Idiot’s guide to the apocalypse: Zombies edition
The zombie apocalypse is one of the most popular subjects in media, with shows like the Walking Dead and zombie outbreaks in plentiful movies (even if they are comedic, like in Shaun of the Dead). These are some simple rules to follow to survive if this challenge ever comes up for you:
In the initial outbreak, some words of advice: get to the richest neighborhoods—they will have supplies; or, get to the rural areas, which consist of livestock and weapons. Stay away from the city—its population triples that of rural areas.
Get all the medication you can possibly get. This rule is pretty self-explanatory—not every group is going to have a doctor, so medications can make it much easier to battle fevers, infections, etc.
Recognize the “Big Bad”: people and zombies. With different “levels” of zombies, various groups might have varying problems or tactics, such as nuclear goop, or chemicals that make them faster. Just know which type of zombie you’d rather tango with over others.
Get weapons. The quieter, the better. This includes knives, bats, and swords; guns will draw more attention, duh. Loud noises do not spook these things—they bring more. You can suddenly go from fighting three zombies to 40 with one gunshot, and I don’t think you want that.
Build up that physical stamina. With melee weapons, don’t allow yourself to get bogged down because you can’t handle it for a decent amount of time. Learn how to better your use of the weapon through physical stamina.
Train everyone—yes, including older and younger generations. Typically, in most shows and movies, children and elderly are the first to go and get chomped on, even with the protection of a group. They have a better chance at survival if they have a weapon and the ability to use it effectively.
Always stay in groups. Those who get, separated nine times out of ten, will be eliminated. Make sure everyone works together and can stay with a buddy or the group.
Avoid sanctuaries, as they will always be overrun, maybe not initially, but eventually. That amount of people is bound to get noticed. Groups of five to ten are better off, because it is more easily managed.
As the movie Zombieland explains, travel light—do not take what is unnecessary. Stick to the basics: food, shelter, blankets, water, and radios (if you can find them). If you are going to bring something unnecessary, limit what it is.
Learn how to read maps. This is not a world where you can depend on your phone to give you directions, so learning how to read maps will make your life easier. You can easily find maps at rest stops, but again, avoid high traffic areas because zombies might swarm.
These are the basic rules to survive zombies; but remember—an unspoken rule is run when possible and fight as little as you can. One person cannot eradicate a high population of zombies—they just keep coming.