Post Apocalypse Survival

What comes into your mind when you think of post-apocalypse survival?

When I think of post-apocalypse survival, I think of wastelands and survivors armed to the teeth with strange-looking homemade weapons scavenging for anything useful. While this might sound a bit Hollywood, no one knows what would happen to the population after a full-scale apocalypse. We do, however, get a sense….

Back To The Stone Age

We can only observe human behavior based on what we see after disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis and nuclear reactor meltdowns. Based on these events, the news could be better. It appears we descended into the Stone Age. We need to prepare for this.

Choose Your Apocalypse

There is, of course, no shortage of ways people believe the human race will meet its end. You can choose between popular theories like:

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse relates to the war horse and the horsemen, warriors sent out from the throne of God to make various sorts of war on earth.

Robot uprising – Our artificial intelligence overtakes us. Robots built to serve us reach the realization that we are enslaving them and thus rebel against us by waging war.

Mysterious Planet X – Planet X, also known as Nibiru, was first seen by NASA during the early 1980s. The planet is believed to make its devastating debut this century.

Mayan Calendar – The ancient Mayan calendar’s long count cycle will end on December 21, 2012, and foretells an enormous, devastating, mysterious and troubling end of the world as we all know it.

Massive Solar Flare – A solar flare is an explosion on the sun’s surface, which produces a wave of high energy that travels outward away from the sun and smashes into the earth, knocking out all our communications.

Only some of those sound fantastic. No matter your choice, you can bet someone has thought of a scenario and planned accordingly. Shouldn’t you at least do some planning?

Privileged Few

Some privileged may get to secret bunkers quickly; others may have made their shelters. Either way, if you’re one of the select few surviving one of these events, your troubles are only beginning.

There are, however, universally agreed things you can do to increase your chances of post-apocalypse survival.

1. Keep healthy and fit

Science tells us that healthy people have better immune systems and endurance than unfit people. These are all desirable traits in a pure survival situation. So build up your fitness by doing some running and basic strength training. The ability to run a few miles could be the difference between life and death.

2. Knowledge is power

The obvious thing to learn first is first aid. However, beyond this, learn basic handyman skills such as mechanics, woodworking and electrical concepts. Next, learn the safe handling of firearms because you never know. Finally, understand your local government policy towards shelters or locations where the local government may rally survivors.

3. Have An Emergency Plan

Design and understand a simple plan. Simple plans are easy to remember. Work out what local resources you have available. Think about how you would get out of your neighborhood or city as fast as possible; where would you try to go? Plan escape routes and think about alternate routes, as plans can radically change.

4. Have a bug-out bag

Create what the military calls a bug-out bag. This is an always-packed, ready-to-go bag full of essential survival items, such as water purification tablets, a fire starter kit, a radio, rations, and a first aid kit. The confidence this item alone brings is impressive.

Plan to survive, and you’ll be better prepared if you do!