The DOs and DON'Ts for when you encounter a zombie
What to Do if You Encounter A Zombie?
So you are out on a scavenging run and you encounter a zombie. Oh FFFFFFFFFF. At this point you may have some “bodily functions” happening without your consent…
If You Haven’t Been Spotted:
Keep calm
Do not engage
Look for an escape route
Get the hell out of there
Surviving is your number one priority. You can’t get infected if they don’t bite you, so don’t initiate contact unless absolutely necessary. If there is one there may be more close by. Coming back for your loot is always an option.
If You Have Been Spotted:
Run – heroes die young. Engaging a zombie blindly could leave you vulnerable to attack from other zombies you haven’t spotted.
If there is no clear path to escape, hide, wait for an opportunity to make a break for it. You don’t want to run blindly into unexplored territory.
If you can’t run or hide its time to attack! Its best to use melee attacks if possible. You don’t want to attract more zombies while trying to escape.
Go in fast, go for the head, make it count.
Running is nothing to be ashamed of. You can be brave and dead or run and live. There won’t be anybody writing ballads about your bravery, in fact, if you are on a solo mission there won’t be anybody at all. So what’s the point?
If You Are Surrounded:
Keep calm – Even if you happen to have a mishap in your tighty whity’s
Analyze the situation ASAP – ’cause you don’t exactly have a whole lot of time
Noise is no longer an issue, you’ve already been spotted and put on the menu. If you have a gun on you it’s time to make those bullets count
Find the weakest looking zombies and clear a path at least 3 bodies wide through them.
Why 3 bodies wide? Because you don’t want to get grabbed while making your escape that’s why! It’s all about maximising your chances of getting away safely. There’s no need to kill them all. It will be a waste of bullets and now that you’ve fired a gun its likely that more zombies are on the way. You may need those bullets, especially if you have a revolver.
There is no shame in screaming while you forge a path. Call it a war cry if it makes you feel any better.
You may have better ideas and that is GOOD! It shows you are thinking. Do what needs to be done to stay alive. Adapt to your surrounding and your situation and you become a lot more versatile than someone who is trying to stick to just 1 strategy or plan.
“Panic causes tunnel vision. Calm acceptance of danger allows us to more easily assess the situation and see the options.”
What should you do when the zombie apocalypse breaks out. Bug-out or hunker down?
Once the zombie apocalypse SHTF and you’re seeing it on the news, it’s already too late to start planning. Working well under pressure may have been okay to scrape by in your studies or your J-O-B, but this is your actual life on the line, YOU, also known as a zombie snack. You need to decide BEFORE hand and make the appropriate plans so when you hear the news, you already know whether you are bugging-out or hunkering down.
Why Bug-Out?
Simple, because you have no other choice. In the case of a zombie apocalypse you only need to bug-out if you can not hold your current location. If you live in a busy CBD getting out would early would be best. Once the city is infected, moving around will be very dangerous. Having a secure evacuation location set up outside of the city is good, having a secure homestead far off the beaten path is even better.
In the case of a huge natural disaster like an earthquake, wild fire, tornado, volcanic eruption or hurricane, you need to leave and leave immediately. Get out of the area of effect as quickly as possible. BUT if I need to tell you that, then on second thought, stay put. It’s probably best for everyone else if you do.
Why Hunker Down?
If you live in the suburbs, you have the opportunity to secure your location ahead of time. There is a smaller population in the suburbs and most people will be behind walls and locked doors. The amount of zombies will be far more manageable if you have to venture out of your prepped home to resupply.
Another reason to hunker down involves a more tricky subject: Emotions. If you have family or friends that are unable to move around due to physical limitations, then setting up a secure location with enough supplies is your best bet to keep your loved ones safe. Ensure that you have enough able bodied people to help with resupplying and potentially defending your location.
The Verdict
Think. Maximise your chances of survival by weighing all the factors and making an informed decision. Your strategy will be highly dependent on your location and the situation. If you have no survival training or any outdoor ability, then prepping your home in case of emergency is a sound idea for you. Bugging-out could actually put you in harms way if you fall into that category. It won’t hurt to have a bug-out bag packed and a decent bug-out vehicle (BOV) in the garage though. All it takes is for one person to forget to close a door and your fully prepped house can become a prison rather than a haven. At such times it is best to bug-out. You can return to reclaim your house once you have a proper plan in place. If its a lost cause, then at least your are sitting pretty in a BOV.
If you can survive in the wild, getting off the grid to a remote location is a safe bet. Be sure to scout the location ahead of time though, you don’t want to get to your “safe zone” just to find it drastically different to what you expected. Check your evac location every couple of months to make sure it is secure. It could also be a nice mini holiday each time you go. Might as well make the most of your trip.
“For all your days be prepared, and meet them ever alike. When you are the anvil, bear – when you are the hammer, strike.”
