Health and Emergency Officials: Make Your Own Coronavirus Preparedness Kit

Your coronavirus preparedness kit 

Health and emergency officials have long recommended homes have an emergency preparedness kit to at least get you through several days at home without power.

Should there be a quarantine issued by local authorities – or you self-impose one on you and your family – it would be unlikely to go beyond 14 days, which is the expected incubation period.

Here's a checklist for some suggested items:

Food. Fresh fruits and vegetables will likely spoil over 14 days, so canned foods that have a long storage life and need little or no cooking are recommended. Meat products, fish or beans, soups, broths and stews, fruits and fruit juices, vegetables, canned (or powdered) milk, are among good supply choices recommended by the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Disaster Education Network.

Frozen foods are an option, too. Other recommended foods are peanut butter, jelly, crackers, nuts, trail mix, dried fruits, granola bars, bouillon cubes, and staples like sugar, salt, pepper. (Keep in mind you may need to include some special foods for babies and family members on special diets, as well as pet foods.)

•Water and liquids. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests you have plenty of fluids on hand, such as bottled water and supply of fluids with electrolytes, such as Pedialyte or Gatorade.

•Medicine. You will want to have a 14-day supply of any prescription medications for those in your home. You may also want over-the-counter pain relievers, antacids, cough and cold medicines, and vitamins.

•Supplies. Many homes already have a 14-day supply of most daily items on hand. But make sure you have toothpaste, toilet paper, feminine supplies, diapers, laundry detergent and disinfectant.

•Other items. Perhaps have some board games, cards, toys books, magazines and other fun items to keep the family occupied.

In the days ahead, people should listen "to the CDC and pay attention to their local governments and know where they can go to get up to the minute information" about the outbreak, Tornetta said.

"If you are out and you are at Target or Walmart or at a grocery store and you have the ability to pick up a few things, by all means (do) ... and use those to start building a safety preparedness kit that you can use no matter what the disaster is, whether you have to shelter in place or flee your home," he said. "Now is the time to prepare."

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