The Zombie Apocalypse Survival Recipe Book
Kyle Harrison
The Zombie Apocalypse Survival Recipe Book Kyle Harrison
The Zombie Survival Recipe Book
Text copyright 2013 by Kyle Harrison Illustrations copyright 2013 by Kyle harrison All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or trasmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
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The Zombie Survival Recipe Book
Contents Author’s Note 5 Introduction 6 The Zombie Virus 7 The Zombie 8 Three Main Ingredients of Survival
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Health and Psychology 11 Living with the Undead 12 Close Combat 14 Firearms 15 Other Weapons 17 Other Survivors 19 Aftermath 20
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The Zombie Survival Recipe Book
Author’s Note Before reading this text, it’s important to realize there is no factual evidence to support any of the ideas presented. That being said, understand that from this point forward a number of assumptions will be made regarding the zombie virus and the zombies themselves. Thank you, and enjoy.
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Introduction What would you do if the world you knew were transformed into a world of pain, suffering, and death? What if, with horrific irony, this “zombie” virus fantasy that has swept the nation were real? Every day would become a constant fight for survival, our typical social behaviors would cease to exist, and each decision we make could mean the difference between life and death. The idea of a “zombie apocalypse” is interesting to say the least, but what does it mean exactly? Well first, imagine an incurable virus that kills its host within 24 hours. As if that weren’t bad enough, this virus will then reanimate the host’s dead body and use it as a tool to infect more hosts.
Now, take it one step further and imagine if the vast majority of our world’s population became infected hosts, or “zombies.” You now have a “zombie apocalypse.” The undead outnumber the living. It’s impossible to know if such a devastating virus even exists, and most people would probably laugh at the idea. However, this text isn’t about making you a believer of such radical ideas. And it’s certainly not about turning you into some paranoid survival activist. This text is for the imaginative people out there who don’t initially laugh at the idea. It’s for the people who open their minds and genuinely consider, “What if this actually happened?” Whether this
virus is fictional or not, it is the idea alone that is the topic of this text. Suggested evidence of such a virus or the probability of such an outbreak will not be discussed here. This text simply investigates this idea and predicts how the entire world would change if it were to become reality. And more importantly, how you would survive in such a reality. So, with this transformation of our world in mind, what would you do? Would you succumb to the harsh brutality of this new lifestyle? Or would you have the will and strength to do what it takes to survive? If you’re interested in this idea, be it possible or not, then read on and learn the recipe for survival.
The Zombie Survival Recipe Book
The Zombie Virus Infection
Symptoms
The zombie virus can only spread through bites and/or scratches from infected hosts. From the time of infection, the victim has less than 24 hours to live. Times of death vary depending on the severity of the wound. The ymptoms vary from person to person and seem to worsen as time passes. From the time of infection to death the infected may experience any of the following syptoms:
Hours 1-6 fever hot flashes achy joints headache
Hours 12-18 dementia coughing blood blood in stool memory loss
Hours 6-12 high fever cold sweats hallucinations vomit/diarreah
Hours 18-24 blindness dehydration coma death
Reanimation After death, the body of the infected individual will rise again. This is called reanimation, and usually occurs anywhere from 2 to 6 hours post-mortem. This individual is now a member of the undead and will stop at nothing to pass the infection to you It could be your neighbor, your co-worker, your best friend, or even your parent. After death, the person you once knew will be gone forever. After reanimation, their body is nothing more than a vessel driven by the zombie virus. Luckily the zombie virus can only pass through the blood stream, so as long as a zombie doesn’t break your skin you are not infected.
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The Zombie
Zombie Traits It’s unclear what exactly happens to an infected individual’s brain during the reanimation process, but all higher brain functions disappear. Only basic motor skills remain. Most zombies can walk easily, but few can move much faster without loosing their footing. This is a huge advantage for survivors, but don’t underestimate a zombie’s endurance. A zombie’s will is unmatched, and it will not stop until you stop it
yourself. Sure, we may be faster than them, but they don’t have to catch their breath. And sure, we may be smarter than them, but in an apocalypse they outnumber us ten to one. If you want to survive, then it’s important to know the ins and outs of your enemy. A zombie’s eyesight remains the same as it was before death. However, zombies lack the muscle control to focus their eyes on one object at a time. It’s as if they see everything through constant peripherals. Hearing also remains the same, but it seems that zombies become slightly more dependent on hearing than they were before death. This is most likely because the loss of eye control. Humans, by our very nature, are sight-oriented. Because zombies loose the control of their eyes, they become more dependent on their other senses. They also seem to depend more on their sense of smell than before death, making the smell of living people stand out amongst the smell of other zombies. Another important change to understand is that zombies loose all of their sense of feeling. No nerve endings survive the reanimation process. This means that zombies feel no pain,
making them that much more of a threat. This is also why zombies have such incredible endurance. They will scratch at doors and windows until their fingers and hands are gone. They will chase you until their legs literally fall apart. The fact that zombies are so endlessly relentless is one of their most terrifying aspects. Behavioral patterns of zombies do not seem to vary at all. If there are no new hosts around to infect, all zombies simply wander. They walk aimlessly waiting to see, hear, or smell someone new to sink their teeth into. Some zombies tend to lead off of one another as they wander around, which is not necessarily a good thing for survivors. As zombies walk around leading off each other, they draw in more zombies, and more, until eventually a herd of 100 or more zombies is formed. As a survivor, this is a very serious threat. It’s very easy to get outnumbered and overwhelmed when dealing with such a herd. One other behavior worth noting is that not all, but some zombies will begin to moan and/or growl upon spotting prey. If there are any other zombies near they will recognize this sound and immediately follow.
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Three Main Ingriedients of Survival: It’s common knowledge that the three main ingredients for sustaining life are food, water, and shelter. However, most of us take these ingredients for granted. In our world today, these ingredients are easily attainable. We’ve been born into a world where everything we need to survive has been handed to us on a silver platter. Now, think about how the availability of these ingredients would change in a zombie apocalypse. This is a very important element to consider. A person can only survive about three weeks without food, and only three days without water. And in a zombie apocalypse your chances aren’t so good without shelter either.
Food
Water
Everyone’s first thought is the same, to loot grocery stores. But what happens when everything there is taken or expired? What happens if the grocery store is housing 50 plus zombies? It’s very important to realize that food doesn’t just come from the store. If you plan to live more than a year after the world ends, then you will need to learn to hunt and learn to plant crops. Also, when you do go out looting, look for items that will last a long time. Such items include honey, wheat product, dried corn/beans, and canned goods. Another important detail is that grocery stores aren’t the only palces you can loot for food. There will be abondoned homes, business, and other locations that will have food stored a way. Just keep in mind that you’re looking for food that will last.
The importance of water cannot be overstated. Dehydration can kill even faster than a zombie. When looting stores look for bottled water, or large multi-gallon containers. In an apocalypse, it’s safe to assume that there will no longer be running water in most areas. This means bathing becomes a luxury if it even happens, and you must learn to sanitize river/rain water. To do this you only require a few objects. You’ll need a pot to boil in, a bucket, and a water resistant tarp. Using fire you will boil rain/ river water. Above this fire you will place the tarp at a doward angel toward the bucket. When the water boils, it will condensate on the tarp and run down into the bucket. You now have clean water. If you have a stable setup you could even dig a well.
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Shelter
food
water
shelter
Shelter takes on a new meaning in a zombie apocalypse. Shelter could mean a rock you hide behind, or a tree you climb to avoid zombies. Our view on shelter in the world now means a house with electricity and climate control, but after the world ends you’ll be happy with four walls and a door. When taking the threat of zombies into consideration, a safe shelter may be hard to think up. Any basic dry wall house could be torn down by 25 zombies overnight. It’s important to look for buildings and structures that can stand up against this kind of threat. Look for multi-story businesses or apartments that are fenced in. Also, wherever you do decide to take shelter it’s important never to trap yourself. Make sure you always have at least three exits from your shelter. You never know when you may have to abandon it. It may seem strange, but elementary school complexes and high schools actually make great shelters for zombie defence. Think about it, they’re usually fenced in all the way around, there is most likely food and water stored somewhere, and there are multiple entrances and exits. If you were to come across a multi-story school complex like this, it could very well turn into your safe haven. Other shelters of worth keeping an eye open for are underground structures, courthouses, and prisons. Many of these type of shelters will have everything you need to set up for quite awhile. If you can find one with good soil near by, you could begin subsistance farming.
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Heath and Psychology Physical health It will be very important to take care of your body in these strenuous conditions. Staying in shape and maintaining a balanced diet will be essential. One sprained ankle or pulled muscle may mean the difference between life and death in this world. Flexibility should be practiced constantly. Strength is also important, but you really want to focus on cardio, speed, and endurance. You may eventually find yourself in situations where you have to run. And whenever you start running, you never know when you’ll be able to stop. Zombies don’t run out of breath, so what happens if you do?
Mental health This one aspect is completely over looked, but extremely important. This world, if you choose to survive in it, will be a great mental challenge. It will be brutal, it will be horrific, it will be survival of the fittest. You will see things you wish you didn’t, and you will do things that make you sick simply to survive. Many people, unfortunately, will crack under the pressure of it all and lose themselves. They may commit suicide or put other survivors in harm’s way. It would be very easy to lose yourself in this world. That is why it is imperative that you do not survive alone. It’s simply impossible to survive alone in this world. Your mind will not be able to handle the pressure. If possible keep your friends close.
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Living with the Undead How to Distract Zombies will react to anything they can see, hear, or smell. Anything you can use to distract them in these ways could save your life. You could start a fire somewhere to catch their attention. Maybe you could leave a car’s music playing loud to draw them so you can sneak away. You can also attract them with the scent of your own blood. In this way it could be possible to draw them into traps or just lead them away from your shelter. Throwing objects to make noise can work too. If possible throw glass objects that will shatter and make the most noise to distract zombies.
How to Avoid As stated before, zombies have about the same eyesight as us but they cannot focus as well. This makes sneaking around them that much easier. If you find yourself in a situation that requires avoiding detection it’s important to stay low, out of their eyesight if possible. Also, you’ll have to move as quietly as possible because they will hear footsteps. If outdoors, pay attention to the wind, it may be leading your scent right towards them. Even if they cannot see you, don’t get too close because they may smell you. If caught in a situation like this, just keep moving quickly and quietly. Only get up and run if absolutely necessary, you don’t want to attract the whole crowd you’re sneaking through.
How to Eliminate
Well, there is only one way to completely eliminate a zombie. You must destroy the brain. Easier said than done. To do this it means you have to get through the skull then into the brain, which is no easy task. It takes 15-20 pounds per square inch of pressure just to fracture a human skull. It may be double that to completely crush the skull and cause significant brain damage. In the end however, it truly depends on what weapons you’re using.
The Zombie Survival Recipe Book
Living with the Undead continued Fight or Flight It’s important to know when you’re in over your head. Never be a hero, heroes die. In this world you will find yourself in situations where you have to fight to survive. But where do you draw the line? At what point is fighting no longer an option? This, too, depends on what weapons you’re using. If you’ve got good instincts this shouldn’t be a problem. Proper Disposal So you’ve just defended your shelter from an attack by 12 zombies. Now your front yard is covered in rotting corpses. What do you do with them? There are actually a number of possibilities. You could use the corpses to wall off your shelter, creating a scent-proof shelter. However, this means you’ll have to deal with the smell too. You could burn the bodies, killing all traces of the virus. But if you do this you run the risk of attracting more zombies with the smell, and the sight of the smoke. Finally, you could bury them, just be sure not to do that where you plant your crops. Also, when handling zombies it’s very important that you wear proper protection such as rubber gloves, face mask, etc. Even if they’ve been killed you can still get infected through any open cuts or other wounds. Be extremely carful when repositioning your zombies.
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Close Combat Hand-to-hand
Blades/Edged weapons
If possible, hand-to-hand combat with the undead should always be avoided. The risk of infection is very high. All it takes is one scratch to end your life. A zombie will try to reach out and grab you as soon as they’re close enough. If you can’t get away and have to fight hand-to-hand, then it’s best to try and knock your foe onto the ground. Shove them down before they get a chance to grab you, or run up and kick them down before they even know you’re close to them. If you can get them on the ground, all it takes is a few good stomps to the head before you fracture the skull and damage the brain tissue..
Blades and edged weapons deal a much greater split to the skull, but don’t swing with as much force. If using a blade or edged weapon, you’re almost better off going for a decapitation instead of a complete kill. Keep in mind, however, the zombie’s head will still be a threat. Blades are also great tools to have for other random tasks you may need to accomplish. It’s recommended to you always carry a small 3 to 4 inch pocketknife. These can be lifesavers in close combat situations. Also, never use a serrated blade against a zombie because it will most likely get stuck in the bone and you will loose your weapon.
Blunt weapons When choosing a blunt weapon there are few things you must consider. First of all, do you want this weapon to eliminate zombies or just beat them off ? Many sticks, clubs, pipes, or other tools will pack a punch but won’t shatter a skull. If you’re looking for a one-hit KO then you want to look for heavier two-handed blunt weapons such as baseball bats or sledgehammers. These weapons are effective, but costly if you miss. Also, keep in mind these weapons will tire you out in combat. A great multi-use blunt weapon is the standard crowbar.
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Firearms Guns may seem like the perfect solution in a zombie apocalypse, but there is much you must take into consideration before using firearms effectively. First of all, gun safety should become a constant practice. Hundreds of people are accidentally shot and sometimes killed by guns each year. It’s important to always be careful when handling firearms. Be sure the safety is on when not in use, and always check to see if the gun is loaded. Another important factor is the availability of ammunition. You’ll be able to loot some stores, but for the most part ammo will be hard to come by. Also, while a gun can save your life in certain situations it is possible to draw more zombies with loud gunfire. It’s because of this that the use of guns should always be a last resort. This does not mean, however, that you should instead always rely on close combat. If you must resort to gunfire it’s important that you leave the area as soon as possible. Entire herds of 300 or more zombies have been known to shift directions because of the sound of gunfire. You do not want to end up running from zombies for miles on end. There are other weapons such as the bow and arrow, crossbow, and slingshot that can silently take out zombies from a distance. However, these weapons are difficult to come by. Even if you were to find one of these weapons, they would take tremendous skill and accuracy to be effective against a human skull. Unless you already have experience with such weapons, you’re probably better off with a firearm. There is also the possibility of silencers for firearms. These kinds of tools would make invaluable additions to your arsenal, but again they are hard to come by.
Handguns Handguns can prove to be lifesavers in close combat. If a zombie gets too close, all you have to do is point and squeeze the trigger. Within 3 to 5 yards, a zombie’s head is an easy target for someone with a handgun. It will be important to know all of the ins and outs of the handgun you choose. What kind of ammo does it take? How many shots can it hold? How often will it jam? These are all important factors you should take into consideration when choosing a handgun. Also, it will be necessary to learn how to clean your gun. If a gun’s interior chambers get too dirty the entire weapon will lock up
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Rifles
Shotguns
Rifles are great for targets in the distance, and most rifles can boast a scope. If using a scope, you’ll need to learn how to sight it in. Taking a few practice shots and adjusting the scope’s knobs accordingly can do this. There are many different types of rifles. Single-shot rifles, like bolt-actions or muzzle-loaders are typically the most accurate over distance. This has to do with the length of the barrel, spin of the bullet, and other factors. Semi-auto rifles are capable of firing multiple shots without having to reload each time. These rifles have cartridges that can hold multiple shots. Automatic rifles are good for making a lot of noise, but against zombies you’re better off using a single shot or semi-auto. Automatic rifles are great for other reasons though. They are still fairly accurate over a distance if shot in controlled bursts, and they hold more shots than any other kind of rifle.
Shotguns are famously known as the ultimate zombie gun, but these kinds of weapons have their disadvantages too. A shotgun blast is more than enough to burst a zombie’s skull, but only if you’re close enough. Most shotgun shells are filled with multiple pellets, resulting in a spread shot. This is because shotguns are mostly used for mid-range hunting of small game animals and some birds. Now, don’t get me wrong, a solid blast of pellets will easily destroy a zombie’s brain, but only if it’s close enough. If a zombie is more than 6 yards away, there’s a chance that the pellet spread will simply ricochet off the rounded surface of the skull. It’s also important to realize that most shotguns cannot hold many shots at once. The time it takes to reload a shotgun is also way longer than rifles or handguns.
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Other Weapons Explosives Explosives are good weapons against humans, however they won’t do anything but slow down the undead. As long as the brain remains undamaged inside a zombie’s skull, no amount of fiery explosions will stop the zombie from advancing. Even if its body is mutilated, a zombie will continue to pursue you until it’s brain is destroyed. Because of this, explosives are generally not the best way to combat the undead. However, explosions can be used in other ways. Maybe you cause the explosion to distract a herd of zombies away from you. Or maybe you blow up a hallway to create a barrier.
Impromptu Weapons Hopefully not, but there is always the possibility that you will have to face a zombie without a weapon. As mentioned before, in hand-to-hand combat it’s best to try to force the zombie to the ground and then attempt to smash it’s head. If you’re put into this kind of situation it’s important to pay attention to your surroundings. Wherever you are, look around for any object that could help you with this task. Be it a curtain rod, a chair, or even silverware, be sure to use your surrounding environment to your advantage.
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Fire Fire is a great tool for distracting zombies, but not eliminating them. Think about it. If a zombie has no sense of feeling, then setting it on fire only makes matters worse for you. Instead of facing a normal zombie, now you have to face a flaming one. Fire will not destroy the brain of zombie. Over time, a flaming zombie may experience loss of mobility from burnt muscle and joint tissue, but this could take several hours. Also, using fire as a weapon proves to be just as hazardous to your own life as it does your enemy’s. Fire is uncontrollable and it’s easy for a small fire to turn into a huge one. You should exercise caution when using fire or anything, be it for light, heat, or cooking. Traps Traps are a geat defensive measure for your shelter. Remember, zombies are drawn by sight, sound, and smell. If you use this to you advantage you can create many kinds of traps. For instance, if you were to dig a sort of moat around your shelter, the zombies would fall right in. Not only is the threat eliminated, but the zombie-filled moat would mask the smell of your shelter. You can also lure zombies with captive animals. Place a live rat or bird in a small cage and surround the cage with outward facing spears. In an attempt to get at the prey, the zombies will impale themsleves on the spears, immobilizing them. These are just a few of the possible traps you can create to help defend your shelter from zombie attacks.
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Other Survivors
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It’s possible that at some point you will encounter other survivors in a zombie apocalypse. Hopefully, you won’t be on your own, and the other members of your group can help you in times like these. If this does happen, there are several things to keep in mind. One, the world isn’t the same anymore. Just because you meet someone new doesn’t mean they are friendly. In this world, other survivors can pose just as great of a threat to your life as the zombies do. If you meet new survivors, it’s in your best interest to withhold information about yourself until you’ve discovered what kind of people they are. Some survivors may be on the verge of insanity, or may just kill you for your gear. Worst-case scenario, it could become a kill or be killed situation. Bestcase scenario, this new individual could become a new asset to your group, helping everyone’s chances for survival. It’s impossible to know what will happen when a new person shows up in a zombie apocalypse, you just have to analyze the situation and make a judgment call. If new members do join your group, it will be important to know if they are infected or not. If they are, there is only one thing you can do, eliminate the threat. It’s also important to realize that survival is dependant on finding other surviros, but it’s also dependant on choosing the correct survivors to join your group.
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Aftermath
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So you’ve survived the zombie apocalypse, now what? Unfortunately, if an outbreak every reached the apocalypse level, the odds are you will be fighting for survival for the rest of your life. Zombies will deteriorate over time, but it would be decades before any amount of weathering or deterioration gets through their skulls. Surely the threat level will decrease as the years pass by, and there will be less and less zombies, however, every single structure in the world could potentially house zombies after an apocalyspe. They could be waiting around any corner with no warning forever. This threat does not die, and it has no life span. A careless survivor, even if they have lived for 20 years after the first infection, can still be killed in an instant if they’re not paying attention. If you survive longer than five years, by then you will be a zombie killing machine, and surviving in such a threatening world will be child’s play to you. However, this does not mean you should ever stop using caution. This does not mean you should ever relax. From this point, all you can do is live, wait, and hope for the day to come again when the living outnumber the dead.