Monday, April 27, 2009

Geostrategy Nerd Red Alert: I Hope You've At Least Ordered Some N95 Masks

Please read the following post and comments from 4/1/09. http://muslimbushido.blogspot.com/2009/04/geostrategy-nerd-close-proximity-to.html Please also consider ordering some N95 masks BEFORE there is a run on such items. You can find such masks on Amazon.com. I said the following in a comment to the post:

"Do any of us own N95 (NIOSH 95) masks? NO! (In my case, not yet.) From the book I mentioned in the post: 'Most surgical masks and other breathing masks will not protect you against the virus because they allow small particles through. Only the N95 (NIOSH 95) mask can protect you adequately.

N95 is a government efficiency rating that means the mask blocks about 95% of particles that are 0.3 microns in size or larger. It meets the CDC guidelines for protection against anthrax spores as well as most forseeable bioweaponry and avian flu viruses. Anytime you are exposed to the virus, however, you should discard the mask and use a fresh one. It's simply better to avoid other people and exposure.' The Bird-Flu Primer, pg. 86."

People, don't wait until the last moment to get ready.

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the heads up... I just went online and purchased a box of mask for my family of four.

Khadija said...

Hello there, Anonymous!

You're welcome. Thank YOU for taking heed and taking action!

Peace, blessings and solidarity.

DeStouet said...

Going to Lowes first thing in the morning.

Unknown said...

Hey, thanks for this. I just ordered two 30 ct boxes.

Khadija said...

Hello there, DeStouet and Sharifa!

Thank YOU for taking heed and taking action! YES!

Peace, blessings and solidarity.

roslynholcomb said...

I hope y'all don't think I'm crazy, but since Katrina i've maintained a stockpile of all manner of things. I bought big water jugs that I maintain on a regular basis. (Got them at Wal-Mart of all places. They weren't crazy expensive.) They hold enough water for the three of us, plus our cat for a couple of weeks at least. I also have water purification tablets and a camp stove. I keep a stockpile of canned foods (beans, tuna, etc...), and nutrition bars which I rotate out regularly for freshness. Fortunately, my husband is an outdoorsman, so we have camp gear and I keep grab and go bags with a dry change of clothes, socks and shoes for any circumstance.

I also have N95 masks, some antibiotics and the world's biggest First Aid kit. I also have a great book on home made remedies in case we don't have pharmaceuticals available. (Remember, during a pandemic, food and drugstores are likely to be closed.)

I'll stop now for fear that y'all will think I'm ready to be carted off to the loony bin.

Beverly said...

rosylncomb,

You are not crazy. You are WISE! When lived in California I also maintained a survival kit. California has serious earthquakes so I wanted to be prepared. Even in Atlanta I kept a little stockpile of supplies. You're smart not crazy. Remember that.

C4L said...

Thank you for the original blog on the impending Pandemic and yes, I just ordered N95 Mask for me and my Hubby.

"Putting knowledge into action is power"

Khadija said...

Hello there, Roslyn!

You're not crazy. I've got my own grab-n-go backpack. Katrina was a real wake-up call for me about the fact that the we're on our own in disasters. I saw how the government did "a heck of a job" ignoring its own citizens, and I don't want to go out like that!
________________________

Hello there, C4L!

You're welcome. Thank YOU for taking heed and taking action!

Peace, blessings and solidarity.

SouthlandDiva said...

Good looking out Khadija! Just ordered my masks. I would advise anyone thinking about it to do so now. I went to a couple of sites and they were out of stock!!!

Khadija said...

Hello there, SouthlandDiva!

You're welcome, and thank YOU for taking heed and taking action!

I expect supplies of the masks to be sold out by early next week if this situation continues.

I would also STRONGLY urge folks to get their supplies of basic foodstuffs (bottled water, rice, beans, etc.) together. Depending upon whether or not this situation blows over, there could be a problem with the grocery stores pretty soon.

James Kunstler, the author of "The Long Emergency," says on his blog Clusterf@&k Nation:

"If the flu is the real deal, it will surely drive a stake through the faintly-beating heart of that invalid global economy, and possibly even continental-scaled economies like the US, the Euro-zone, and China -- any place where things and people have to move long distances to keep life going.

The US, obviously, suffers in this instance from its proximity to Mexico, and the fact that so much of our food comes from places that employ casual Mexican labor. A serious flu outbreak would be a short path to food shortages in the US, with our three-day supermarket inventories and just-in-time shipping methods. It would not be such a bad idea now to lay in supplies of beans, brown rice, cooking oil, onions, and toilet paper."
(emphasis added)

http://jameshowardkunstler.
typepad.com/clusterfuck_nation/

Peace, blessings and solidarity.

White Guy Reader said...

Muslim Bushido,
Well, I just have to say this. I do.
I’ve been lurking around your site for awhile, just reading. Laying low, lol.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed myself. And then … the epiphany … a true “light bulb” moment. This person is writing about LIFE. No, not just ‘black woman’ life (though that’s the prime focus). I was really interested in the succinct ideas in the great posts “Reboot Your Life”, “Ready for the Breakthrough”, “Beware of Advice” (you know it!), “Leave the Helping Professions” and (fav title, lol) “Nerd Alerts”. It dawn’s on my thick mind, this stuff is just plain, good, sensible Life stuff, the kinds of ideas and approaches I seek out and try to use. And so do all other people who want to make the best use possible of this tremendous gift of life we have now. Regardless of ‘color’ or background. These are the thought-processes and perspectives of a useful life.
Then … the clincher … we REALLY do have far, far more in COMMON, as just people, humans, wanting to live, than we have these outside, artificial-manipulated differences.

Now, for the tough part. How do you get more A/A women to realize that and friggin’ grab life by the neck and get something out of it?

PVW said...

Thanks for the inspiration, Khadija! I just ordered my masks.

PVW

Khadija said...

Hello there, White Guy Reader!

Yes, NORMAL, FUNCTIONAL humans tend to want similar, basic things from life. And these desired circumstances (material security, family, friends, respect, etc.) have been the same throughout all of human history.

So, yes, the blog posts at their core are talking about strategies of acquiring these basic, "desired by most humans throughout history" circumstances. Some of the surface details of the conversations are different than other conversations among other demographics because AA women are facing unprecedented circumstances. Social and cultural circumstances that no other group of women have ever had to deal with.

You asked, "Now, for the tough part. How do you get more A/A women to realize that and friggin’ grab life by the neck and get something out of it?"

I believe that unless there is EXTREME and ARTIFICIAL intervention, life tends to be quite Darwinian. [I guess that's why it's called "natural selection." LOL!]

Life in America is growing increasingly Darwinian in the current era after having about 45 years of buffers from natural selection. During previous decades, there have been other things in place (welfare, social security, strong AA family ties, etc.) that mitigated the effects of an AA woman making the wrong moves in life.

One by one, these external supports are falling away. The buffers that previously existed are falling away. This is why so many AA women are falling into the abyss (be it physically, financially, spiritually, or emotionally).

God respects free will, and so do I. All I can do is offer ideas that I've found to be helpful. Those AA women who (for whatever reason) don't "grab life by the neck" will die in the wilderness.

Peace, blessings and solidarity.

Khadija said...

Hello there, PioneerValleyWoman!

You're welcome. Thank YOU for taking heed and taking action!

Peace, blessings and solidarity.

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for this post. I went ahead and ordered a box of masks for my family.

Then I went on CDC's web site http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu and under What You Can Do to Stay Healthy look at the last bullet point -

Develop a family emergency plan as a precaution. This should include storing a supply of food, medicines, facemasks, alcohol-based hand rubs and other essential supplies.

Khadija said...

Hello there, Anonymous!

You're welcome. Thank YOU for taking heed and taking action!

And thanks for the info---forewarned is forearmed. They've just closed an elementary school in Chicago for at least 2 days due to there being at least one infected student.

Peace, blessings and solidarity.

Khadija said...

*Mini-Rant to Follow*

Where is our Black (mis)leadership on this situation? Where have all the VERBOSE Black "talking heads" gone? They can find a way to get on tv and talk about everything else; where ARE they? Hmmph!

Peace and blessings.

JaliliMaster said...

Khadija, I actually enjoy your rants. It reminds me that I'm not the only one that gets annoyed by these things.

Hagar's Daughter said...

Khadija,

Thanks for sounding the alarm because our "(mis)leaders" surely will not.

I keep first aid supplies and a small survival kit with masks, flashlight and radio that do not need batteries (shake the flashlight and hand crank the radio). One valuable lesson I learned on the job.

Khadija said...

Hello there, JaliliMaster!

Thanks, that makes me feel better about letting myself rant. LOL!
_______________________

Hello there, Hagar's Daughter!

You're welcome! {shaking my head about our "MIA when it counts" (mis)leadership}

Over the years, I've also bought a couple of solar/hand-cranked powered radios, and the flashlight that's powered by shaking it, etc.

I've also been looking into getting a sleeping bag that's rated for outdoor use in sub-zero temperatures. I was horrified by the long-term, mass power outtages in the Northeast over the past few years. [What do you do when there's no heat overnight in your home or city?] These bags can be pricey. So, I've whittled my choices down to either:

(1) the Lamina (which is synthetic instead of down-filled). It's rated for -30 degree weather; and costs approximately $245. OR

(2) the Ghost SL (which is down-filled). It's rated for -40 degree weather; and costs approximately $700.

Peace, blessings and solidarity.

Anonymous said...

Ordered. Thanks for the info. Received.

Khadija said...

Hello there, Anonymous!

You're welcome. Thank YOU for taking heed and taking action!

Peace, blessings and solidarity.

Tracy said...

Hey there!!

One more thing to add! Please make sure that you wash all of your produce thoroughly, especially grapes and lettuce! I have even gone back to using the veggie rinse for extra protection. No mask is going to help if you ingest something that may have been handled by someone carrying the virus.

Also, vaccinations are readily available - better safe than sorry!

Great post!

bwdb said...

Ummmm yeah...I ordered some just now off of ebay...Some family members think I'm paranoid, but better safe....Welps!

bwdb said...

BTW...Making a tally of other supplies I can get my hands on...I already have a shortwave radio...

*Everyone*

Don't forget matches, flashlights and batteries!

Khadija said...

Hello there, Tracy!

Thanks for the great tips; especially about the produce! Yep, that's another vital angle to watch for.
_______________

Hello there, CW!

Thanks for the great tips!

Peace, blessings and solidarity.