illustration of man ruuning out from crowd zombies near cemetery
They have you surrounded. You took refuge in an abandoned house, but now the undead are scratching at the door. You spot a set of keys and head for the garage, hoping there is a getaway car (there is). You cram the key into the ignition, and your silent prayer is answered when the engine turns on. You press the garage door opener that’s clipped to the sun visor, and as the metal door slowly creaks up, these zombies are everywhere, pounding on the windshield, scratching at your hood — doing everything they can to sink their teeth into you! You look down to find the gear shift and freeze. Your breath catches in your throat, because you don’t know how to drive stick. Eek!
In this WWZ scenario, it’s game over, man. Years of stashing away bottled water couldn’t have saved you from this demise. You probably already have a zombie apocalypse plan. But how prepared are you when the SHTF? What survival skills have you acquired to keep you from becoming part of the zombie food chain? Here are a few crucial skills zombie apocalypse preppers need to stay alive when being chased by the walking dead.
Behind-the-Wheel Skills
Basically, you need the ability to drive any type of vehicle to quickly escape zombie carnage. Chances are your pre-planned, tricked-out, zombie-shredding-mobile will break down, run out of gas, or eventually be abandoned in a panic. After that, you may not get to be picky with your escape ride. You’ll probably need to keep moving, too. And as your location changes, so will your vehicle needs, depending on the weather, terrain and size of your group. As Daryl Dixon will tell you, learning how to ride a motorcycle, or how to drive a semi-truck, bus, or RV in familiar and unfamiliar territory could save your life in a barren, rotter-ridden, apocalyptic world. If you want to go all out, you never know when a pilot’s license may come in handy.
Hotwire Your Escape Vehicle
And, really, how will you acquire these vehicles if the previous owners were not kind enough to leave the keys in the ignition? By hot-wiring the vehicle, of course. This activity starts by tearing apart the steering wheel column, removing the harness collector, stripping the two red wires and twisting them together, then stripping the brown wire and striking it against the red ones. Remember two things, though: First, don’t let the brown wire touch the red ones once the engine is running. Second, only use this skill if law enforcement has been eradicated by flesh-eating monsters.
Put on Your Physician’s Hat
If you’re not fortunate enough to have a doctor on your survival team (or if he or she gets eaten on a medical supply run), you’ll need to gain a basic understanding of emergency medical assistance. An emergency medical technician program will teach you the basics on mending broken bones, treating abrasions and burns, understanding what to do when someone goes into cardiac arrest, and learning how to stop bleeding and manage shock, all of which are bound to happen when battling, fighting and running from zombies.
The Soft Skills of Survival
When things really take a turn for the worse, you’ll be stranded, alone, without food or shelter. To prep for a time like this, don’t think big — think survive. Simply being able to identify which plants are edible and which will kill you faster than a horde of zombies could be invaluable. Plants and their environment vary greatly from one area to the next, so start by learning about the vegetation in your immediate area. Know their characteristics and uses. In most locales, dandelions are prevalent and easy to digest; that is, if you can get past the bitter taste. Other weeds to help keep you satiated include wild spinach and cattail.
These are but a few of the “soft skills” you may need while trying to survive a zombie apocalypse. When prepping for the rise of the living dead, remember you’ll need more than supplies and a good plan; you’ll need true survivor knowledge. So, cram full that brain of yours with as much know-how as will fit — and maybe that brain of yours won’t end up on a zombie’s menu.
