague: Lung infection caused by bacteria. Could be released into the air. Symptoms begin within 1 to 3 days. Symptoms: Rapidly developing pneumonia with fever, cough, chills. Contagious through coughing. Antibiotics must be started within 24 hours of symptoms. Isolation for infected persons.
Smallpox: Severe illness with rash caused by a virus. Officially eradicated in 1980 but has resurfaced as a potential terrorist agent. Symptoms begin within 7 to 17 days. Symptoms: high fever and aches followed by a severe rash. Contagious. Vaccines should generally be given within 3 days of exposure to prevent infection or lessen illness. Isolation for infected persons.
Tularemia: Disease caused by bacteria, which could be released in air, food, or water. Symptoms generally begin within 3 to 5 days. Symptoms: Sudden fever, chills, coughing, aches. Not contagious. Use antibiotics.
Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers: Diseases contracted from viruses such as Ebola. Could be transmitted via bodily fluids of infected animals or humans. Symptoms: Fever, vomiting, diarrhea, heavy bleeding. Contagious. Isolation for infected persons. Need supportive care.

Chemical Incidents:
Blister Agents (mustard gas, lewisite): Group of agents that cause blistering or burns on the skin or lungs. Could be transmitted by inhalation, or contact with skin or eyes. Symptoms: Skin and eye burning, coughing, severe respiratory irritation. Leave the affected area. Immediately remove clothing, place in a plastic bag, and shower or wash. Seek medical care if exposed. For mustard gas, treat for burns. For Lewisite, need antidote.
Blood Agents (cyanide, arsine): Group of agents depriving cells and tissues of oxygen. Could be released in air, water, or food. Symptoms: Rapid breathing, nausea, convulsions, loss of consciousness. Leave the affected area. Immediately remove clothing, place in a plastic bag, and shower or wash. Seek medical care if exposed. For cyanide, need antidote. For Arsine, supportive care, blood transfusions and intravenous fluids may be needed.
Choking Agents (chlorine, phosgene): Group of agents attacking the respiratory system. Most likely to be released in air. Symptoms: Coughing, burning eyes or throat, blurred vision, nausea, fluid in lungs, difficulty breathing. Monitor for delayed symptoms. Oxygen as needed.
Nerve Agents (sarin, soman, tabun, VX): Group of agents that affect the nervous system. Released in air, water, or food. Symptoms: Seizures, drooling, eye irritation, sweating or twitching, blurred vision, muscle weakness. Need antidote, oxygen as needed.

Radiological Incidents:
Radiation Dispersal Device (dirty bomb): Dirty bomb – explosive device laced with radioactive materials. Radioactive materials may also be spread as aerosol or liquid. Symptoms: Traumatic injuries caused by the explosion. Radiation sickness not likely with dirty bomb, but shrapnel could be highly radioactive. Seek shelter or stay indoors. Immediately seek medical car for blast injuries. Cover nose and mouth with mask or cloth. If exposed, remove clothing, place in a plastic bag, and shower or wash.
Nuclear Device: Powerful bomb involving splitting of atoms. Comes in various sizes and types, producing various levels of destruction. Symptoms: Severe thermal burns, lung and ear drum damage, blindness or retinal burns, injuries from flying objects. Radiation sickness may follow. Do not look toward the explosion. Seek shelter behind any shield or in a basement. Lie on the ground and cover your head. There is a wide range of medical response depending on severity of exposure.
This information is from the Southeastern District Health Dept and Idaho State University


12th Ward Preparedness Specialist: Denise Durocher 785-0590
9th Ward Preparedness Specialists: Jeri VanOrden and Linda Adams
In the event families will be caring for sick ones at home, there are things you can make to help comfort them. Here are a few ideas:


Homemade Heating Pad or Cold Pack
Cut cloth to measure 10 x 20 inches. Fold longwise and sew two sides, leaving one side open. Turn right side out. Using a funnel, fill with: 20 ounces rice, one packet of tea (peppermint or chamomile), then 10 ounces rice, another packet of tea, and another 10 ounces rice. Fold the raw edges and sew the opening. Microwave for 1 minute to use as a heating pad or place in the freezer to use as a cold pack.
Variation: whole cloves and cinnamon sticks added to the rice.


Cold and Flu Chicken Noodle Soup

1 Chicken 1 tsp dried mint
Water 1 tsp dried basil
1 ½ tsp salt 2 Bay leaves
¼ tsp pepper 1 onion, chopped
1 tsp dried thyme 5 carrots, sliced
1 to 3 Tblsp minced garlic 3 celery stalks, cut up
1 tsp dried parsley 4 chicken bouillon cubes
1 tsp lemon pepper Egg Noodles (recipe below)

Heat all ingredients except noodles to boiling in 4-quart pot; reduce heat. Cover and simmer until chicken is done, about 45 minutes. Remove chicken from broth; cool slightly. Remove chicken from bones and skin. Cut chicken into 1-inch pieces. Add chicken and noodles to broth; heat until hot, about 5 minutes. 8 servings.


Egg Noodles:
3 eggs
1 Tblsp oil
2 cups flour
Mix eggs and oil together with fork. Add flour till not sticky. Knead 5 to 10 minutes. Cover and let rest 30 minutes. Roll and cut. Let cut noodles dry some before putting in hot soup.


Short-cut version:
Substitute 3 (14.5 oz) cans Chicken Noodle Soup (from the wet pack cannery) and 21/2 cans water (for the chicken,carrots, celery, bouillon, and noodles). Use half the salt (3/4 tsp). Then add the herbs.



One Can Version:
Use 1 (14.5 oz) can Chicken Noodle Soup (from the wet pack cannery) and ¾ can of water. Add ¼ tsp salt, dash pepper, ¼ tsp of the herbs listed above with 1 tsp dried onions and 1 tsp garlic.