Are you stockpiling supplies and planning to stay home as much as possible during the pandemic panic?

My husband is 68 with heart disease, high blood pressure, asthma and diabetes.

I don't worry too much about me, but I want to limit his exposure. Our kids are 20 & 21 and plan to follow their normal routine (they live at home and go to the community college)

What do I need to stockpile?
How long do I need to plan to stay away from crowds?
How safe are foods prepared by others? ie restaurants and fast food?
Is there any way the water supply will become contaminated? or are we fairly safe on that?

My husband was an army nurse for 25 years and he is overly cautious.

Mikal2009-04-29T20:23:20Z

Being a senior citizen you have some sense to be more cautious... this coming from a young person who is going on a trip mexico this weekend. Your best bet is to keep you personal hygiene and the cleaniness of your home at a high level. Your kids are your highest risk since they will be exposed to the greatest amount of people, however i mean that relatively since the risk is still very very low of them catching anything. I would just avoid unnecessary trips and crowd exposure.. that about all you can do.

36,000 people die in the US from the standard flu every year (see the link below). The swine flu has claimed 1 child from mexico who came to the united states so far... i wouldnt worry that much until there is something to worry about.

Daver2009-04-30T04:58:47Z

Don't let the media hype get the best of you.

There simply haven't been any "good" disease/germ stories in the news recently.

The swine flu, as legitimately serious as it is, still does not warrant the paranoia the media is treating it with.

Coolie G2009-04-29T20:17:06Z

The tap water should be fine. If you really are worried about your tap water you could boil it for 2 minutes and that will kill most bacteria.

I would just do regular grocery shopping, and as far as eating at restaurants, as long as no one at the restaurant has swine flu you'll be fine.

betty s/nikoly2009-04-29T20:17:58Z

naturally lots of purified water, snacks,fresh fruit,veggies,lots of non perishables.toiletries