This horrible thought has been nagging me. In 1918 there were a huge number of orphaned and single parent families created because of the pandemic.
In today’s society-as opposed to that of 1918-there is a huge number of single parent families. Usually the mother is head of the household, and needs to work to maintain the family.
A moderate to severe pandemic now, IMHO, would drastically-terribly-increase the number of orphaned children who will need care, physically and mentally.
It’s such a painful thing to even contemplate, yet, are we really considering this?
Did you put it on here too ? Review of Pandemic Mitigation Strategies
The local (and state) authorities have mistakenly chosen a quieter past 12 months or more for themselves, at the expense of telling families a pandemic year is a real threat and to do their best to get ready for it. People might have chosen to spend their money differently, if they’d been honestly informed.
I’d rather “the economy” faltered in non-essential areas now, (and perhaps, buy your own nation’s products to help keep jobs here? Teach more first aid and CERT courses? Gotten schools on board to encorporate pandemic prep into curriculum?) and more women of childbearing age and minors, and productive-age essential workers survived, than get blindsided and have less to recover with, and a more-traumatized populace.
People in vulnerable age groups need to be able to avoid getting a pandemic virus. Let others volunteer -if they’re fully informed of the high risk situation and not made misleading promises; some may choose to come out of retirement, ect.
Other countries have national health care for all, excellent prenatal care, and, pay parents the first year they stay home with their baby; the US may find they’d have to value the next generations as highly, if we have a depopulating event.
Grace RN,
There are so many kind people out there (granted, some bad ones, too) but I think people would really step up to the plate if it got that bad. Maybe I’m kidding myself, but I’d estimate 80% of the people I know, including myself, would take in an orphan or more in light of a worst-case scenario. (as long as they weren’t any kind of danger to their their own family, I suppose…I guess I’m thinking of older kids with serious problems, etc.)
But icky as the news headlines are these days, there are sooooo many people doing fantastic charity work, and giving of themselves, and helping each other out, I find it hard to imagine too many people who could turn away orphaned children, especially the littlest ones. There are also a great many philanthropists out there who I bet would be willing to set up foundations and financial help to those who lose spouses and are in serious trouble, or those family members who have little means, but take in another’s family memeber or friend’s child.
I look at hurricane Katrina, and it seems like when the S@%$T really hits the fan, people definitely realize the gravity of the situation are quite compassionate. What a great (and sad) subject you bring up I hope it never comes to this.
I have to run and pick up my kindergartner from school, I’ll check back later. This is an interesting thread…I wonder how others feel. :-) Niah
Yes, this (children, possibly orphans looking for help) was discussed on a thread, I believe, at CurrentEvents.com.
Many people who posted said they have actually made plans for this - a room or shed or camper or trailer with provisions to be used by a desperate child or children until sure they are not bringing the disease into the house.
Most were quite willing to be of help and expressed willingness to foster or adopt.
Good to know most hearts are in the right place.
If this pandemic hits in the winter, we may not see a lot of orphans, especially young children. If memory serves me, many young children during the 1918 pandemic stayed in their homes even after their parents died of flu and then either died of flu or starvation.
Children may not leave their homes because 1) their parent is just sleeping and not waking up 2) they have been told not to leave the house or to speak/contact others because they could catch the flu or 3) it is winter and cold - they would not last long in the snow/cold without being properly dressed.
(philanthropists out there whose investment portfolio’s tanked? just a thought. I don’t think there is enough money to help every family that would need it - though, the govt can always just… print some more…)
(Hurricane Katrina or the tsunami were localized, short-duration events. Every neighborhood would be in the same crises during and after a pandemic year or so.)
Some people on the Wiki have gone ahead and been “pre-approved”; in case they have to take a child in, they can do it legally.
Anyone with minors updating their will for guardians for their children might be having problems coming up with enough back-up names, from the sounds of people here saying they can’t get their relatives to think pandemic could happen and prep.
(Hard enough to get some people to make and talk about will or final directives with their next-of-kin. Combine basic mortality issues with a fast-acting global pandemic scenario, and people are probably getting double the denial reactions for free.)
Grace: If people drop dead in the streets bleeding from their mouth, I expect the kids will be trampled. People love to send money, but taking in a child whose parent just killed over ain’t gonna happen. I expect “after” the crisis is played out people will turn humane again, but during, I have serious doubts.
I’m a HCW and I’ve yet to see people dying in the street. And I’m used to blood and gore, and dead people. Most people aren’t. Dead bodies bloat and spew nasty gases without refrigeration. I just don’t think average people have a handle on the scenario. It won’t be clean and it will smell so bad Vicks won’t stop the odor even if you push it up the nostrils with tampons. Diseased bodies stink!
Barry describes this in a smart way, the horror is present, but fear is why people allowed those kids to die without help.
I expect children to die from neglect because fear is a strong emotion. Most people here plan to be SIP, so I don’t expect them to see orphans unless they break it.
I will extend no mercy to those who were warned and failed to prepare. But I have made plans to take in children who have lost their parent(s). At the end of the day, it’s really all about the next generation. I also have plans to check on the children whose parents I know and who have not prepared. I have stockpiled NATO gas masks and filters, suits, gloves and other needed things to cope with the dead and the severely ill.
I have two dearly loved friends who are single moms and I worry about them more so than my own parents. Neither of the dads are involved in the kids’ lives. Their lives would be torn apart if they lost their mothers. I have tried to get them to prep, but without much luck. They acknowledge they are worried about AF, but give the usual list of excuses - no money, no time, no place to store it (and honestly they don’t have room - TINY apartments, two kids, etc.) I get frustrated with them, but at the same time I can also understand where they are coming from. Both of them went through lousy marriages, divorces, non-paying dads, etc. They are doing their best to make ends meet and raise terrific kids (really, the kids are amazing). Work and kids - that’s all they have. They’re overwhelmed with the life they are living today. Thinking about life down the road is too hard and looses importance when faced with the here and now.
LauraB-
ANY backup plan is better than nothing, and if we are really unlucky, we’ll need that plan……Don’t give up trying to kickstart their preps. I’d ask them if they want to see their children having to deal with their dead body?
LM - Don’t worry, I haven’t given up yet. I did convince one to put DH and I as guardians. She had no will and her ex is a looser. A bout of pneumonia this year knocked some sense into her. I’d take them in in a heartbeat - they’re already part of my family. Once I get my stockpiles in better shape (I have 3m, I want 6), then I’ll start stashing stuff aside for them as well. But i can’t prep for all the others who may be in dire straights. sigh. :(
I have gone through a “home study” and have a state license (foster care and adoption) to take in a child during emergencies. So far I have only been called on twice (police emergency placement when the parents were jailed) and one part of a day when the parents could not get to their child due to a forest fire.
If you are serious about helping an orphan, just call your state Children Youth and Family (or what ever it is called in your state) and go through the classes and background check. There is quite a process to be approved. The system is designed to try to first place children with family but they sometimes need short-term placements for emergencies. I would expect if TSHTF there would be a need for approved safe placements. Get approved and then let your church/religion body and police know you are there and can help for emergencies.
As it is said on another thread- it is about time to stop cutting bait and start to fish. There is talk and there is planed and prepared action.