With the coronavirus outbreak looming upon much of society, the idea of a mass quarantine appears to be the new reality for people. While some places have already initiated social-distancing methods to flatten the curve, other places are performing state and even country wide shutdowns. So in the case that you have to be quarantined for an extended period of time, what should you have prepared? In this post I will list some of the basic necessities you want to ensure you have stocked away. Many sources recommend having between a 14-30 day supply of food and water for your household. I also will share some important things to keep in mind during this difficult time.
Food:
- Water
- Electrolyte Drink (Gatorade/Pedialyte)
- Canned goods
- Fruits/ Veggies
- Nuts or trail mix
- Dried fruits
- Condiments (salt, pepper, sugar, spices)
- Snacks
- Canned/ Powdered milk
- Oatmeal/ Grits
- Rice
- Dehydrated meals (just add water)
- Disposable cups, plates and utensils
- Aluminum foil
- Charcoal
- Pet food
Hygiene/ Cleaning Supplies:
- Wet Wipes (handwipes)
- Hand sanitizer
- Rubbing alcohol
- Shampoo/ Conditioner
- Body wash/ soap
- Feminine Supplies
- Paper towels
- Facial Tissue
- Toilet paper
- Lysol Spray
- Clorox Wipes
Emergency Supplies:
- First Aid Kit
- Batteries
- Flashlights or candles
- Disposable Gloves
- Garbage bags
- Dust Mask
- Prescription Meds
- Pain Relievers/ Allergy meds
- Cough drops
Miscellaneous:
- Playing Cards
- Board Games
- Books
- Coloring Books
- Craft supplies
- Crosswords
- Puzzles
If you'd like to have a printable checklist, you can check out this one I found on pinterest by A Sparkle of Genius. While there are plenty of additional items that could be put on this list, these are just a few basic items that you can make sure to stock. We also wanted to offer a few words of advice regarding this hard time for everyone.
- Stay calm. Don't panic. Yes there is a global pandemic going on, but worrying won't fix anything. If anything, worrying and stress can weaken your immune system, making you more susceptible to contracting an illness. So be sure to take time to focus on other things. Take deep breaths, do some stretches, read a book, write a poem, whatever it takes to get your mind off of coronavirus.
- Take a news break. While it is important to stay updated and informed, sometimes we can suffer from information overload. There is so many things changing everyday and it can fill us with anxiety. And everywhere we look we see how coronavirus is affecting every facet of our life. So we need to take a break from the news or even electronics for at least 30mins to an hour each day.
- Stay busy. If you end up being quarantined, there's likely things around your home that you can get done. Whether it is organizing a file cabinet, cleaning out a junky closet, going through old items in the attic, all of them are great to do when there's nothing else to do. While I definitely plan on catching up on much needed sleep, I also look forward to spring cleaning and reorganizing my house.
Quarantine Checklist: https://www.asparkleofgenius.com/how-to-prepare-for-quarantine/
Hi Kaye! That is a great question. I will come up with a blog posts about different DIY mask ideas! Thanks for your suggestion.
What you say is very true. Since we are in the middle of an outbreak, do you have any suggestions on how we can make masks at home to wear out in the public?. The stores are out. Thank you
Thank you Jess! Really appreciate this . Very helpful.