Or how to be prepared in the face of a disaster that ends life as we know it
If you’re anything like me, you spend a lot of time thinking about the possibility of a zombie apocalypse. I know it sounds silly, but the idea of the zombie apocalypse is really a metaphor for any disaster. It’s in a figurative kind of way that I think of the zombie apocalypse. But also, it could happen. And I just think, if something were to happen, then I should be prepared.
Now I know, it’s unlikely that the majority of us would survive the initial outbreak, not just because of whatever’s hurting people, but because people are prone to flip out and panic. When you’re running around in a panic you’re likely to hurt someone, or even more likely, to hurt yourself. So here’s my plan to survive the zombie apocalypse that may or may not happen.
Chill out
Look at the facts. Look at the stats. Continue to remain calm. Evaluate how much is real and how much is a result of uneven media representation. Keep in mind those times we were all going to die from AIDS, SARS, swine flu, Ebola, West Nile—you see my point. Yes, these things were all serious, and yes, loss of life occurred, but it doesn’t help anything to freak out. Stay calm, respect quarantine procedures, do not travel, and avoid contact with people until it has been determined how the contagion is contracted. Contact your family and friends nearby but don’t rush out to meet up with them until you’ve got yourself sorted out. How to sort yourself out? Keep reading.
Keep warm
Once the threat has been established you will need the essentials to survive. Depending on where you live and the current season, the temperature may be an issue. Make sure that you are able to keep warm: wear layers, stay inside, and find access to a heat source. At the same time, make sure that you have a light-source—flashlights or candles are good, but something that doesn’t require recharging, like a wind-up flashlight, is ideal.
Food and water
You should generally stock up on canned goods that are easy to prepare, as well as foods that don’t require preparation but are filling: protein bars, nuts, and jerky. The most important thing is to keep some water bottles on hand so that you have drinking water in case tap water is no longer accessible. If you’re not sure about the water in terms of bacteria, you should bring it to a boil before drinking it.
Medical supplies
What’s your blood type? Figure it out and then commit it to memory or write it down and keep it in your wallet. Besides that, keep some bandages, a topical antibiotic for cuts and burns or alcohol swabs with you. Also, make sure you don’t wait too long to refill any medications you regularly take so that if there ever is an emergency, you’re not nearly out of something you need to take on a regular basis.
Weapons
If there are zombies walking the earth, you should probably find out how to kill them and then find or make weapons out of found objects from your current surroundings.
Sneak—not fight—your way to safety in an orderly fashion
Once you’ve figured out what’s going on and determined where it is safest for you to be, contact your friends or family that are nearby or go to meet them at a prearranged “in-case-of-emergency” location. Depending on the situation and your current needs, you’ll need to decide where to go. Up north to a more secluded area, to a location with medical services, or to a location where you can get food or other supplies are all valid options. Make your way there is an orderly fashion. Try to evade before jumping into the fight.
Transportation
In general, you should keep an extra container of gas in your garage—or at least get into the habit of not waiting until the gaslight is on for you to fill your car up. Also, if you have a bike or any other smaller form of transportation, take it in your car for when you run out of gas.
It’s unlikely that most of us will survive the zombie apocalypse long enough to need survival skills, but we already know that the people running around shooting each other at the grocery store to stock up on toilet paper are easily the most annoying people in the movies. Don’t be those people. Those people deserve to be zombies. You’re better than that.
Photo by Mirali Almaula.