What Supplies Do You Actually Need During A Quarantine

Social media has been full of photographs of empty store shelves.  Panic buying has left paper aisles barren with people fighting over toilet paper.  While toilet paper and hand sanitizer are definitely needed during an outbreak and quarantine, we need to keep calm and think rationally.  Emphasis on rationing in thinking rationally.  

As many populated areas issue "shelter in place" orders and new catch phrases like "social distancing" become household words we have entered into a lifestyle that many people are completely unprepared for.  Hopefully, this crisis will be short lived, however, lets look at some household staples we should be stocking up on.

Water

Water should be a top priority when building an emergency stockpile.  The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended families store 1 gallon of water per day for each person and each pet.  It is also recommended to store a two-week supply.

While commercially bottled water is considered the safest and most reliable, you can store tap water in your own containers.  Whichever way you go, the CDC recommends these guidelines:

• If you use store-bought bottled water, check expiration dates and replace as needed.
• Water you’ve stored yourself should be replaced every six months.
• You should store a bottle of unscented liquid chlorine bleach which can be used for disinfecting water as well as for cleaning and sanitizing.
• Don’t use bleach with color-safe or cleaning additives.  Check the label to make sure it says safe for disinfecting water.

Canned Foods

You are best of with home canning or dehydrating if possible.  Typically preserving foods at home is cheaper and healthier than store bought canned foods.  However, if you are not familiar with canning then store bought canned foods are a great alternative. Here are suggestions for which canned foods to stockpile:

• Canned meats - you can find a variety of canned meats available including chicken, tuna, corned beef, even bacon.  And, don't forget traditional standards like vienna sausages and spam.
• Canned vegetables - try to store a variety of vegetables.  Staples like green beans, peas, carrots and potatoes can be eaten on their own, or added to other ingredients to make soups and stews.  Beans can also be a good source of protein.  No stockpile would be complete without baked beans.
• Soups, Stews and Broths - sometimes we just want a quick, easy meal.  Keeping a variety of soups and stews will satisfy this need.  You can also add rice to make them more satisfying.  Chicken and beef broth can be used to make soups by combining them with other canned meats and vegetables.
• Chef Boyardee and Chili! - These are great, inexpensive ready to eat meals, especially if you have kids in the house.
• Canned bread - while not the best tasting bread, and not really useful for sandwiches, it is still a great compliment to a bowl of beans.  Bread will have a fairly short shelf life, so canned bread can be a good substitute if the quarantine last a long time.
• Fruits and pie fillings - these can be a great way to satisfy a sweet tooth.  

Get the most out of your canned foods

Canned foods have a great shelf-life, which, can be extended by storing them in a cool, dark location.  To prevent spoilage, regularly rotate your food storage.  As you purchase new canned foods, use the older cans to keep a fresh supply available.  Make sure your canned foods are properly labeled.  Remember that the manufacturers labels can wear out or fall off.  If this is a concern, use a strip of masking tape on the top of the can with the contents and expiration date written in permanent marker.  Finally, keep manual can openers in your stockpile.  It is best to have more than one as they can break over time.  

How to know if your canned food is spoiled

No-one wants to deal with food poisoning, especially during a quarantine situation.  You should correctly store and cook food at the recommended temperatures.  Also, keep a close watch for mold or spoilage. 

Canned goods can spoil if the can is damaged. Check cans for bulging, or hisses when opened.  These are signs the contents have been contaminated and you should throw them out immediately. 

Dry Foods

Focus on dry goods like rice, pasta, beans and oats.  They are easy to store and can be used for a variety of meals.  To store them properly, keep grains in an airtight container in a cool, dry place to maintain the quality.  Dried beans, fruit, nuts, seeds and meats like beef jerky have a long shelf life.  A variety of pasta types and rice will also last a long time and can be combined with many of the other stored foods to create meals quickly.

A great idea for snacks is to keep a supply o high energy dried foods like fruits, jerky, nuts and protein bars.

However, be careful not to consume too much sodium in dry foods.  Sodium can contribute to dehydration and also be detrimental for people with high blood pressure. 

Seasonings like salt and condiments like soy sauce and vinegar will last an extremely long time and will help add variety to your stored foods. Peanut butter, and powdered milk contain a lot of nutrition providing fats, vitamins, and minerals. 

Honey can also be a quick source of energy in times of need and will literally last for thousands of years. Honey has been found in ancient tombs perfectly preserved, so it will definitely outlast a quarantine. 

Prescriptions, vitamines and medical supplies

Many of us have daily prescriptions we need to maintain our health.  Check your prescriptions to make sure you have an adequate supply, especially for essential medications.  Keep some fever-reducers like Tylenol around, as well as clergy medications.  During a health emergency like Covid19 you should also keep a stockpile of vitamins that you can take on a regular basis, but check with your regular physician first before starting any new vitamin regimens.

Call your doctor or health care provider to ensure you can get at least one month's worth of meds at your pharmacy.  Many medications can be ordered in a 90 day supply which is even better if available.

Personal hygiene supplies

Hand sanitizer is top of mind with everyone right now, but don't forget plain old fashioned hand soap.  Don't worry if your local stores ran out of the alcohol-based sanitizers.  Remember to stay stocked up on the personal hygiene products you normally use, and ample supplies o hand soap to keep germs from spreading in your home.  The most important thing to remember is washing your hands for 20 seconds under hot water.  Make sure you have deodorant, shampoo and face cleansers as well as lotions since you will be washing your hands a lot.  And, if you can find any, pick up some toilet paper and paper towels.

Pet food and supplies

Lets not forget our furry family members.  Pet food and care items like cat litter, puppy pads and medications are another necessity for pet owners.  Depending on the time of the year, remember flea medications, especially for animals that go outside.  

Call your veterinarian to stock up on necessary pet medications, or use an online service like 1-800-PetMeds.

Games and entertainment

Binging on Netflix can only get us so far.  Board games and puzzles can be a great way to spend time together as a family.  Other fun ways to keep the mind sharp are online games, crossword puzzles, start a blog, read that novel you have been putting off.