I’m always amazed at my ability to stay cool, calm, and collected in almost every situation. Back when I worked apprehending shoplifters, I would feel my adrenaline start to rise as I would prepare to stop the individual who was stealing from my store. My pulse would race, hands get clammy, I could feel and hear the blood pumping, but no one ever knew it. I would calmly walk up to the person I was about to apprehend and let them know the situation, that we needed to chat, and escort them back inside. Yes, there were many times where they would take off running, but their visual cues alerted me to that fact ahead of time, so I was able to quickly take off and grab them right away. Most loss prevention detectives I worked with would have shaky voices when they approached, their nerves were getting to them. I was lucky enough not to have that issue, but after an apprehension, I would need to just escape for a bit to let my blood pressure drop and my breathing get back to normal.

This even-ness has continued with me into my life outside of the retail world. At the range, I feel that same adrenaline come rushing as I walk up to my lane, preparing my firearm to shoot. I do not need to escape to refresh, though, the time I spend there is enough to bring myself back to regular. I have noticed recently that my level-headed-ness has been at the forefront, with all of the hype over this coronavirus that is taking over all of the newscasts.

To be honest, I have found myself going from “OH MY GOD!!! WHAT AM I GOING TO DO? I HAVE A TODDLER I DON’T WANT TO GET SICK! WHAT IF SQUATCH GETS SICK? IS THERE ANYONE NEAR ME WITH COVID-19?!” to “It’s just a virus. Everyone gets sick. It’s not a big deal.” over this coronavirus that is sweeping the land. I have been keeping an eye on it, following when there are new cases, and what I find most interesting, is how it mirrors the flu season reporting. Every year, when “flu season” hits, the local news stations start reminding everyone to get their flu shot, wash their hands, when new cases end in death (no one dies from the flu, people, they are weakened due to the flu, but they are dying from pneumonia or other illnesses), etc. With COVID-19, we are told about each new case, where they were, where they are being treated, etc., which is reminding me about the “measles outbreaks” that are being shared all the time. “1 new case reported…X school is closed this week due to potential exposure…Thousands dead in China…No vaccine, yet…Quarantine…” these are all what we are seeing when we scan the newspapers and sites. Stories are out there of the lack of bleach, masks, toilet paper, clorox wipes, lysol, etc. at your local stores. People are buying into the media hype.

I’ve been asked about my preparedness, and yes, I’m prepared. I’m always prepared. I always have at least two weeks of food on hand, with enough first aid supplies, vitamins, toilet paper to make it through. I’m more shocked that people are not this prepared than they are that I have my own supplies. At my local stores, I have noticed there is no bleach, clorox, or lysol on the shelves, and the local FaceBook group has said that the local clinic purchased all of the hand sanitizer from not only WalMart, but the Dollar Store and Dollar General. The shelves are still stocked (as much as they usually are in a very rural area), people are not panicking, and I have noticed an increase in the wipes being used on the shopping carts at the stores and people walking into the bathrooms to wash their hands more often. So, yeah, where I’m at, no one is freaking out, they are being more aware of their hygiene (which I do believe is silly; hand washing should be a thing in general. You don’t have to use antibiotic soap, but just wash your hands, people!), and life is just carrying on.

In more populated areas, this is where I’m seeing the panic starting, and it is a true cause for concern. Where there is a higher population, you are exposed to more people on a daily basis. Cities and suburbs are not areas where people are known to have good stores of supplies, which is why when I hear of the runs on stores or shortages, I would expect to see it happen in these areas. Larger cities with high numbers of international travelers, the first confirmed cases in the States were noted there; again, not a surprise. Do I think that these areas need to be a bit more concerned than their rural counterparts? Absolutely. Do I think they need to go into full-on panic mode? Nah.

So, what can be done to prevent getting sick? Minimize your adventures into highly populated areas, like parades, conventions, sporting events. Introverts like myself are all springing into action now; “I’ve been preparing for this my whole life!” we are saying! Eat well; avoid sugars and grains, skip the McDonald’s and other fast food joints, increase your liquid intake (and not alcohol, stick to water, people). Check your pantries and make sure you have the foods you regularly eat stocked up in them; don’t go out and panic buy all the rice and canned beans if you don’t eat them. Make sure you have basic toiletries available (bidets are great, as is family cloth, if you have not tried either. Ladies, look into cloth pads and menstrual cups). And, just use your common sense, and we will all make it through this latest pandemic panic.