Apocalypse Survival: Complete Beginner Guide

Don’t know what and how to prepare when the apocalypse happens?

Here is a newbie guide on how to survive when the apocalypse happens; I am not only talking about the zombie apocalypse survival but also how to survive in the various types of apocalypse and disease outbreaks.

WHAT EXACTLY IS THE APOCALYPSE?

The idea of the end of humanity is something we’ve been flirting with for ages, and it’s as old as the beginning of mankind itself.

The ancient Mayans predicted it to happen in 2012 (well that didn’t happen as expected), the Terminator movie franchise called it Judgment Day, and Christians call it Rapture.

Regardless of the name, majority of life on earth is believed to have a clock that’s always counting down to the Apocalypse.

Regardless of how the apocalypse is to happen, you and I don’t intend to be caught unaware or be among the casualties either before, during, or after such apocalyptic event.

When disease takes place, people often panic and get killed because they didn’t take any safety action immediately.

“For safety is not a gadget but a state of mind.” Eleanor Everet

If you sit and think about it for a minute, you’ll realize that there are a million ways the apocalypse could happen, many of which you wouldn’t even see coming before it strikes.

That’s why you need to get yourself prepared for when any of the apocalypses strike, even though it only has a tiny percentage chance that it will happen.

Trust me, we are incredibly fortunate we don’t live in a post-apocalyptic era, but that does not mean there is no need to prepare for any large scale event that could significantly impact lives on the planet.

It could happen right this moment that you’re reading this article or when you wake up from bed tomorrow!

A survey shows that nearly 25% of British people have a plan to survive the zombie apocalypse. Paranoid or smart? You’ll find out soon enough.

So fasten your seat belts and join me on a journey as we explore this complete beginner’s guide to preparing for an apocalypse, surviving an apocalypse and the aftermath of an apocalyptic event.

apocalypse survival guide poll

Source: YouGov

Nearly 25% of British people have a plan to survive the zombie apocalypse, the survey says

apocalypse survival guide infographic

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Pre-apocalypse preparation

Like someone said: “You don’t buy a fire extension when the fire happens; you buy it before anything happens.”

Assuming you’re just about heading out to get groceries from the store down the street and boom! A chemical weapon is deployed in your neighborhood, and the government instructs all civilians to remain indoors. 

What do you do now that you’re trapped in your house? Could you have ever imagined something like that would happen? That’s where the beauty of preparation comes in. 

It is very important that you need to prepare in advance before anything happens., especially for something as massive as the apocalypse regardless of how it would go down. 

It can be easy to brush any worries off in the belief that the situation is unlikely to happen, but it is best to always prepare for the worst. “Better safe than sorry,” as the saying goes.

And the good news is that you no longer need to invest a fortune to protect yourself like spending much, so call “Zombie-proof bunker” or buy an over-powered expensive weapon.

 

Zombie proof house

Source: Zombie Proof House

It is good for you if you are wealthy and can afford this protection, but what if you are not?

In this section, you will learn how to prepare yourself and your family for the apocalypse so that out of the ashes, you all will rise again. 

Don’t worry, the following guides and tips are going to cost you little to no money.

Apocalypse Survival Mindset:
Pyramid Of Learning For The Survivor

For the very basic, there are basic principles from an essential pyramid of learning for the survivor.

As you can see the pyramid from by the three main components, they are the will to live, knowledge, and kits.

These three things are the key to helping you survive any kind of apocalypse should it occur.

Will To Live

 

Like they say, “When there is a will, there is a way.” Starting from the bottom and the most foundational is the will to live.

The will to live means the desire to survive, stay strong, and never give up.

This is critical because if you don’t have the right mind or thinking to keep yourself alive, your chances of survival are minimal even though you have the best knowledge and kits to survive the apocalypse.

The determination to want to survive supersedes every other apocalyptic survival plan.

The stronger your will power, the faster you will learn survival skills, the more you can endure harsh conditions, the better your chances of surviving whatever the apocalypse throws at you.

Some people have stronger will power than others, but we all can improve it.

Will power is like a muscle that gets stronger with regular use. Below are five proven ways to significantly improve your willpower.

1.Regularly Feed Your Brain With Foods Rich In Protein.

 

The most important diet improvement tip is never to skip meals, especially breakfast.

Our brain is a powerful muscle that helps us in critical thinking and decision making.

For our brains to provide us with the necessary will power to make the right decisions every time, it needs to be fed properly.

Foods rich in healthy proteins, vegetables, and complex carbohydrates should be encouraged.

2.Nothing Beats A Good Night’s Sleep.

 

Before the zombie apocalypse happens and you forever have to look over your shoulder so you don’t get attacked, why not get all the sleep you can possibly get.

When the brain gets enough rest, it helps improve your self-control.

Self-control is the principal driving force of willpower.

3.5 Minutes Meditation Every Day.

 

The benefits of mindful meditation cannot be overemphasized, and setting aside at least 5 minutes every day to meditate will significantly help to improve your willpower. When our minds wander, we tap into our willpower reservoir to forcefully bring it back.

Mindful meditation, however, helps us to become more self-aware so that we do not have to tap into that reservoir all the time.

4.Remember Why You Are Doing This In The First Steps.

 

What’s the point of improving your willpower?

To increase your chances of surviving the apocalypse. Imagine a bomb goes off in your neighborhood and you happen to be trapped in a huge pile of debris, alone in a dark place.

You need to tap into the will to survive, to see the sunlight again, to breathe fresh air again, to see your loved ones again to actually survive.

5.Practice Gratitude.

 

Being thankful for everything in your life, things around you and your life itself goes a long way in significantly boosting your will to live.

Other motivations to help you improve your will to live include:

  • A future for your children and the youth
  • The survival of others with you
  • The contributions you can make for others (your skills that others lack)
  • Family and loved ones
  • Hope

Above all else, it is crucial not to lose hope. The apocalypse will be difficult, but know that if you survive there will be a better life waiting for you and the children of the world.

Think about your loved ones or somebody you care about to stay motivated to survive.

Some people also use their religion to elevate their will. Whatever works best for you,

This is your world. You’re the creator. Find freedom on this canvas. Believe that you can do it, ‘Cuz you can do it. You can do it. -Bob Ross Share on X

 

Knowledge

 

On top of the will to live is the knowledge, the more you know, the greater your chances of survival.

The phrase “Scientia potentia est” is a Latin aphorism meaning “knowledge is power,” and is commonly attributed to Sir Francis Bacon.

The power of survival could rest right there in your hands. You only just need to know all the right information.

Perhaps the most important aspect of surviving any apocalypse is having enough knowledge. Be prepared and learn how to overcome any emergency or dangerous situation.

Get to know more about your current environment. Gather as many resources and intel as you can, either from your experience, observation, or help from the locals.

Gain as much information as possible about the area you are in. In the event of an emergency, you should be able to navigate without the use of your phone or other electronic devices. Become familiar with maps and various survival skills.

Having basic knowledge of some survival skills can be valuable during and after the apocalypse. So while you’re preparing for the apocalypse, below is a list of survival skills you can add your résumé.

1.The Ability To Find And Purify Water.

 

Water is the source of life, and up to 60% of the human adult body is made up of water. Humans can survive weeks without food and can live in almost anywhere in the world, but without drinking water, we wouldn’t last a day.

Whether you’re stuck at the rooftop of a building escaping the zombie invasion, or trapped in the Amazon rainforest after a plane crash, finding and purifying water for drinking is essential for your survival.

2.The Ability To Easily Start A Fire.

 

Another necessary skill you should master before the apocalypse happens is the ability to start a fire.

In the case of a cataclysmic event, you may find yourself traveling long distances through the woods away from danger, and fire will really come in handy. Fire is beneficial for keeping you warm, used to purify water, cook food, ward off predators trying to feast on you, and it’s a very effective way to get rid of zombies.

You probably won’t have matchsticks with you, so learning to start fires the old fashioned way will significantly help you survive.

3.Building A Tent Or Shelter.

 

This is a no-brainer. Protecting yourself from nature’s harshest conditions is a necessity, especially when you’re lost in the woods or have nowhere else to go.

4.The Ability To Navigate Using A Compass.

The skill of navigation is one that our ancestors have mastered and perfected for centuries.

Using a compass might come easy to some but learning to combine its use with other fundamental principles, like finding higher ground, using the sun’s position for guidance, and following the flow of any water body will all guarantee better chances of survival.

5.Foraging For Food.

 

You probably stored a lot of food in preparation for the apocalypse, but what if the emergency situation stretches into months and the food runs out? Mastering the skills of hunting and foraging will improve your chances of survival.

6.First Aid.

 

This is another very important skill to master, especially when disease outbreaks and Zombies are concerned.

The ability to disinfect and dress a wound is a necessity if you want to emerge after the apocalypse, and the necessary first aid skills will be explained further in this guide.

7.Tying A Knot.

 

This might sound ridiculous but not everyone is adept at knot tying.

You probably already know the basic uses of knots in tying your shoelaces and Christmas presents, but what about cordage for climbing?

The ability to tie ropes tightly together will help you scale mountains and hold your supplies together in transit. 

Knowledge is power, and without the necessary knowledge, you will be stranded.

You do not have to become a master of everything, but knowing as much as possible about survival skills will help you significantly.

Kits

 

On top of the pyramid of learning is the kit.

Having the right kit can improve your chances for survival.

You will need the necessary tools and supplies to survive. You may have to live without electricity or other helpful modern inventions that you are used to having.

After having the will to live, the knowledge to survive, and now having the essential gears and kits to leverage your journey to overcome the bad situation when doomsday comes.

Prepare Emergency Kit

In TEOTWAWKI (The end of the world as we know it), the authorities cannot be everywhere and cannot stop every potential threat, as well as provide all the resources you need for survival.

So help yourself, prepare a bug-out bag for you and also for your family.

Only pack items you know you will need, not what you “might’ need.

Modern society is filled with frivolous luxury items, but during the apocalypse, it is essential that you let these items go. 

Having too many things in your kit will only weigh you down and make traveling more difficult. 

An emergency kit is a bundle or a pack of things that are used in dealing with an urgent situation. 

Time is everything; it doesn’t have time for you to pack your stuff when something happens, so you must be prepared in advance.

Start creating your emergency kit today. Make a list of everything you will need to survive without the usual access to grocery stores, pharmacies, hospitals, electricity, and fresh water. Prepare for the worst, just in case.

Whether a meteor strike is imminent or it’s the zombie apocalypse and the world is taking over by reanimated beings, your health is of utmost importance and your emergency kit will come in handy. 

Below is a comprehensive list of items to put in your emergency kit in preparation for any type of apocalypse:

  • Safety pins 
  • Antibiotics 
  • Band-Aids
  • Gauze 
  • Antiviral drugs
  • Medical tape 
  • Bandages
  • Paracetamol and other pain killers
  • Laxative
  • Iodine 
  • Tactical survival multi-use mask
  • Candles 
  • Antihistamine
  • Hand sanitizer 
  • Candles 
  • Phone charger 
  • Towels 
  • Life jackets 
  • Extra warm clothes 
  • Solar chargers
  • Tweezers
  • Plasters 
  • Superglue. 

As you prepare your kit, make sure you will be able to travel with it. While you want to have all the essentials, it is equally important that you do not pack too many items.

Keep your emergency packs in a safe location that every member of your household can easily access. Make sure to keep your packs updated so that items with expiration dates are replaced if necessary.

While there are so many possible items you can carry, you can’t take them all or your kit will be the size of a truck. 

First Aid Kits & Medication

 

Even the clinic might stop operations due to the flood, so don’t put on high hopes for the hospital, clinic, or any medical center as they don’t run as usual in the event of an apocalypse.

Even if it does operate during the outbreak; the hospital is going to be very busy. You will likely not have access to outside medical attention and should be prepared to administer first aid yourself.

You need to get yourself a personal first aid kit.

Your local pharmacy has it.

If you don’t want to pack it yourself, you can buy the First Aid Kit from the pharmacy or online store.

A basic first aid kit not that costly. Consider that it could actually save your life.

You can, however, build your own first aid kit by getting all the necessary components yourself. Below is a comprehensive list of all the basic materials of a simple First Aid kit and their uses:

Bandages: 

 

These are used for holding dressings and splints in place. There are various kinds of bandages which are: Triangular bandage, Crepe bandage, Gauze bandage, and Roller bandage.

Water Bottle:

 

 It is used for holding clean water.

Cotton Wool: 

 

It is used for cleaning wounds and sometimes used for padding.

Gauze Pad: 

 

It is used for dressing wounds.

Hydrogen Peroxide:

 

 It is used to wash wounds.

Adhesive Tape: 

 

It is used for fixing bandages and dressing in place.

Pins/Clips: 

 

They are used for holding dressing and bandages.

Disinfectant: 

 

It is used for cleaning wounds.

Nerve And Bone: 

 

This is used to relieve muscular and rheumatic pains through massaging. Embrocation, Deep Heat spray, mentholated balm or Rub can also be used for muscular and rheumatic pains.

Plaster/Elastoplast: 

 

It is used for dressing wounds.

Sterilizer: 

 

This is used for sterilizing cutting object such as scissors.

Scissors/Forceps: 

 

These are used for cutting, holding and placing dressing materials.

Tincture of Benzoin: 

 

This is applied when dressing wounds.

Record Book: 

 

This is used for recording the names and addresses of the casualties treated. The type of injury sustained, materials used for treatment and recommendation are also stated in the record book.

Disposable Gloves: 

 

These are used for protecting the hands during treatment and also when disposing of waste materials.

Hand Towel: 

 

This is used for cleaning.

Glucose/Sugar and Salt Solution: 

 

These are used for preparing energy drink and ORT [oral re-hydration therapy] drink.

Iodine: 

 

This is used to induce bleeding in wounds, mainly punctured wounds.

Methylated Spirit: 

 

This is used to wash wounds, especially old wounds (reactionary bleeding).

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Usually, first aid kits are being sold on most of the general online stores like Amazon.com, or you can buy from those stores that are specific for selling first aid kits and other surviving tools like First Aid Store

Usually, a set of first aid kits can cost around 20USD to 100USD

You will also want to make sure that you have access to any regular medications that you need. If you take any kind of prescription medication regularly in order to live, you do not want to risk losing access because of pharmacy shutdowns. Be sure you’re stockpiling while you can.

Vitamins and other health supplements are also a good idea to keep with your first aid kit, as staying healthy will be crucial to your survival.

If you wear contacts or glasses, make sure you have the necessary supplies for these items as well. A small kit to fix glasses, glasses cleaner, and contact solution are important to have. Being able to see will help your journey immensely!

Survival kit

Pack some tools and gears that can help you escape during an outbreak.

Keep in mind the survival kit should not be too heavy, so there is the need to plan it well, make the bag as light as possible, and for essential items only.

Choose a bag that is easy for you to carry, such as a hiking backpack or a duffle bag. It should be large enough to fit everything you need and easy to transport. Bags with multiple pockets and storage units are always useful as they can carry more items and provide easier access.

Ready.gov has a guide on how to Build A Kitdo check it out if you want more information on preparing your surviving kits.

Practice With Your Prop

Preparing and buying staff for surviving is the first step, the next step is to practice with your prop, get to know how to use your kits or gears properly.

Make sure you are using it correctly.

If there is anything in your kit that you are unfamiliar with, take the steps to know how it all works as soon as you can. 

Research basic first aid training to prepare for injuries and illnesses. You should know how to use all of the supplies in your first aid kit.

You should also practice using any tools in your kit so that you become well versed before it is a necessity. You can do this easily around your house. Set aside some time on the weekends to practice survival skills and using tools.

Gather Sufficient Supplies

When the world is falling apart, no grocery stores are open because people are busy escaping and surviving.

You might think, “well, I can just go to the store and grab something since there is no one to operate.”

Unfortunately, you are not the only person who thinks like that when the apocalypse happens. This scenario was perfectly portrayed in the 2015 American disaster film San Andreas and the 2013 American apocalyptic action horror film, World War Z. Everyone else is going to rob the nearest store like savages so it won’t be a safe place for you.

Many stores will likely be cleared out quickly, and conflicts over food will certainly arise. It is best to steer clear of this danger.

For preparation, stock up some canned food and dry goods that are sufficient to serve you for a few months.

Try to buy can foods with low sodium. Eating 3-4 cans of very high sodium foods every day will wreck your body.

While it might seem smart to start hoarding canned foods, it’s important to realize that even they would eventually run out sooner or later. 

However, keeping a stash of seeds might be a lot more helpful in the long term, and learning to grow your own food will be a valuable skill to have. [Check out the other guide best foods to grow for survival]

Rice is also a great food item to stock up on. It can provide you with many meals and does not expire for many years.

If you are interested in a food supply made specifically for emergencies instead of doing it yourself, many companies exist that specialize in making survival food packs.

You can go buy some “Long Term Emergency Food Supply” from a company like Wise Food Storage.

The video below is the survival food test from Taras Kul. Watch it if you want to know how food made by Wise Company looks and tastes like.

 And another video by TheUrbanPrepper testing the surviving food made by Mountain house.

Summary

What do you need to survive the apocalypse?

  • Will to live (Important)
  • Knowledge of surviving
  • Survival food pack/ Canned food
  • First aid kits
  • Water purification supplies
  • Multi-tool (Apocalypse Survival Gear)
  • Pocket knife
  • Pliers/ Wirecutter
  • Flashlight
  • Batteries
  • Emergency candles/ Lighter/Matches
  • Duct tape
  • Space Blanket
  • Safety Pins
  • Signalling mirror
  • Whistle
  • Radio
  • Pencil Sharpe
  • Water Purification Kit
  • Bandana
  • Bug Spray
  • Compass
  • Survival books (Guide Book)
  • Flint fire starter
  • Sewing kit

Stay Healthy

The worst thing that can ever happen in the apocalypse event is one being sick; as I mentioned earlier, the clinic and hospital are going to very busy.

That’s why it is extremely important to know some basic first aid training – not just for if the apocalypse comes, but for life in general. First aid involves all the lifesaving skills that will benefit not only yourself but your family and those around you. 

Taking care of your health is very critical.  You will want to avoid sickness and injury at all costs should a world-ending event occur.

In peacetime, you need to start consuming more food with vitamins and other nutrition. Staying healthy doesn’t happen by accident. 

It requires you to make smart lifestyle choices, and below are ten scientifically proven ways to stay healthy when the apocalypse happens:

1.Eat Well and Eat More of Grains. 

 

You are what you eat. In reality, what you eat actually provides the nutrients that make up your entire body. Hence, a healthy, well-balanced diet is essential. 

One that includes whole grains, low-fat dairy, proteins, fruits and vegetables, all taken with adequate amount of water.

2.Exercise And Lose Some Weight. 

 

You certainly do not want to be running for your life during a zombie attack with blubber all around your body, do you? 

Why carry all that weight around when it decreases your chances of survival. Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise every day. 

Remember any horror movie where the fat guy survives? I didn’t think so. 

3.Drink Less Alcohol (If At All You Must). 

 

The liver is the primary organ for metabolism, and it’s quite well known that too much alcohol can significantly overwork and eventually destroy your liver. 

Alcohol has also been linked to liver and throat cancer. Trust me, you really don’t want to be stranded in the woods while having liver problems. 

4.Reduce Cholesterol And Maintain Blood Pressure. 

 

Limiting the amount of cholesterol-rich foods you consume coupled with exercise, will help you to control your blood pressure. 

Cholesterol can clog your blood vessels and reduce the amount of blood flowing around the body significantly increasing blood pressure. 

5.Perform Regular Screening Tests. 
 

Screening tests are usually carried out in order to detect diseases in the body during their early stages when they’re still easily treatable. 

It is essential for you to talk to your doctor to know what tests you can carry out at any given time. 

Cancers such as Colon and rectal cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, and lung cancer should be tested for on a regular basis. 

6.You’re Not Too Old For Vaccines. 

 

Why treat a disease when you can become totally invisible to the pathogens? A lot of us got immunized against some diseases when we were younger. 

However, adults need immunizations (shots) too because some of the shots you might have taken as kids have gotten weaker over time. Visit your doctor now and discuss the possibilities of getting vaccinated. 

Who knows, it may just save you from the zombie apocalypse. 

7.Avoid Smoking As Much As You Can. 

 

It’s probably everywhere, on the news, on the radio, in the newspaper, and even some cigarette packets. 

Tobacco smoking warnings are everywhere for the world to see and the dangers it possesses are incredible. 

Quitting is absolutely the best thing you can do for your health as you prepare for the apocalypse. 

———–

Packing vitamin supplements in your survival kit will help keep your body’s vitamin levels in check during times when high-nutrient food is not available.

You will be able to find healthy foods by hunting and gathering. Finding fruit trees will help immensely. You can also catch and eat almost any animal to help with protein intake.

It is also important to stay clean and sanitary. Find water to bathe in, and try to obtain soap. Staying clean and keeping up with hygiene will help prevent infections and illnesses. 

Even a small fever or cold can become a big problem in apocalyptic circumstances.

Do a body check out once for a while, pay attention to your body BMI (Body mass index), too skinny or too fat also affects your overall health.

You can calculate your BMI using simple math. You only need to know your weight and height. Your BMI = your weight in kilograms/(your height in meters)^2

Weight in kilograms = weight in pounds x 0.45

Height in meters = height in inches x 0.025

Keep a BMI chart with you to make this a simple process. Checking your BMI will help you determine if you are over or undereating, which will keep you healthy. 

What Is BMI

BMI, Body Mass Index, is a measure of body size. It combines a person’s weight with their height. BMI is a screening tool used to identify individuals who are underweight, overweight, or obese. 

For instance, you can have a child who might seem very heavy but have a BMI that’s relatively normal for his or her age. To determine whether the child has excess fat, further assessment is needed. 

BMI is a good indicator of total body fat in many individuals. It can, therefore, be used to predict health risks. 

According to the World Health Organization, an adult who has a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight – an adult who has a BMI of 30 or higher is deemed to be obese – a BMI below 18.5 is considered underweight, and between 18.5 to 24.9 is believed to be a healthy weight. 

BMI is both specific to sex and age for children and teens, and these two factors are taken into consideration for two reasons: 

1. Boys and girls have different amounts of total body fat.
2.The amount of body fat changes with age, especially as they encounter puberty.

Get Physical

Even though the apocalypse doesn’t happen, you still need to get exercise often.

Sometimes jogging is better than doing nothing. Doing cardio exercise also increases your stamina.

Andy McDermott Fitness has a video about teaching you how to workout in the zombie apocalypse.

It’s easy to work out without any equipment at all. 

You can use your own bodyweight or the environment around you to practice strength and endurance training. 

This is easy to begin doing in your own home.

Want to start exercising to build your fitness before the apocalypse happens, below are 5 of the best exercises you can ever do to help you get physical:

1.Swimming. 

 

Most people swim just for the fun of it or to pass the time hanging out with friends and family, but swimming is the perfect blend of workout and fun. 

The buoyancy of the water and the pressure it exerts on your body helps to relieve the strain on your joints, and the coordinated body movements help your muscles move more fluidly. Swimming also improves your mental state and your mood. 

2.Walking. 

 

As easy and effortless as walking may seem, just walking 30 minutes every day can strengthen bones, increase cardiovascular fitness, reduce excess fat in your body, and boost endurance and power. 

Quite fascinating right?

 Walking also helps to reduce the risk of developing heart disease, osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. 

That’s why more than 145 million adults are now including walking as part of a physically active lifestyle.

3.Kegel Exercises. 

 

You’ve probably come across this word on the internet and might not really be sure what they mean. 

Kegel exercises are special types of exercises that focuses on strengthening the pelvic floor muscles which support the uterus, bladder, small intestine, and rectum. 

The pelvic floor muscles are usually weakened during periods of pregnancy and childbirth. 

Also, surgery, aging, being overweight, constipation or chronic coughing can cause weakening of the pelvic floor muscles. To do Kegel exercises, you need to first find the right muscles you want to exercise. 

One easy way to find which muscles are your pelvic floor muscles is by stopping urination in midstream or prevent yourself from passing out gas. 

Once identified, you can squeeze these muscles any other time at will, hold the contraction for 3-4 seconds, then release. 

Repeat the exercise for at least three sessions a day and aim for at least 10 to 15 sets per session.

4.Build Your Muscle Strength. 

 

Apart from having the will to live, knowledge, and kits for survival, you definitely won’t survive the apocalypse if you are a weakling. 

That’s right. If you think strength training is only suitable for heavyweight boxers and wrestlers, think again. 

Lifting light weights may not really add to the bulk of your muscles like a wrestler, but it will keep your muscles strong. The less activity you do with your muscles every day, the weaker they get. 

5.Practice Martial Art For Self-defense.

 

You’ve probably seen this in a couple of great Chinese martial arts movies, and while martial arts may be very good for fighting off zombies and invaders of your camp, it is also good for both body and mind. 

Often called “Meditation in Motion,” martial art comprises a series of graceful movements that will significantly enhance your physical and mental health. 

You can also create a fitness routine that involves no added objects. You can do this by:

  • Going for a run 
  • Doing sit-ups
  • Doing push-ups
  • Doing planks
  • Using found objects as weights
  • Doing partner workouts

Practice Apocalypse Surviving Skill

Learn hunting

 

Hunting might not be something that you thought you’d have to do yourself in the 21st century, but it is a necessary apocalypse survival skill you ought to know before the end. At least learn something that can prevent you from starving.

Know how to take everything possible from nature and use it to the fullest. 

Nature is called mother for a reason, and that’s because it provides us with an abundance of animal resources. 

Take advantage of these resources, learn how to create weapons as the early men did. 

Learn how to use a weapon for hunting your prey, and it also can help you protect yourself from bandits.

Becoming a pro hunter comes with a lot of learning and experience. 

In most states, you to get your hunting license before you set out into the field and that’s only possible if you take a hunter education course. 

Don’t worry; it’ll only last a couple of days. 

While you may not necessarily hunt with a bow and arrows, learning how to track your prey, pick a hunting ground, handle a rifle correctly, aim and fire are the important aspects of hunting.

You can also set traps in strategic locations where the animal population is higher and use suitable bait. 

But the question remains, where do I go hunting for animals? 

While there are public lands in the country that are designated for hunting, how can you tell whether there are any animals there to hunt? 

The simple answer is to lace up your shoes and go hiking around.

However, because the internet and technology are advancing at an amazing rate, there are now options for e-scouting, using tools like Google Maps to find areas that look more and less suitable for animal habitation.

For a detailed description of how to gut the animals you hunt, read the wikihow article here.

Learn How To Fish 

Fishing is a fun activity fathers love to do to spend quality time with their sons. 

If your father didn’t teach you, then it’s never too late to learn. 

How to Catch the Fish

This might seem unnecessary, but learning how to catch fish will prevent you from starving to death. Below are the three basic things to note when going fishing:

Silence is everything  

Loud noises drive the fish away. 

Always stay silent and watch for their movement in the water. 

Shadows are a great indicator of their presence if the waters are clear.

The key is in movement 

Don’t sit and wait. This isn’t our regular fishing session. We need food. That’s why it’s important to move to other nearby locations if a fish didn’t bite a few minutes after we threw the hook.

Use bait  

Even though we’re improvising, for the most part, fishing without bait is ridiculous. Look around. 

You’ll probably be able to find worms, leeches, grasshoppers, or some other suitable things. Much more on this here.

I don’t know about you, but one of the greatest satisfaction when I catch a fish is to cook it right on the spot.

Become familiar with how to prep and cook hunted animals and fish to avoid food poisoning and other sicknesses. 

This may not be pleasant, but it is essential. It will also help make you an asset to others during the apocalypse.

Basic first aid skill

 

Because almost nobody is expected to emerge from the apocalypse unscathed (except you’re a god or something), I’m going to explain in detail the importance of first aid in surviving the apocalypse and why you need to know the basics of first aid. 

It is quite useless if you prepare a first aid kit if you do not know how to use it appropriately.

Learning first aid is not that difficult. 

I am not going to say you need to become a doctor or a member of the Red Cross society, but at least some essential skills like dressing a wound, arresting bleeding and preventing infection can save your life in the critical moment.

What Is First Aid? 

 

First aid, also called emergency aid, is the immediate assistance given to a casualty usually at the scene of occurrence of an accident or tragedy using any available material before the person is taken to the nearest hospital. 

The primary objectives of carrying out first aid are to save lives, to prevent a bad condition from becoming worse and to help your casualty recover faster. 

Most of the time after a cataclysmic event, there’s chaos and a lot of people carry varying degrees of injuries, some life-threatening and others not so much. 

You may have been caught unaware, and unless you take a first aid box everywhere you go, you probably don’t have sufficient first aid materials. How do you help? 

This is where first aiders have to learn to be resourceful and utilize any material around to save the casualty’s life. 

Golden Rules Of First Aid

 

1.Do the first thing first this includes assessing the situation for any immediate danger, quickly and methodically without panicking, giving priority to the most urgent situation or condition. 

You can’t be running from a hoard of zombies and deciding to stop to tend to your friend’s injuries will most likely be the death of you too. 

Assessing the situation for immediate danger to yourself first is of utmost importance. 

2.Where possible remove the casualty from the cause of injury or the cause of injury from the casualty. If the casualty was hit by a car, first taking the casualty away from the road is the right thing to do. 

3.Reassure the casualty and get help as soon as possible.

4.Improvise all necessary materials. For instance, using your clothes in place of bandages and pads for arresting bleeding. 

5.Do not allow people to crowd around a casualty and also do not move the casualty unnecessarily.

6.Loosen all tightening materials around the casualty’s neck, waist, wrist, etc.

7. Resuscitate the casualty if necessary and carry out comprehensive treatment of unconsciousness.

8.Arrest bleeding, cover all wounds, burns or scalds and immobilize all fractures.

9.Guide against or treat for shock.

10.Dispose of or transport the casualty properly.

———-

Most first aid kits will come with instructional pamphlets. 

Make sure you read it in its entirety. 

You can also watch videos online to learn how to treat wounds, take care of fevers, and remedy other ailments.

Order Of Priority During Emergencies 

 

In the event that a cataclysmic event of apocalyptic magnitude occurs, and you’re fortunate to be conscious and unscathed afterward but your 3 friends aren’t as lucky. 

You want to render first aid to them but remember to first check for any surrounding dangers to yourself first, and then to your friends. If there’s no danger, then you can assist. 

Another mind-boggling issue to contend is this, your three friends have sustained varying degrees of injuries. 

The first guy, James, is lying there unconscious. The second guy, Ozigi, has varying degrees of burns and scalds, and lastly, Rodrigo, is bleeding severely from his wounds. As a First aider, what do you do? 

The rules of first aid instruct that unconsciousness should be treated as the most urgent condition, with the brain not capable of surviving more than 5 minutes without oxygenated blood. 

Next is Bleeding, which if not arrested soon enough, could lead to shock and unfortunately, death. 

The third condition, according to the order of priorities, is Burns and scalds. This is important because burns of any degree expose the underlying skin tissue to all sorts of infections. 

Lastly, broken bones and fractures. Despite being associated with a lot of pain, these types of injuries are not life-threatening except when they cause internal bleeding. 

Principles Of Resuscitation In First Aid 

 

Principles of resuscitation in first aid consist of six steps; Danger (safety), Response, Airway, Breathing, Compression, and Defibrillation. These are known as DRSABCD. 

So you don’t get a tad confused, let’s paint a picture of what I mean. Following a cataclysmic event, you run over to your house to find your father lying on the floor, unconscious. What’s the first thing to do? That’s where DRSABCD comes in. 

D— Danger. 
 

I already elaborated on this earlier. Assess the situation in the surrounding to be sure that it’s safe for you and your dad. You’re no use to him if anything should happen to you in the course of trying to help him. 

R— Response. 
 

Now that the coast is clear, you can proceed to check for response or consciousness. Start by calling out his name repeatedly, simultaneously clapping your hands to see if he can hear you. 

Try tapping him by the side while doing all these to ensure there is effective stimulus. If he responds to you, then all is well. 

Simply roll him into a comfortable position while you check for other less life-threatening injuries. 

S— Shout for help. 
 

This is a no-brainer. If your father doesn’t respond to any of the stimuli, then seek for assistance. 

You might be the most effective first aider in the world, but you simply can’t be productive working alone. 

A— Airway. 
 

While help is on the way, know that a lack of response from your father could mean that he is probably not breathing well or breathing at all. 

You can assist him by opening up the airway. To do this, place one hand on his forehead and two fingers of the other hand on his chin. 

Then tilt the head backward as far as possible while he is lying on his back. 

This allows the tongue which may be obstructing the flow of air to give way. 

B— Breathing. 
 

Now observe for the signs of breathing. It may be strong; it may be faint. 

To observe breathing signs effectively, you have to look at the chest for breathing movements (rise and fall), place your ear directly above the nose to listen for breathing sounds, and finally, feel for air using your cheeks. 

Your cheeks are very sensitive and will detect the slightest breeze. 

C— Compressions. 
 

If after all these and there’s still no sign of breathing, then you should immediately proceed with Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation, often shortened as CPR. 

This involves a combination of applying chest compressions simultaneously with given two deep mouth breaths. 

Rules of CPR demands that you give an adult 30 chest compressions immediately followed by two mouth breaths. 

Do this repeatedly in a good rhythm for accurate results. 

D— Defibrillation. 
 

Some casualties may immediately spring up after consecutive rounds of cardio pulmonary resuscitation, but continue to give CPR until the ambulance arrives with an Automated External Defibrillator (if the emergency response unit is still operational during the apocalypse). The defibrillator is an electronic device that delivers a dose of electric current (often called a counter-shock) to the heart. 

This, if applied correctly, is capable of kickstarting the heart and the lungs to begin functioning again. 

Once your father is revived, simply place him in a recovery position to aid his breathing and recovery. 

Once you know how to save yourself, you can apply your skill to others, and you become instrumental in the tribe of the group of people that are surviving with you.

That’s the basic principle of resuscitation you need to know as long as first aid is involved. 

Dealing With Common Types Of Injuries 

 

If you’re lucky enough to survive the apocalypse, you’ll need to master the art of tending to wounds and injuries.

 Common injuries you or people around you may sustain include wounds and bruises, cuts, fracture and dislocation, burns and scalds. 

Dealing With Wounds

 

Wounds are cuts on the skin that are characterized by bleeding, pain, damaged skin tissue, discoloration, and swelling. 

There are different types of wounds, and they are classified according to the type of object that inflicts them. 

Types of wounds include: puncture wounds caused by pointed objects, lacerated wounds caused by irregularly shaped objects, incised wounds caused by straight sharp objects, contused wounds caused by blunt object blowing the skin, and abrasion wounds caused scraping the skin on any surface. 

To deal with any type of wound, simply pour clean running water on the surface for a few minutes to soothe the pain, then apply a pad to stop bleeding if any. Hold the pad in place using a bandage, and you’re good to go out and find medical attention. 

Dealing With Bleeding

 

Bleeding or hemorrhage is the escape of blood from damaged blood vessels and it could either be internal or external. 

For cases of internal bleeding during the apocalypse, there’s really nothing else you can do than to quickly take the casualty to the hospital. 

However, there’s hope for any casualty with external bleeding. 

Since blood is required by all organs in the body, failure to arrest bleeding as quickly as possible will almost certainly lead to shock, and then to death. 

Our body’s defense mechanism naturally kicks into action when we have wounds that lead to bleeding. The blood naturally clots when conditions are favorable. To arrest bleeding, encourage these conditions by pouring running water onto the wound surface and apply pressure with a pad to stimulate the blood to clot. 

Finally, transport your casualty to the nearest hospital for treatment. 

Dealing With Burns And Scalds

 

Burns and Scalds are injuries caused by hot dry and hot wet objects simultaneously. 

Burns are really complicated injuries to deal with which expose the underlying surface of the skin to disease-causing organisms in the environment. 

The best way to deal with burns and scalds is to pour cold running water on the site of the injury to soothe the accompanying burning pain. 

Then cover up the injury with clean cellophane or polythene to prevent the burn from sticking to clothes. Finally, use a bandage to cover up while you seek further medical attention. 

Dealing With Fracture 

 

Have you ever had a broken bone experience? If you haven’t, then trust me, it’s not something you’d ever want to experience. 

Fracture is an injury to the bone whereby the bone either breaks, bends, or cracks. The pains that are associated with fractures are sometimes unbearable. 

Although bones are tough, sturdy and elastic, they can be fractured under violent actions or forces. These forces include the following:

1.Direct Force: 
 

A fracture is said to have been caused by direct violence or a direct force, when the bone is fractured (broken) at the point where the force is directly applied.

2.Indirect Force: 
 

When a fracture occurs elsewhere rather than occurring where the force is received or applied, then, such fracture has been caused by indirect force or indirect violence. In this case the force travels through the body from the point of impact of force to fracture (break) bone elsewhere. 

Fracture of the skull after landing violently on the feet is an excellent example of fracture resulting from indirect force.

3.Muscular Action: 
 

Though very rarely, bones here are fractured (broken) under violent contraction of the muscles, especially, in those who are so muscular. 

The parts of the body with large bulk of muscles such as the limbs are vulnerable to this.

———-

There are two major categories of fracture which are as follow:

1.Close or Simple Fracture
 

This is when the bone breaks in the body but there is no external bleeding or wound. 

The bone breaks without breaking or tearing the skin or protruding out.

2.Open or Compound Fracture
 

This is when the bone breaks and results into wounds and external bleeding, with the bone coming out of the skin or body.

All other types of fracture fall under these two main categories. 

Treatment of Fracture

 
  • Treat the casualty on the spot, unless life is endangered in which case temporary fixation should be carried out before moving the casualty. 
  • Place the casualty in a comfortable position after removing him/her from the cause of the fracture (or remove the cause from the casualty). 
  • Build up soft pads around protruding bones and handle with care. 
  • Immobilize the affected parts with bandages to prevent unnecessary movement and pain. 
  • Stop bleeding if any. 
  • Treat the casualty for shock. 
  • Transport the casualty to the hospital, if any is still operational. 

Learn how to use a gun if possible

 

No doubt, the gun battles in the critically acclaimed movie franchise John Wick are mind-blowing. However, you don’t necessarily have to be Keanu Reeves to survive the apocalypse. 

While you don’t really have to be a marksman, learning how to use a simple rifle is a good survival skill to have. 

However, talks about gun law and control, and using a gun is a topic of controversy in many countries around the world. 

Not every country like the USA can have access to a gun easily. Most countries have rigorous weapon control.

So if you are lucky indeed to have a gun or weapon, try to learn how to use it, to protect yourself and others.

What do you do if you really want to learn how to use guns? There are two options: go to a licensed individual trainer, or go to a training school. 

The top 5 training schools in the United States according to gunnuts.net are:

1.Universal Shooting Academy

2.Academi

3.InSights Training Center

4.Rogers Shooting School

5.Gunsite Academy

Guns are extremely useful for protection and for hunting when necessary. If you have access to a shooting range, go regularly to practice your aim. This can also make you indispensable to a survival group. 

People will likely be in a fight or flight mode when encounters occur and when the apocalypse comes, law enforcement will not be there to help you. Being able to protect your group is essential. 

Also, in case of a zombie apocalypse, guns are probably the most effective way to protect yourself and your family from the walking dead. 

Directly aiming for the head is the best and most effective way to deal with zombies, so practice your aim correctly. 

Golden Rules Of Safe Gun Handling 

 

For your own protection, below are important firearm safety rules for you to obey:

1.Treat Every Firearm As If It Were Loaded. While this may sound like extreme paranoia, this is a rule that is not negotiable and very important both for your safety and the people around you. 

Even if you’re 100% sure the gun isn’t loaded, still handle it as if it were loaded. 

2.It’s Important To Always Keep Your Gun Pointed In A Safe Direction. 

This is the most basic gun safety rule that people fail to be wary of, and that’s why there are so many firearm accidents happening in the world today. 

The secret is to never point your gun at anything you do not intend to shoot. The safest position is to point it up or down. 

3.Your Firearm Must Be Unloaded When It’s Not in Use. 

While this may seem like not a good idea during the apocalypse, it’s the safest way to avoid numbers 1 and 2 rules. 

Firearms and ammunition should be kept separately, so they don’t fall into the wrong hands, especially when there are kids around. 

4.Don’t Ultimately Depend On Your Gun’s Safety. 

While your gun’s safety is there to increase safe handling, do not completely rely on it. The safety mechanism of any firearm is like the gun itself, a mechanical device. 

Like any mechanical device, it could at any point in time become inoperable which could easily spell doom for the handler. 

5.Always Be Certain Of Your Target And What’s Beyond It. 

It’s important not to pull the trigger until you’re 101% sure of what you’re shooting at. 

This is not a movie or a video game. This is real life and innocent people could be in your line of fire. 

6.Ensure Your Firearms Are Serviced Regularly. 

Firearms are complicated machines that have complicated mechanisms. 

They are therefore subject to wear and tear and must be serviced regularly to ensure proper functioning. 

Keep your gun locked up and in a safe place before, during, and after the apocalypse to ensure that it does not fall into incapable hands or to other people trying to harm you. 

Always know and practice gun safety before using these weapons.

 

Identify edible wild plants

Like I mentioned earlier on the pyramid of learning, knowledge comes into the second place of the most critical part of surviving.

You need to have enough knowledge to identify edible wild plants so that you won’t starve easily in the wild or forest.

Here is the video by AlfieAesthetics which will teach you how to identify edible wild plants.

You should become familiar with the edible plants that are native to your area. Figure out where they are typically located and what they look like. This will help you seek them out when the time comes to find food.

Knowing what plants are unsafe can be equally as important. Learn how to identify plants that are poisonous, both to eat and come into physical contact with. 

Touching poison ivy or eating poison berries without a way to relieve the effects would be a huge problem.

To help you pick out the right plants, below are common signs that a plant might be poisonous and can cause you serious problems. 

1.If the plant has spines, thorns or fine hairs. 

2.If the plant has milky or discolored sap. 

3.It has beans, bulbs, or seeds arranged inside a pod. 

4.If it’s foliage looks like Dill, Carrots, Parsnips or Parsley. 

5.If the plant has a bitter or soapy taste. 

6.If the woody parts and leaves smell like Almond. 

7.If it exhibits a three-leaved growth pattern. 

8.If it has grain heads with purplish, pink, or black spurs. 

It’s very possible that edible and safe plants to exhibit some of these features, but these features have been identified to be very common among toxic plants. 

However, we have saved you ample time by collecting a list of common wild edible plants that are safe and nutritious to eat. 

1.Wood Sorrel (Oxalis) 

2.White mustard (Synapsis alba) 

3.Sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella) 

4.Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) 

5.Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia) 

6.Plantain (Plantago) 

7.Kelp (Alaria esculenta) 

8.Green Seaweed (Ulva lactuca) 

9.Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium) 

10.Field Pennycress (Thalspi vulgaris) 

11.Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

12.Curled Dock (Rumex crispus) 

13.Chickweed (Stellaria media) 

14.Chicory (Cichorium intybus) 

15.Clovers (Trifolium) 

16.Cattail (Typha) 

17.Burdock (Arctium lappa) 

18.Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) 

19.Amaranth (Amaranthus retroflexus) 

Description and directions can be found on artofmanliness.com

Zombie-Proof Your House Where Necessary

If you hate the idea of escaping and having to leave your house in the event of a zombie apocalypse, then another option is to zombie-proof your home. 

You do this by making some modifications to your house that will make it nearly impossible for zombies to break into. 

Zombies may be scary and very strong, but they aren’t the most intelligent bunch. 

So it’s very important that you barricade your home, push all heavy furniture in the pathway of doors and windows. 

Below are sure-fire ways to zombie-proof your home like a zombie expert:

1.Remove Every possible hiding place for zombies. 

 

Zombies naturally wander around aimlessly until they sight something or hear a sound that attracts them. 

In the course of wandering, they may get into your yard and hide behind shrubbery and bushes. 

It is important to keep bushes and shrubs around the house especially windows and doors as low as possible. 

You can also install floodlights and motion-detecting lights around the house. 

2.Smash-proof Your Windows. 

 

Zombies may not be the most intelligent lifeforms, but they sure do pack a lot of strength. 

If they can’t make their way through the door, their next choice is a window, and you probably have a lot of windows in your house. 

One way to make your windows unbreakable is by installing a Security Laminate, a material which looks like the film used to tint windows but it’s many times stronger. 

It’s usually installed over your existing window panes, and it provides ample protection against zombies and potential burglars. 

3.Kick-proof Your Doors. 

 

It’s already been established that zombies are strong. 

Mostly because they can use their bodies to smash things and not feel a single thing. That’s why they will likely use their sheer force to beak down your door. 

That’s where installing a product like Door Jam Armor can be of use. This product should effectively kick-proof your door once installed. 

If you’re choosing a new home or hideout, remember to aim for higher ground too since zombies aren’t really the best climbers. 

 

Have A Plan B

If there’s one thing that is certain about life, is that things do not always go as planned, and sometimes accidents will happen. You need to think fast. Prepare for the unexpected.

Plan for emergency procedures such as vehicle breakdown, illness, and casualties during evacuation.

What to do if you find yourself trapped in a skyscraper when disaster strikes. Ever since the September 11 attacks, you can’t help but ask this question. 

Despite all the steps you might have taken to prepare for the apocalypse, you certainly didn’t imagine you’d be several feet above the ground when it happens. 

Well, there’s an awesome solution to bail you out. 

A small industry has developed smart high-rise-escape options— Escape chutes, which are basically collapsible fabric tubes that have portable parachutes. 

These chutes are a potential lifeline for people who spend their day in a skyscraper. 

You should always have a meet-up location in case your group gets split up.

You already prepared a bug-out bag, and maybe you also need to make a pack of a small survival pouch just in case you can’t manage to carry the main bug out bag. 

This should have just the main essentials and be even more paired down than your original bag.

Bottom line, you should have a strategy for every scenario.

Make sure your group is always aware of the details of your plan so everyone is on the same page. Go over the plans in detail and practice with everyone frequently.

Summary

How do you prepare for the apocalypse?

  • Gather sufficient supplies
  • Learn first aid skill
  • Learn hunting skill
  • Learn surviving skill
  • Get Physical
  • Take care of your health
  • Have a plan B

During Apocalypse

Finally, the moment we’ve all been waiting for is finally here. It’s not something to be happy about but Ok, you’ve got no fears, at least you got prepared.

Now moving on to the situation when the apocalypse happens (any apocalypse)

The first thing to do is…

Don’t panic; stay calmly on your guard.

And Think Fast.

You need to calm down first before doing anything stupid, and avoid being affected by other people’s stupidity. 

You need to be careful with other people who can’t handle the situation because they didn’t prepare for this.

The best way to communicate with others who are panicking is to stay calm and assure them that you have a plan. 

The more prepared you are, the better they will feel. Take the lead. You know what you are doing. Trust yourself.

Escaping Immediately

Like when you are in a building that is on fire, the first thing is to run out of the area if necessary. Do not forget to help and guide your family or the people under your care.

In certain situations, your home may not be safe due to a disease you’re facing, and it may be threatening the area where you live.

Listen to your local authority or rescue team to know where you are going to hide.

This is when having a map, compass, and radio become essential.

Pack Your Survival Kits & Items

I am glad you’ve already prepared your survival kit before anything happens (in the previous section).

Grab a long-sleeved shirt and some pants; long-sleeved shirt and long pants can protect your body from the environment and prevent it from cold. You should also bring a hat and sunglasses to protect you from the heat and sun.

Grab the survival kit and gear that you prepared earlier. Make sure that everything is easy to carry as you may be in a situation where you can only travel on foot.

Seek Shelter

During a cataclysmic event of the magnitude of a nuclear bomb or radioactive fallout, escaping with your survival and emergency kits will be the worst decision you can ever make. 

Safety Precautions During A Nuclear Fallout

 

If you’re outside and you’re fortunate enough to survive the initial blast of a Nuclear bomb, the following steps are a scientifically approved plan of action and should be done to increase your chances of surviving:

1.Though it may sound surprising, the best way to stay protected before, during, and after a nuclear detonation is to get inside as quickly as possible. 

Getting and staying inside a sturdy building will provide the best protection from shockwave, heat, and radiation. 

Not just staying indoors, but staying in the center of the basement of a sturdy building also helps to protect you from heat and flying objects. 

If you’re not fortunate enough to be inside at the time of the blast, but you’re lucky to survive a nuclear explosion, you’ll have at least 15 minutes to find shelter before the fallout begins. 

2.If you eventually get caught in the radioactive fallout, it is not the end of the world. Find a safe shelter and remove your clothes and shoes immediately.

3.Have a shower washing your entire body using soap and dispose of all your clothes in a bag far away because they are contaminated.

4.Once inside, plan on staying put for at least 24 hours. While electricity, cellphones, and television may be down, radios could survive the blast. So turn on the radio and stay tuned for information from first responders. 

5.Listen to emergency responders to be up to date on the safest way forward.

While it may seem not trustworthy enough, scientific studies and simulations continue to show the incredible benefits of simply staying inside. 

For other kinds of disasters where staying inside is not an option, go somewhere safe, somewhere that the government or any organization can provide support. It could be your nearest resident hall, church, sports stadium, pay attention to any emergency broadcast and follow their guide to find shelter.

If you can drive, it is better to use diesel-powered vehicles, because it is easier to find and fuel the gas.

And what about a zombie apocalypse…? What do you do? Where do you go? 

One of the safest locations during a zombie apocalypse would be a prison. They’re designed specifically for keeping people inside with their high walls and barbed wire fences, impossible for criminals to escape. 

These features also make them the best possible place to hide as zombies eat through your town. 

They keep people out, and unless it’s World War Z on repeat, zombies can’t scale huge walls and buildings. 

In the event of an apocalypse, you’ll probably want to get out of large cities and towns.

The city cannot function well without electricity.

So find your way to the countryside.

Try to take an escape route to your location that avoids major roads and interstates if possible. These will likely become congested and blocked as more people attempt to seek shelter. You do not want to get stuck in the middle of a crisis.

Safety Precautions During An Earthquake 

 

It’s the apocalypse, the end as we know it. Earthquakes are a common feature in many apocalyptic movies such as “San Andreas” and “Aftershock.” 

On the afternoon of May 22, 1960, Chile was hit by an earthquake with a magnitude of at least 9.5, the largest recorded earthquake in history.

These natural events are so disastrous that they could level entire cities in minutes. 

So what do you do if the apocalypse is accompanied by, let’s say the largest earthquake to ever happen in human history? 

The first thing to do is to drop to the ground and cover your head no matter how much commotion is happening around you. 

If you’re outside, move away from trees as much as you can so branches don’t fall off and injure you. 

Ready.gov, a public service campaign from the Department of Homeland Security have put together a protocol to follow during an earthquake. 

It instructs that people who find themselves in areas prone to earthquakes should make a communication plan should an emergency occur so that they’ll know how to get in touch with their family and loved ones. 

The protocol is simple; when you feel the earth moving under you, drop to the ground, stay in the position you’re in covering your head and neck until the shaking has passed. 

If you’re driving, immediately park your car away from buildings, trees, or anything else that could collapse on your vehicle. 

Those that stay in areas prone to tsunamis should immediately move to higher ground shortly after the earthquake stops to increase their chances of survival. 

Safety Precautions During A Fire Outbreak

 

Fire outbreaks could occur during the apocalypse. 

If you find yourself in a burning building, it is necessary that you’re aware of all the evacuation routes in the building, and the key to surviving a burning building is to act as quickly as possible. So if you’re at home and such accidents occur, here’s what to do:

1.Immediately turn on the nearest fire alarm and exit the building. 

2.When exiting the building, be sure to feel the doors you’re about to open for heat before you open. This is to ensure that there’s no fire danger on the other side. 

3.If there’s smoke in the air, put your head down and stay low to the ground to prevent inhalation.

4.Once you’re away from the danger, call your contacts and inform them of the fire. Then wait for further information from the emergency response team. 

5.If you’re unable to exit the building because of the smoke or fire, keep the door closed and await assistance from the fire department. 

6.Use wet or damp sheets to block holes where smoke is coming from to keep the smoke out. 

Safety Precautions During A Virus Outbreak

 

Even when the risk of exposure to a virus is minimal, it is still important to take reasonable precautions to limit the spread and prevent yourself from contracting it. Especially if the virus turns people into zombies

Below are easy precautions to follow:

1.Hand Hygiene. Common with any other type of contagious disease control, washing the hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using hand sanitizer are effective ways to kill or remove viruses and bacteria from the hands. 

2.Vaccination Where possible. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) in conjunction with other top pharmaceutical laboratories may be able to develop a vaccine for the virus on time. 

If you’re lucky and this happens in your country, endeavor to get immunized on time.

 When a large percentage of the population is vaccinated against a dangerously-spreading virus, everyone benefits. 

3.Respiratory Hygiene. Respiratory hygiene includes the basics such as covering the mouth and nose when sneezing because the pathogen could be airborne; 

keep a distance not less than 3 feet from anyone sneezing or coughing; wearing surgical masks and protective body suits when handling infected individuals. 

4.Beware of Body Tissue And Fluid. It is possible that all body fluids, excretions, secretions, mucous membranes, etc., may contain disease-causing organisms. 

That’s why it is advisable to steer clear of these substances where possible. 

Post-Apocalypse

Congratulations, you made it. Your survival hasn’t been solely based on luck but on adequate preparation and planning. For that, a big kudos to you. Well, it does not end here. 

After you manage to survive, now you need to plan your next move.

Since the ecosystem is different from what it used to be, you or your group of people need to come up with a new ecosystem to survive in for the rest of the days and prevent yourselves from other prey.

The survival food you packed beforehand will become very important when you first settle and are determining your next steps. Make sure you ration out the food you brought so that you do not run out quickly.

Most of the post-apocalyptic literature and movies focus on how the societal system goes terribly wrong after a cataclysmic event such as the apocalypse. 

In the American post-apocalyptic horror television series, “The Walking Dead,” while the zombie apocalypse was an initial problem, the majority of the violence portrayed in the movie is done by the remaining surviving humans to one another. 

Whatever the case may be, the world you knew is gone and you have to act quickly to survive in this post-apocalyptic era. 

Find a food Source

As I mentioned earlier, you need to learn how to hunt, fish, or any skills that can make you gather food and water.

Now the skills are going to come in handy.

You can stockpile food and water.

Here’s another benefit of stockpiling seeds and it is a good thing you didn’t forget to do so. With seeds, you can manage to find land and grow your own food. 

By now, the majority of the canned and processed foods you stored would have finished. Going into agriculture provided that the soil isn’t contaminated is the next best thing to do. 

This will provide you with a long-lasting food source.

Since the emergency food you have will be finished soon, there are other ways/places to find a food source to keep you alive.

Abandon Market or Store

 

Remember that grocery store or food market just around the corner, it’s probably abandoned by now making it a perfect place to scavenge for remaining foods. 

Even though most of the stores would have already been ransacked by other survivors, look up to the market and convenience store, and they might have some food left, food like canned meat can last longer.

Do not be picky, but make sure you do not take anything that can make you sick because falling sick is the last thing you want to happen. 

Try to stock up on canned foods and foods with carbohydrates such as bread, rice, and cereals. 

River

 

You can catch fish in the river, and it can become your source of water supplies.

Having a supply of fresh water will be very important. Keep reusable bottles and jugs to fill up at the river regularly.

Keeping Food And Water Safe After A Flooding Disaster 

Tsunamis could be a big problem for people staying in areas prone to earthquakes. Consequently, these places will suffer from flooding after an earthquake. 

For food, it is important to throw away any food that may have come in contact with storm or flood water. Perishable foods that develop unusual odor should also be discarded. 

This is because food that is unsafe can make you sick even if it tastes, looks, and smells perfectly normal. Flood water carries tons of disease-causing organisms, and that could ruin your health and reduce your chances of survival. 

For water, drinking water may not be available following a cataclysmic flooding disaster. 

Avoid using water that you suspect to have been contaminated to wash dishes, prepare food, brush teeth, or make baby food. 

Do not drink excess alcohol because it dehydrates the body and increases your need to drink water, consequently depleting your water stores. 

Flood water can also damage drinking water wells by washing human sewage, chemicals, and livestock waste into clean water wells which can lead to illness when used. 

Water Treatment 

 

In the case of water contamination from flood disaster or disease outbreaks, how can you make water safe again for drinking? 

Boiling: When you run out of safe bottled water, the next thing to do is to boil water to make it safe. Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius and it is one of the best ways to make water safe for consumption. The heat kills organisms in the water that may cause diseases. 

To improve the taste of boiled water, simply add a pinch of salt per liter of water boiled or by simply pouring it into another container that’s clean and allowing it to stand for some hours. 

Disinfection: If you run out of clean safely bottled water and you don’t have a means of boiling the available water you have, then using disinfectants is another option. Water disinfectants include chlorine dioxide tablets, chlorine bleach, or iodine. These disinfectants kill most disease-causing microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria making the water safe for drinking. 

Filters: Water filtration is a process that’s as old as mankind itself and technology advances have led to the development of supersensitive filters that can remove very small microorganisms and parasites such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia from drinking water. 

It’s important to note that water that is contaminated with fuel or chemical toxicants cannot be made safe by boiling or disinfection. 

Instead, find a new source of water if you suspect that your drinking water is infected with toxic chemicals. 

Forest

 

It provides many sources of edible wild fruit and animals.

A forest also a good hideout place but you need to be careful with other prey or bandits.

Try to find high ground where you can seek out prey and stay out of view from others.

Generate Your Own Power 

 

Depending on how reliable the power sector of your country is, the power grid may have stopped functioning a long time ago when the apocalypse started. 

Because electricity isn’t really a resource you can stockpile, you’re going to have to generate your own power when the dust settles. 

One easy way to get electricity is to search the area for mobile diesel or petrol generators from roadwork sites. However, you’re bound to run out of fuel sooner than later. 

An alternative source of energy is, therefore, a necessity, a must-have. You can look at adopting the use of wind or solar power. 

Solar power is a reliable technology for producing electricity because the sun isn’t expected to go dark after the apocalypse, except it’s judgment day. 

So before the apocalypse, you can purchase solar panels and inverters from online retailers or find the nearest shop in your neighborhood. 

This electricity generated from the panels can be channeled and stored in 12V car batteries. 

Grow Your Vegetables

 

Find a suitable land with rich mineral soil and plant your vegetable.

Planting and growing vegetables and fruit can be a lasting source of nourishment if you keep it tended. 

In this way, you don’t need to hesitate to go out of your “safe zone” to seek foods.

Starting A Vegetable Garden 

 

Since there are no more stores for you to buy food, starting your own vegetable garden in a kind of subsistence agriculture, producing and processing agricultural materials for you and your family to use.

Vegetables you can easily produce in your garden include:

1.Tomatoes

2.Zucchini squash 

3.Peppers 

4.Cabbage 

5.Bush beans 

6.Lettuce 

7.Beets 

8.Carrots 

9.Chard 

10.Radishes 

You can read up on a complete beginner’s guide to starting a vegetable garden on almanac.com. Simple annual crops can also be planted such as tubers, potatoes, corn and rice. 

Grow Animals for Meat Supplies

 

Catch some animal alive and feed it, some animals like rabbits can provide decent protein and fat and other minerals.

Chickens can provide both meat and fresh eggs. Keeping a hen around for eggs is a great idea for a continued food source.

Find Salt

 

Using salt as a food preservative will keep your food lasting even longer.

You can use salt to dry meats and fruits so they will last longer and will not spoil. You will want to find large quantities of salt if possible.

Find & Stock Rice

 

Rice can last for longer periods around 5 years and up to 30 years if you keep it in an oxygen-free container. It provides enough carbohydrate.

You can survive on two small bowls of rice a day, and rice is very easy to ration out for a group.

What should I eat during the apocalypse?

  • Rabbit meat
  • Emergency pack
  • Canned Food
  • Energy Bar
  • Vegetables
  • Dried Fruit
  • Rice

Become less dependent

After the apocalypse, there won’t be anything like complete and quality welfare to “babysit” you, so you need to become stronger and less dependent. 

This is one of the rules to survive in post-apocalypse.

You must be flexible and be prepared to adapt.

There will be times when you are left alone at your home base or have to go out alone to find food and supplies. 

To become less dependent, it can be helpful to learn how to defend yourself. You should also always have an escape plan or plan b to get back to your safe zone. 

If you feel like you aren’t emotionally independent enough, that could seriously affect you during and after the apocalypse, especially when the person you’re emotionally dependent on doesn’t survive the tragedy.

When your happiness is entirely dependent on someone else, then you have a problem. Below are some important ways to overcome emotional dependency. 

1.Avoid Placing Your Happiness In Someone Else’s hands.

 

 No matter how happy someone else makes you feel, people are unpredictable, and it’s always a good idea to be emotionally self-reliant. Be in charge of your happiness. You deserve to be happy all by yourself. Find ways to make your life fun, enjoy your own company. It takes practice but eventually you’ll get there. 

2.Learn To Love Yourself Even More. 

 

You may not have the attributes of an athlete or the face of a beauty queen, but you’re a survivor. 

Even though it might be incredibly difficult to love yourself in the worst situation, remember that loving yourself is never a waste of time. In the end, you only have you. 

3.Learn To Be There For Yourself More Often. 

 

While it’s crucial to make others happy, do not prioritize the happiness of others over your own happiness. Recognize your needs and prioritize your well-being and your happiness every once in a while. 

4.Get To Know Your Vulnerabilities. 

 

You really have nothing to gain by pushing away your feelings and thoughts and locking them deep down. 

This will only create a void that you feel you need others to fill when indeed you only need to be true to yourself. Get to know yourself better, express yourself more by keeping a journal or a voice diary. 

The desire to want people to listen to you can be gradually reduced by listening to yourself, understanding yourself better and being your own best friend. 

5.Accept That Nobody Really Owes You Anything. 

 

Yeah, that may sound harsh but it’s the truth, and it’s an important step on your road to emotional freedom. 

Avoid holding onto resentments for people about their behavior towards you. So often, you get angry with someone we’re emotionally dependent on when he/she isn’t there for you during a crisis or when they disappoint you in some way, but that isn’t going to solve anything. 

They say, “The only way to free yourself from people is to free them from you.” Simply let go and move on. 

6.Let Go Of The Past. 

 

A lot of the emotional dependence you go through might have been as a result of having a difficult childhood or past. 

Your inability to understand these events and why you made the decisions you made back then might be the reason behind your emotional dependency and helplessness. 

It’s important to understand that the future is not in any way connected to the past. Forgive yourself for what happened in the past and draw out a clean clear canvas to paint your future. 

7.Recognize When You Start Getting Too Clingy. 

 

Trust me, nobody likes a clingy friend. You might have survived the apocalypse together, maybe even trapped for days together and are now closer than ever, but it doesn’t mean you have to cling to that person 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

Do not let your happiness depend on something you may eventually lose. 

Eventually, you’ll start to realize that you enjoy your own company better, and only then can you truly be independent. 

Find Other Survivors

Even when the villain Thanos of the Marvel cinematic universe performed ‘the snap,’ only 50% of life in the universe were turned to Ash. 

There’s no way the apocalypse could have wiped out the entire planet and left only you alive now, don’t you think?

There are others out there who just like you, read this article and prepared for the apocalypse, or were just lucky to have survived (I hate to take all the credits). 

Sooner than later, you will realize that you will not be able to do everything by yourself when the apocalypse happens.

Form a Prepper Group. Man is a social being by nature and will instead settle in groups rather than live isolated. It is better when people can get together and help each other. 

Your chances of survival while living in a group is ten times better than your chances of surviving alone. 

First try to find your beloved, family, relative, or close friend. Usually, they are more trustable than strangers.

Then find a group of people that have agreed to help each other out during difficult times.

 They’ll definitely be happy to welcome you to their group as you continue your survival journey together. 

Form A Small Tribe

 

Make a small community so as to keep everyone alive and stay strong.

There are several things you need to consider when deciding if someone is right for your group.

These Factors include:

1.Religious Beliefs. 

 

According to some estimates, there are roughly 4,200 religions in the world today and over the years, humanity has had several religious-based conflicts that have tainted our history.

 Many of these religions contradict one another and majority see the others as infidels. 

Therefore, when forming a tribe, it’s important to select people who are of the same religious beliefs or who are not religious extremists to foster peace. 

2.What do they bring to the table? 

 

This is not a fan club. You’re forming a tribe to increase your collective chances of survival. Nobody can afford to be a liability and must have a special skill set that can serve the tribe such as hunting, fishing, farming, or as a medic. 

3.Their relationship with each other. 

 

Wherever two or more people are gathered, conflict is sure to arise. 

However strong the conflict is, the love and togetherness of the tribe should be able to cause easy resolution of any disagreement. 

4.How committed are they? 

 

I wrote about having the will to live in the first section of this guide. For you to have prepared and made it this far, your will to live is not to be questioned. 

However, are other members of the tribe as committed as you? Will they do whatever it takes to ensure everyone in the tribe is living well? Will they perform their duties diligently? 

———-

There is power in numbers. 

The more people you have in your tribe, the more people will be able to contribute. Having more people also helps with safety as you will become harder for bandits to attack and will have more people to defend your safe zone.

However, you want to make sure that the people you build a community with have useful survival skills so that they do not become a burden on your resources.

As shown many times over the course of the American TV series “The 100”, the survival of the group depends majorly on harnessing the skills of every individual. 

If you’re good at building stuff, help the tribe build tents and fix machines. If you’re a competent first aider, help the sick and injured get better at the infirmary. 

If you have so much muscle and frightening strength, help secure the tribe from foreign invaders. If you’re skinny but with brains as good as Einstein’s, help the tribe plan for the future. 

Everyone has a role to play to help the tribe survive as a group. 

Gather a Useful Gang

 

It is excellent if inside your group you have:

Medic/ Doctor: To keep you alive and cure your illness or infection . Also good for inevitable injuries that will occur.

Hunter: Hunts animals, may also butcher animals that they hunt.

Military Unit: Protects us; at least they know how to combat and defend in this kind of situation.

Teacher: What if the apocalypse is not going to end anytime soon? We need someone to take on the role of an instructor to teach our next generation.

It is also useful if this person documents your travels and notable events to pass down as a learning tool.

Cook:Prepares food for us. Rations out food properly to avoid waste.

Hardware Builder: Knows how to craft basic structures; it a big plus if they also know how to repair any devices and vehicle.

Farmer:  They know how to grow and take care of food.  It is also useful if this person knows how to butcher animals.


Airline cabin staff:
Airline cabin staffs have been trained and have the knowledge to overcome and resolve urgent situations. They will be able to think quickly and calm everyone down in emergencies or tense situations.To keep you alive and cure your illness or infection

Hide in plain sight, and people are going to get crazy and rogue. 

There might be some group of people who become bandits and rob your resources. So keeping it low is an excellent way to survive.

It also depends on what kind of apocalypse you are facing.

If it is a nuclear holocaust, you should get away from the radioactive area and hide in a bunker or metro.

In viral infection disasters, you need to get away from many people and hide in an isolated island or something.

Consider what kind of defense your hideout location can give as well. 

Choosing a location with high walls or doors that lock can help your group stay safe and avoid unwanted encounters with other groups or bandits.

You may also be able to find a building that has resources, such as a school or a prison. 

These locations will have some medical supplies, sanitary supplies, and leisure activities if they have not already been ransacked.

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Learn To Handle Conflict Within The Group 

In every gathering of people for whatever purpose, there’s bound to be conflict. 

“For good ideas and true innovation, you need human interaction, conflict, argument, debate.” Margaret Heffernan

Conflict is actually going to aid the collective development of the tribe, but that can only happen when it is resolved appropriately. 

Are members of the tribe having issues choosing leadership, sharing food and resources, matters of relationships, etc. 

Then below are eight methods to create harmony in your tribe and resolve conflicts.

1.Accept That Conflict Is Bound To Happen.

 

One thing we can all agree on is that nobody is perfect. Now take all these imperfect people who just survived a cataclysmic event and stash them together in a tribe, conflict is inevitable.

 Knowing and accepting that conflict is bound to occur is the first step to resolving it. 

2.Discuss The Impact Of The Ongoing Conflict. 

 

It’s important that the involved parties are aware of the impact the conflict is having on the survival of the tribe. 

This way, they’re reminded of the fact that conflict only destroys harmony and diminishes the collective chances of survival. 

3.Agreement To Cooperate And Communicate. 

 

There’s no point trying to resolve a conflict if the involved parties are not ready and willing to communicate and cooperate to resolve the conflict. 

Keeping communication open and allowing both parties to voice out their concerns and strong feelings is essential so that you can understand the situation. 

4.Lists All Of The Facts. 

 

It’s important that after the involved parties have poured out their hearts, you list all the facts, assumptions, and beliefs that have been provided. What do the involved parties value? 

What beliefs are they using as a basis for their arguments? 

5.Analyze The Facts. 

 

What decision-making criteria have they employed and why hasn’t it worked? Consider analyzing the facts and assumptions and determine which is true. 

Assumptions during a conflict are very bad and are a significant cause of conflicts in the first place. Consider using formal evaluation and decision-making processes such as those listed in mindtools.com

6.Gain Better Understanding Of The Situation. 

 

By using these techniques, you gain a better understanding of the facts that led to the involved parties believing what they believe. 

Get the whole story and understand all possible perspectives. 

Then you can come back and give a neutral verdict that puts the tribe harmony first. 

7.Learn About Destructive Conflicts. 

 

Despite the fact that conflicts must arise, a conflict may become destructive when there’s no resolution In sight, and the issue cannot be resolved. 

Conflicts should, therefore, be stopped and addressed immediately before it grows into something much worse. 

8.Make Compromise A Goal. 

 

Nobody can be fully satisfied with your verdict, but the involved parties can both reach an agreement that is attained by each side making concessions. 

Points from the involved parties can be combined to make a better solution. 

Where do you hide in the apocalypse?

 

  • An Island
  • Prison
  • Lighthouse
  • Vault
  • Underground Shelter
  • Mountain
  • Subway
  • library
  • School
  • Cave

Congratulations. You have now gained knowledge on how to survive the apocalypse.

I hope you can make it alive when tragedy happens and manage to survive afterwards.

And now I’d like to hear from you:

What surviving skill have you already prepared?

Do you have any plan or tips that I didn’t mention in this guide?

Let me know by leaving a comment below right now.

 

References:

 

FAQ

What should you not do during a zombie apocalypse?

– Rely on a gun as your only weapon
– Have long hair
– Didn’t check the location safety
– Make unnecessary noise
– Be an Asshole
-Search for the reason behind that mysterious noise.
– Get too emotional
– Touch the zombie
– Hide the fact that you’ve been bitten.
– Get drunk
– Be stupid
– Forget about the paperwork
– Didn’t wear any protection

Where would you go during a zombie apocalypse?

– An Island
– Jail or Prison
– A Castle
– A Boat or Yacht
– Lighthouse
– A Bank Vault
– Bomb Shelter
– Deep-Sea Oil Drilling Platforms
– Treehouse
– Mountain
– Military Base
– A well-stocked pharmacy
– Ikea
– The White House
– The Fire Station
– School
– Church
– Subway

How do you prepare for survival?

– Prepare emergency kit
– Practice with your survival gear
– Stock up supplies & food
– Stay healthy
– Workout

Why is it called a bug out bag?

The words “Bug Out” are British army slang; it means to move away from your current location very quickly. Bug out bag means a bag contains with emergency kit, survival foods, and other survival tools for you to grab when something terrible happens.

What is the main purpose of a Community Emergency Response Team?

CERT is an internal organization of typically volunteer employees designed to respond to emergencies before the arrival of public agencies.

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