Top 20 Zombie Apocalypse Survival Tips
#20: Have Common Sense
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It seems like this is such an obvious one that it shouldn’t need to be repeated. But if horror films and shows have taught us anything… it really does. Simply checking your environment is super important. If you don’t look around, you could be attacked by the undead, or something else could sweep in and take you out, like a car. If you hear a creepy noise at night, never check it alone. Always bring backup. If possible, always avoid entering dimly lit areas, as anything or anyone could be hiding, waiting to nibble on you. While fighting zombies with earbuds blaring tunes might sound epic, you might not hear them from behind. So, make sure your common sense is tingling at all times.
#19: Use a Boat
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In the majority of zombie pop culture, the creatures aren’t too big on swimming the waters. Instead, they prefer to stay dry and shamble about. With that in mind, getting onto a boat, preferably a large one, and sitting in the middle of a lake, river, ocean, or pond might be the best defense. When needing supplies, a group could use a tender to get to land, keeping the main ship safe from the zombies sneaking aboard and causing havoc. Plus, many larger vessels have a brig, or prison, that could be used for bad survivors or for quarantining Jeff, who swears he wasn’t bitten but has a suspicious wound and is acting weird.
#18: Travel Light
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If you were a Scout, you know the motto: “Be Prepared.” And that is definitely true in the zombie apocalypse. However, you can’t be prepared for EVERYTHING, as that would mean carrying a ridiculous amount of things with you. Instead, make sure you aren’t over-encumbered as you sprint away from a horde. Otherwise, you aren’t outrunning anything. So, stick to the essentials with what you can fit in your pockets and inside a backpack. Weapons, water, and first aid pack? Yes. A battery-powered fan, four Terry Pratchett books, and a “Supernatural” DVD box set? No. Think like Marie Kondo. If the item sparks joy in keeping you alive, it stays. If not, leave it out.
#17: Get a Dog
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Ah, humanity’s best friend. The sweet and loyal pup that lies on the floor next to you, dreaming and running in its sleep, could be the difference between life and no life for you in the apocalypse. Survival expert Cameron Carlson believes the faithful hound, with its superior sense of smell, would be indispensable in warning us by growling or pacing if something shambly is nearby. Poochies can also be helpful should you meet hostile survivors. Also, having someone to talk to on your journey through the wilderness to beat loneliness and aid mental health is vital. However, be careful if your pup is yapper. As for cats helping us…yeah, they’ll do their own thing during the outbreak.
#16: Be Stealthy
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We’ve all dreamed of being action-packed fiends during the apocalypse, slaying zombies all over the place with a plethora of weapons and explosions. However, this is a surefire way of not making it to the end and wasting a load of resources like ammo. Instead, being quiet and careful will keep you going. This will stop you from attracting hordes or having to have Usain Bolt-esque speed if the undead are like the ones from “28 Days Later.” Sticking to quiet melee weapons, covering your scent, and avoiding zombies unless really necessary are the best options. Hiding to scout out potential allies or foes is also a good call until you know what you’re dealing with.
#15: Stay Wary of the Living
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One of the big takeaways from “The Walking Dead” is that the living can be far more dangerous than the Walkers. And that should be true should a similar terrifying situation happen in real life. While the expression “safety in numbers” has merits, being skeptical about trusting survivors is what could keep you alive. Some people you meet will be fine and potentially offer invaluable aid, while others…not so much. After all, the gangs in 2009’s “The Road” are enough warning for us. You never know what's exactly going on inside a person's mind. As such, it's better to be cautious of humans.
#14: Forage for Food & Water
Eventually, those tins of spaghetti hoops and bottles of boba tea you packed on day one will run out. Then, you have a problem. But you can get around this tricky situation by foraging for nutrients to keep you in tip-top shape during the terror. If you’re out in the sticks, carefully looking in a forest is your best bet. However, make sure you know how to identify what’s safe to eat from what would leave you with a horrible illness. Those berries might look enticing, but they could be deadly nightshade and leave you in a heap of trouble. Finding a clean water source is also important, as well as having plenty of containers to carry back to your camp.
#13: Double Tap
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Thanks to Columbus’s rules in “Zombieland,” we have a host of helpful tips to survive the outbreak. One of the most useful is the ol’ double tap. Should you have no option but to shoot a hungry ghoul, make sure you hit them again to confirm they’re no longer able to munch on you. Otherwise, they could have enough in them to jumpscare and chomp on you. The double tap doesn’t just refer to firearm use. If using a melee weapon and bonking a zombie on the noggin, do it again until you’re sure it’ll stay down for good. Take no chances. It’s way better to be safe than sorry.
#12: Suit Up Appropriately
In theory, dressing in a medieval suit of armor and walking through hordes sounds like such a cool idea. However, in reality, you could be knocked over, running will be hard, and it’ll be so hot inside, making heat stroke likely. So, make sure you’re dressed appropriately. Wear light, breathable fabrics when traveling and thicker attire when fighting zombies to make it more difficult for bites to get through, like pads or a leather jacket. Also, wearing good, flat shoes is a must to be agile enough to escape from threats. Running in heels without an issue only works in 2015’s “Jurassic World.” If we did that in the apocalypse, we’d definitely get a sprained ankle and gobbled up.
#11: Stay in Shape
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With transport being an issue, you’ll have to go analog and rely on your human body for traveling. With that in mind, good cardiovascular health and muscular strength is a must. After all, you might need to run from a horde or a nefarious gang. As such, speed and stamina are a must. If racing from the undead, some might believe you don’t need to outrun them, only the person next to you. However, that’s very dark, and not true if one zombie doesn’t stop and keeps going for you. Being in poor physical shape would also make fighting so much worse. When in a settlement, exercise to keep yourself fit to tackle what the undead-ravaged world throws at you.
#10: Go on Supply Runs
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When you can’t shop at the mall due to a viral zombie outbreak, it’s time to loot. Supplies will dwindle rapidly when you don’t have the luxury of electricity, gas or fresh water and are constantly threatened by the flesh-eating undead. Going on runs and scavenging what you can to replenish resources will become a weekly, if not daily, routine. Going alone reduces your visibility, but also limits how much stuff you can bring back. Going in a group increases overall security and haul, but also attracts more zeddy-monsters. Either way, make sure you know what you need so you don’t waste time and space.
#9: Aim for the Head
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There’s a reason shooting a zombie fifteen times in the chest does nothing, and that reason is: the only organ in a zombie that does anything is its brain. Therefore, no brain means the zombie’s dead. Of course, that significantly reduces your target area, which means that – unless you’re a marksman – you’ve gotta get real close to land a hit. If you don’t have a gun, a melee weapon with a long reach is recommended; that way you can pierce the brain without getting close enough to be grabbed. That’s always a good thing.
#8: Never Hesitate When Killing a Zombie
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They may’ve been the love of your life, but the one you cared about is gone: all that’s left is the violent shell of their former self, trying to eat your brains. They don’t feel regret or remorse or guilt, so why should you? Do what you have to do, and if that involves driving a spear through their eye, so be it. The longer you contemplate it, the more opportunity the zombie has to grab you, and we all know that when a zombie grabs you, your life expectancy drops rapidly. Don’t let it get to that stage; do what needs to be done.
#7: Have a Radio
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Cell service is sketchy at the best of times; that’s not gonna improve during a zombie apocalypse. Of course, shouting at the top of your lungs probably isn’t the best communication method, nor is using a megaphone. That’s where the radio comes in; the longer the range, the better. It’s definitely handy for informing the group of impending undead or other threats. And, it’s also useful for picking up transmissions from other bases that may be more secure or offer an area of no infection. The walkie-talkie is also a must have for shorter-range communications.
#6: Locate a Stronghold
You’ll need strong defenses if you wanna survive; a location with high walls or a defendable perimeter is an ideal place for rest and recuperation. A stronghold allows you to store supplies, keep survivors safe and, most importantly, get some shut-eye. The stronger it is, the less chance you have of flesh-eating zombies breaking through and chowing down on some fresh human. Plus, coming home to your base after a long day out in the apocalypse will provide some respite. But don’t get too cozy; you still need an escape plan. Depending on your group’s size, you’ll probably require a beefed-up vehicle to escape in if your stronghold is overrun.
#5: Know Emergency First-Aid
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Just because it’s the zombie apocalypse doesn’t mean the only injuries that occur will be zombie bites. In fact, due to the apocalypse, the risk of all other injuries will have increased immeasurably. It’s important to know how to deal with an injury with the limited supplies that you have. There are no more hospitals, so you’re dependent on your own knowledge. Everyone in the group should have the basic training to patch up minor injuries. Actually, you know what? It’s a good skill to have regardless of the zombie apocalypse. What are you waiting for? Go take that course.
#4: Avoid Populated Areas
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Basic zombie logic states that where there were once people, there are now zombies. By extension, where there were once A LOT of people, there are now A LOT of zombies. That means cities, malls and residential areas are a no-go. Unfortunately, those places hold the most supplies; so unless you’re starved for resources, make it your goal to stay away. If you do end up in a populated area and are trapped, it’s gonna cost you a lot of supplies and lives trying to get out. Or, you can wait for help to come save you… Yeah, that’s probably not gonna happen.
#3: Find a Mode of Transportation
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Walking sucks, but you can’t risk driving all the time during the zombie apocalypse. It’s a waste of fuel, and will attract undead and other interested survivors. Drive only if you absolutely have to, and try to siphon fuel along the way. As for a mode of transportation, you’ll want a heavy-duty vehicle that can ram through zombies without slowing down too much. Makeshift upgrades that offer protection and dole out extra damage are a bonus. If you can fly a helicopter or plane, and have access to one, that’s an even better way to travel long distances when the area you’re in has gone to hell.
#2: Choose Your Ideal Weapon
When you find yourself face-to-face with a zombie, it’s kill or be killed. If running isn’t an option, you’d better hope you’re holding the weapon that’s best suited to you. Whether that’s a blade, a blunt object or a firearm; if you can’t use it, you’re gonna have a problem. Finding the ideal weapon can be the difference between life and death, and whatever type of weapon that is, if you can use it comfortably, it will undoubtedly be one of the most useful things to have during the apocalypse. It’s also wise to have a smaller weapon on you in case of emergency situations.
#1: Choose Your Allies Wisely
No one wants to hear it, but we have to face the hard truth: the zombie apocalypse changes people. When all you’re doing is fighting for survival, it becomes our primary instinct to watch out for ourselves. The people you want by your side are the ones that manage to hold onto pieces of themselves; otherwise, the group will inevitably run into problems, conflicts of interest and attempted takeovers in leadership. Also, if your allies have certain skills, like combat or foraging, that’s an obvious bonus. Just make sure they don’t try to stab you in the back down the road… literally.
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