Emergency Action Message: ALL Coronavirus Testing On Verge Shutting Down

Update 3/17/20 to reflect Urgent change in situation and latest Oximeter availability

Based on a Health Alert from the Minnesota Department of Health:

1: A National Shortage of SARS-CoV-19 Reagent is limiting testing

2: National Commercial Labs may also be affected by this reagent shortage

3: Spooling up of Commercial Testing will depleted reagent stockpiles

4: Shutdown of Coronavirus testing is imminent

5: Anyone who hasn't procured a Blood Oxygen meter to empirically identify COVID19 will be blind to their situation

ACT IMMEDIATELY!
https://amzn.to/2QpJHNZ


3/15/20
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Herd has awoken to the importance of Blood Oxygen meters, they are rapidly going up in price and out of stock

Based on research studies (linked below) these "in stock", Amazon fulfillment Oximeters listed below are likely to match Prescription oximeters in accuracy.




The manufacturer to look for in inexpensive Over The Counter [OTC] is "Beijing Choice" aka "ChoiceMMed"; They make both prescription and OTC oximeters, with the primary difference appearing to be labeling.   "Beijing Choice" models can also be found under other brand names like Zacurate and Wrinery.

https://amzn.to/2QpJHNZ

https://amzn.to/33nHY14

https://amzn.to/38VGzjt

https://amzn.to/3cXzqlX

https://amzn.to/2QzZES3

https://amzn.to/2wVUp85

https://amzn.to/38VGBI7

Links and Source Data:

Health Advisory: Shortage of SARS-CoV-2 Testing

Clinical Interpretation of Peripheral Pulse Oximeters Labeled “Not for Medical Use”

The Accuracy of 6 Inexpensive Pulse Oximeters

Oxygen Saturations Less than 92% Are Associated with Major Adverse Events in Outpatients with Pneumonia  (hat tip to "Ryan Amaral" for finding this research study)

FDA 510(k) Premarket Notification

Emergency Action Message: A Blood Oxygen Meter Can Save You From Quarantine Infection 

Emergency Action Message: Medical System Collapse Countermeasures

--------------UPDATED 3/24/20
We've added 3M Vetbond Tissue Adhesive to our list
https://amzn.to/2ULGrhx

It is a veterinary surgical glue used instead of stiches to close wounds.



Furthermore, with the dwindling supply of donated blood its is critical to rapidly manage blood loss. The only blood clotting agent still readily available on Amazon is CELOX Traumatic Wound First Aid Packets
https://amzn.to/2Uzgvpa


The 6 CELOX packets in the above link are roughly equivalent to the single pack inside the currently unavailable Adventure Medical Kits Rapid Response Trauma Pak with QuikClot
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Since our 1st Emergency Action Message in January targeted  acquiring items to cost effectively risk mitigate environmental exposure to the Coronavirus; those items have mostly become unavailable. MOREOVER,  it has become clear that the nature of the threat is severe enough that collapse of the medical system is probable.

It is uncertain if the threat is great enough to result in total collapse of the medical system; however it is likely that the health care system will collapse to the point that even traumatic injuries may face significant delay in treatment.

Traumatic bleeding and blood loss may be the most important injury to risk mitigate, until assistance can arrive.  Items used to treat traumatic injury will rapidly go out of stock as the supply chain empties and the HERD stampedes.

We have URGENTLY purchased the following items:

Adventure Medical Kits Rapid Response Trauma Pak with QuikClot
https://amzn.to/3cPuzmu


CELOX Traumatic Wound First Aid Packets
https://amzn.to/2wIydhC


Suture Thread with Needle 30Pk (in case the Doctor runs out of them)
https://amzn.to/2wKyOiO

Please note: 

We do not make recommendations. We only explain the actual emergency risk mitigation action we are taking, and the rationale for those actions. If you purchase item via the links above it will aid us in offsetting the costs of our own purchases.

If you wish to donated directly to POTRBLOG (and only if you can afford to do so)  feel free to use the donate button below :

CDC Believes Coronavirus Endemic In West Coast Public Schools, May Quarantine Kids AT Schools

                                                   

Seattle / King county Public Health does not want to close Public Schools because they and the CDC believe Coronavirus is already Endemic in the Public School System, and are concerned that sending kids home will result in their Grandparents becoming infected with COVID-19. 

Oregon has also taken the position to not close schools until the last resort


Below is the direct quote from Patty Hayes, Director of Public Health Seattle and King County
(full video clip of the Governor's press conference is in the Sources and Data section below):

"We know that when children are,when we close the school, children have to go somewhere, so if you think about families, where often are the care givers? It might be grandma, grandpa, an elderly member of the family; the exact people that we're concerned about. So sometimes keeping  children in the classroom and under the supervision of the school is the best advice. And then if they are symptomatic we certainly work immediately with that school and its structure that they have for the school nurse and healthcare identification."

Analysis:

1) Obviously the ONLY way sending kids home could be problematic is if the COVID-19 Genie is already out of the bottle with Coronavirus endemic in the school system.

2) Its also clear that unless there is overwhelming evidence of an outbreak at school, parents will not easily tolerate their children being locked down in school quarantine.

3) So given items (1) and (2) the only "strategy" King county Public Health can have is to keep schools open as long as possible thereby minimizing the kid's Grandparents day time exposure, while simultaneously allowing cases to fester in school until harsher action become publicly palpable.

Discussion:

While Seattle's Public Health position may make sense at the HERD level; at my individual level it's not sensible. As such, if I lived in Washington State; I would immediately file a letter of intent to have my children home schooled. I would not let my children return on Monday morning!

Unfortunately Washington state does not trust people to home school their children; Its also likely why they want to keep infected kids under their charge at in school quarantine, instead giving them back to their parents.

For help with getting kids legally home schooled, here is a link to the Homeschool Laws in Your State.

Risk Mitigation:

Telemedicine risk mitigation devices we are using (in order of importance):

Oximeters (can indicate the difference between shortness of breath vs pneumonia)
https://amzn.to/2IADrPn (We tested it on adults and children down to 3 years old)

https://amzn.to/38tpdu3 (smaller sized for kids, but also worked on adult fingers)

Thermometers:
https://amzn.to/2Twilb3 ( Hospital grade no touch thermometer)

https://amzn.to/2Txiivw (Best ear thermometer)

Blood pressure:
https://amzn.to/2vMbQYx (wide cuff range)





General Risk Mitigation Items:


(1) For emergency and portable decontamination we are using PDI Prevantics skin wipes containing 3.15% chlorhexidine gluconate and 70% Isopropyl Alcohol (or similar products)
PDI Prevantics is both rapid and persistent for hours in its viricide capability

Skin Wipes 3% Chlorhexidine 70% Alcohol
https://amzn.to/38kbPsQ



(2) We are actively using Hibiclens 4% Chlorhexidine surgical scrub as a full strength lotion applied to the hands as a persistent long duration viricide. The Hibiclens Gallon Jug Refill is more cost effective, but we may also substitute the significantly less expensive and slightly weaker 2% veterinarian chlorhexidine soaps as conditions and shortages unfold. 2% is the minimum strength we would use.


Hibiclens Foaming Hand Pump 4oz
https://amzn.to/37bRnsJ
Hibiclens Foaming Hand Pump 16oz
https://amzn.to/39n3Tah
Hibiclens Gallon Jug
https://amzn.to/39pbw06
Chlorhexidine 2%
https://amzn.to/2Sht60d




(3) We are using Germ-X Advanced 70% Ethanol hand sanitizer, as an inexpensive but very effective quick acting yet unfortunately short lived viricide.

GERM- X Advanced Hand Sanitizer 70% Alcohol
https://amzn.to/378qXYY



(4) We are also using Lysol-to-go 1 oz spray cans to disinfect shopping carts handles, public restrooms, etc.

Lysol-to-go 1oz Disinfectant Spray
https://amzn.to/2vhCo3p




5) Garbage bags:

Don't expect the garbage trucks to roll regularly during a quarantine. Don't be caught short of garbage bags

Amazon Garbage Bag Link
https://amzn.to/2S4rKFQ

6) Toilet Paper

Toilet Paper will run out, and you don't want to be out in public looking and fighting for it.

Amazon Toilet Paper Link
https://amzn.to/387NJBr


7) Small Gas Cans

Unlike China, most Americans have to drive to get supplies. Don't expect gas stations to be open, and expect the ones that are open to be crowded. That last thing you want to do is increase your coronavirus exposure chances by making unnecessary gasoline stops.

Unfortunately, most modern American gas cans are now dangerous as all heck thanks to California and their friends in the Federal Government. Metal cans are preferable over plastic, and if it doesn't have a long nozzle (preferably flexible) you wont be able to use it to fill your cars gas tank.

NOTE: Several States require gasoline cans to be red and to say gasoline on them. Where possible the use of 100% gasoline is preferable to 10% Ethanol formulations for storage purposes.

Red Metal 10L
https://amzn.to/2H29ruY

Red Metal 20L
https://amzn.to/38h01aZ

Red Plastic 2 Gallon
https://amzn.to/2vYFp95

Red Plastic Flexible Nozzle 5 Gallon
  https://amzn.to/2veYNxW

Green Explosafe Gas Can 5L (there is no safer way to transport or store fuel)
https://amzn.to/2vtpLC4






Outside of America, we prefer Valpro / Wavian  Explo-Safe gas cans.
https://pissinontheroses.blogspot.com/2020/02/quarantine-supplies-you-wont-realize.html


Fuel Stabilizer:

Gas does not have a long shelf life, especially in plastic gas cans.

STA-BIL MARINE FORMULA ETHANOL TREATMENT 8 OZ
https://amzn.to/2H3ecUY




 8) Car Parts and More

Almost all car parts and maintenance items are made in China, those factories are already closed. With an outbreak in the USA expect car dealerships and local garages to be shutdown for lack of parts and for fear of being infected.

We bought everything we thought we might need through FALL of 2020
https://amzn.to/3biqqqM

Many of these items may yet still be available at your local stores.

If you buy through any of the Amazon links, we will get a commission. We did NOT include links to purchase cough medicine based on reports that China was tracking who purchased cough medicine and such tracking might be expected in the USA.

Our Amazon Link
https://amzn.to/3biqqqM

Source Links And Data:

Patty Hayes Director, Public Health — Seattle & King County

Oregon health officials warn against closing schools

Food Shortage

This footage is from a Minnesota Sam's Club on 3/8/2020; literally moments prior to the video the butchers had restocked the displays seen here with the last of the meat products they had available.

The shortage issue here stems from the Herd stampeding to buy a 2 week supply of food when the supply chain only has a 3 day buffer. As this effect is on going, the result will be a feast and famine cycle in which food shows up and is purchased in waves.

The feast and famine cycle will only serve to panic the Herd further. Unfortunately things will become worse as Government's try to manage the supply chain and control costs; picture your local Department of Motor Vehicles in charge of your food supply. The fast and most painless solution to recover from this situation is the Free-Market "Price Gouging". But obviously that won't be allowed to happen so prepare to suffer under the DMV controlled food supply.

Pray and Help Your Neighbors.

Risk Mitigation: 

Telemedicine risk mitigation devices we are using (in order of importance):

Oximeters (can indicate the difference between shortness of breath vs pneumonia)
https://amzn.to/2IADrPn (We tested it on adults and children down to 3 years old)

https://amzn.to/38tpdu3 (smaller sized for kids, but also worked on adult fingers)

Thermometers:
https://amzn.to/2Twilb3 ( Hospital grade no touch thermometer)

https://amzn.to/2Txiivw (Best ear thermometer)

Blood pressure:
https://amzn.to/2vMbQYx (wide cuff range)





General Risk Mitigation Items:



(1) For emergency and portable decontamination we are using PDI Prevantics skin wipes containing 3.15% chlorhexidine gluconate and 70% Isopropyl Alcohol (or similar products)
PDI Prevantics is both rapid and persistent for hours in its viricide capability

Skin Wipes 3% Chlorhexidine 70% Alcohol
https://amzn.to/38kbPsQ



(2) We are actively using Hibiclens 4% Chlorhexidine surgical scrub as a full strength lotion applied to the hands as a persistent long duration viricide. The Hibiclens Gallon Jug Refill is more cost effective, but we may also substitute the significantly less expensive and slightly weaker 2% veterinarian chlorhexidine soaps as conditions and shortages unfold. 2% is the minimum strength we would use.


Hibiclens Foaming Hand Pump 4oz
https://amzn.to/37bRnsJ
Hibiclens Foaming Hand Pump 16oz
https://amzn.to/39n3Tah
Hibiclens Gallon Jug
https://amzn.to/39pbw06
Chlorhexidine 2%
https://amzn.to/2Sht60d




(3) We are using Germ-X Advanced 70% Ethanol hand sanitizer, as an inexpensive but very effective quick acting yet unfortunately short lived viricide.

GERM- X Advanced Hand Sanitizer 70% Alcohol
https://amzn.to/378qXYY



(4) We are also using Lysol-to-go 1 oz spray cans to disinfect shopping carts handles, public restrooms, etc.

Lysol-to-go 1oz Disinfectant Spray
https://amzn.to/2vhCo3p




5) Garbage bags:

Don't expect the garbage trucks to roll regularly during a quarantine. Don't be caught short of garbage bags

Amazon Garbage Bag Link
https://amzn.to/2S4rKFQ

6) Toilet Paper

Toilet Paper will run out, and you don't want to be out in public looking and fighting for it.

Amazon Toilet Paper Link
https://amzn.to/387NJBr


7) Small Gas Cans

Unlike China, most Americans have to drive to get supplies. Don't expect gas stations to be open, and expect the ones that are open to be crowded. That last thing you want to do is increase your coronavirus exposure chances by making unnecessary gasoline stops.

Unfortunately, most modern American gas cans are now dangerous as all heck thanks to California and their friends in the Federal Government. Metal cans are preferable over plastic, and if it doesn't have a long nozzle (preferably flexible) you wont be able to use it to fill your cars gas tank.

NOTE: Several States require gasoline cans to be red and to say gasoline on them. Where possible the use of 100% gasoline is preferable to 10% Ethanol formulations for storage purposes.

Red Metal 10L
https://amzn.to/2H29ruY

Red Metal 20L
https://amzn.to/38h01aZ

Red Plastic 2 Gallon
https://amzn.to/2vYFp95

Red Plastic Flexible Nozzle 5 Gallon
  https://amzn.to/2veYNxW

Green Explosafe Gas Can 5L (there is no safer way to transport or store fuel)
https://amzn.to/2vtpLC4






Outside of America, we prefer Valpro / Wavian  Explo-Safe gas cans.
https://pissinontheroses.blogspot.com/2020/02/quarantine-supplies-you-wont-realize.html


Fuel Stabilizer:

Gas does not have a long shelf life, especially in plastic gas cans.

STA-BIL MARINE FORMULA ETHANOL TREATMENT 8 OZ
https://amzn.to/2H3ecUY




 8) Car Parts and More

Almost all car parts and maintenance items are made in China, those factories are already closed. With an outbreak in the USA expect car dealerships and local garages to be shutdown for lack of parts and for fear of being infected.

We bought everything we thought we might need through FALL of 2020
https://amzn.to/3biqqqM

Many of these items may yet still be available at your local stores.

If you buy through any of the Amazon links, we will get a commission. We did NOT include links to purchase cough medicine based on reports that China was tracking who purchased cough medicine and such tracking might be expected in the USA.

Our Amazon Link
https://amzn.to/3biqqqM

CDC SAYS A DOCTOR"S VISIT NOW MEANS SELF QUARANTINE [EMERGENCY ACTION MESSAGE]

The US Centers for Disease Control now directs that ANYONE seeking treatment for FLU symptoms should be assessed in a Airborne Infection Isolation Room [AIIR] AND BE QUARANTINED UNTIL SYMPTOMS CLEAR.


"Patients who are not tested should remain home until 24 hours after improvement of symptoms and resolution of fever without fever reducing medications." 


If you didn't have coronavirus prior to visiting the Doctor's office, obviously CDC suspects you will have the virus after the visit. That fact is manifest obvious given that the quarantine applies to patients who did not rate having an actual coronavirus test.

The directions from CDC say that all patients with Flu like symptoms should be assessed in a Airborne Infection Isolation Room (AIIR). Unless the AIIR patient assessment room is 100% sterilized between each and every patient visit, the probability is high that a nosocomial coronavirus infection will occur. It is this high probability of acquiring the COVID-19 infection at medical centers combined with the fact that many of the West Coast COVID-19 patients acquired their infections in health care settings which is the likely driver behind CDC's direction to quarantine.

It is for the above reasons we are avoiding all medical facilities unless we face life threatening symptoms. Based on the research data, the only suitable at home method of determining if one's cough and/or shortness of breath is life threatening is with an inexpensive over the counter blood oxygen meter.

Our deep dive into the research papers and FDA's medical device database indicates that the most accurate meters are made by "Beijing Choice" also known as "ChoiceMMed". ChoiceMMed makes prescription [Rx] oximeters and Over The Counter [OTC] oximeters, the data seems to indicate that the primary difference between the Rx models and the OTC models is labeling. Note, that the manufacturer is oft sold under many different labels.

These are the oximeter models (or equivalent) which we have purchased

https://amzn.to/2IADrPn (We tested it on adults and children down to 3 years old)

https://amzn.to/38tpdu3 (smaller sized for kids, but also worked on adult fingers)

https://amzn.to/39sd21Z (Only worked well on large adult fingers)






While we based our choices on models we expect to rival Rx models for accuracy down to 70% blood oxygen levels, the research studies indicate that the models they tested were accurate enough down to the 90% blood oxygen levels that OTC oximeters could be used to identify high risk pneumonia cases. Obviously, such a device in conjunction with telemedicine could be crucial in helping one avoid an unnecessary encounter with a possibly coronavirus infected health care facility.



"The purpose of our study was to clarify limitations of off-label use for low cost nonmedical use (NMU) pulse oximeters by primary care providers. These devices are widely marketed over the Internet and in drugstores but are not intended for medical use or reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Our study compared oxygen saturation (SpO2) in patients from 1 medical use (MU) pulse oximeter to 8 NMU pulse oximeters. Measured arterial oxygenation (SaO2) was compared with SpO2 when available. In patients who were normoxic (SpO2 ≥90%), all oximeters exhibited similar readings. This finding suggests that NMU pulse oximeters may be able to rule out hypoxemia in clinical settings." 

Disclosures:

If you purchase any items through our Amazon link, we will get a "finder's fee". Those funds help us offset our own risk mitigations costs:

https://amzn.to/32Ysqke


Please note that none of the above information is advice or a recommendation; we only describe the emergency risk mitigation actions we are taking and the detailed research basis for our actions. We cannot make risk mitigation decisions for you.

Links and Source Data:

Health Advisory: Evaluating and Testing for COVID-19

Clinical Interpretation of Peripheral Pulse Oximeters Labeled “Not for Medical Use”

The Accuracy of 6 Inexpensive Pulse Oximeters

Oxygen Saturations Less than 92% Are Associated with Major Adverse Events in Outpatients with Pneumonia  (hat tip to "Ryan Amaral" for finding this research study)

FDA 510(k) Premarket Notification

Emergency Action Message: A Blood Oxygen Meter Can Save You From Quarantine Infection