The H1N1 Swine Flu Virus: What’s the Worst that Can Happen?

At work and at school there is a flu like virus going around, nothing to worry about, but less and less people are making it in with each passing day.  You go out to the mall or sporting event and people are coughing and sounding terrible.  Than it hits home and everyone is getting sick and children and the elderly are suffering the worst.  You call your local hospital and the number is actually busy, and when you dial 911 they don’t know when they can get help out to you and your family.  Your neighbor’s homes are dark and the local news is telling you to drink plenty of water and isolate the sick, and not to leave your home after dark.  This is the worst case scenario and though we aren’t there now things can get much worse, so what are you going to do to survive?

Society on the verge of collapse isn’t a pretty thought and that fact is it won’t take a lot to make it happen.  Think about it everything takes people and if people are being overcome with a debilitating and potentially deadly strain of the flu what will happen to the work force? The schools will start closing to prevent the spread of the virus, so parents will have to stay home to take care of their kids assuming they’re not sick already.  There will of course be less health care workers, but there won’t be anyone to drive the long haul trucks of food around the country.  Nobody will be picking up the garbage, and your local water treatment plant might even shut down.  If this all wasn’t bad enough police response times keep getting longer assuming there is someone to answer your call.

Now if I have learned anything from self defense training it is not to wait around from something bad to happen, so don’t wait to be hit make your move first.  The first step to dealing with any illness is to do your research and get informed.  Those of us who can remember when AIDS first appeared on the scene know how many crazy rumors were flying around, and while there is no cure education has helped a lot.  Next if things really get bad like they can in any disaster how well are you prepared?  Do you have all the supplies you need, do you have a plan of action, and have you even talked to your local authorities?  You might have weapons and ammunition, but do you have enough bottled water, diapers for your kids, and food to last you until order is reestablished?  Also you can’t know everything so start talking to other individuals in your community that have skills you will need in a time of crisis and plan with them.  Don’t wait to be a victim to start preparing, start planning for the worst, and if nothing happens well there is always next time.