Our team has been working to train people for the coming Zombie Apocalypse through tools and tips learned in their various fields of expertise. We expect to give you the same tools and training to ensure your one of the survivors, and not part of the undead plague.
By keeping up to date on the latest literature, tools, and training we plan to show you how to stay healthy and avoid becoming one of the undead horde that will pillage humanity. So check back with us on a regular basis to ensure you are prepared to survive the Zombie Apocalypse
Know Your Zombie: Nuclear Fallout
Zombie of the Week
Nuclear Zombie:
Threat Level: Yellow
The nuclear zombie is typically created when human remains are reactivated by nuclear fallout from either an all out nuclear war, or nuclear bomb testing over an area with an active cemetery. It is supposed that some types of radiation can reactivate the recently deceased, though there has been little research into the specifics.
Identification
Identifying a zombie that has been created from nuclear fallout is relatively easy. As the radiation only effects the newly dead, these zombies are typically found in the clothing worn when interred. Therefore, they are usually wearing their “Sunday Best,” and since most bodies are buried they are typically covered in the dirt and grime they had to crawl through to get out of those grave sites.
As the show “Mythbusters” has shown, it is not easy to dig out of a grave buried six feet down, and a living human would most likely die in the attempt. As the reanimated were dead and do not have the same requirement (e.g., air) as the living, they can and will take the time to scratch through the cover of the coffin and dig their way out of the ground.
The fact that these zombies have to scratch their way through a coffin lid gives another identifying feature. Specifically that one of more of their fingers will likely be broken and bent in unnatural ways, or missing entirely.
Nuclear zombies are part of the Slow Moving Zombie grouping. Their movement abilities are decreased by decomposition or the muscle tissue and embalming fluids used in most burials.
Spread
Nuclear zombies spread their contagion in the same way that biological or chemical zombie types can, but a bite from a nuclear zombie does not necessarily mean death and zombification. That said, it is still recommended that you avoid being bitten as the bodily fluids of this zombie type become radioactive and can spread to the living through bites, open wounds, etc.
Survival is rare, however, as the radiation will flow from the bite area and, if untreated, kill the bitten individual. Reanimation occurs almost immediately upon the cessation of brain and heart function.
The best course on handling one recently bitten is to immediately call for medical and have anti-radiation medications applied to both the bite area and through ingestion. Potassium iodide is currently available and works well if used immediately. Other options, like CBLB502, are still in testing and, with FDA approval, may be available sometime in the next several years.
If treatment is unavailable, an infected human will typically die in two to four hours. Signs of a bitten human are:
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Difficulty Swallowing
- Immediate and substantial hair loss
- Rapid heart beat (check for additional symptoms)
- Darkening or inflammation of the dermis
- Rashes or sores
If someone displays any or several of these symptoms treat immediately with anti-radiation medication. Stabilize and monitor the victim until medical officials arrive or until zombification occurs. If zombification does occur, terminate immediately and with extreme prejudice.
Termination
As with any type of zombie the only way to ensure deactivation is by destroying the head completely. With the nuclear zombie, however, there are other needs to ensure complete termination.
With the nuclear zombie, it is not solely the brain or head that is effected, but the muscle tissue itself. While removal of the head is necessary to ensure death, the body does continue to function without it, however with extremely decreased capacity.
A nuclear zombie whose head has been removed can only reach, grab, and hold. It is assumed that this is a instinctive response that allows the zombie to bite were the head still attached. A headless zombie also loses any senses possessed by the head, specifically sight, smell, taste, and hearing, making touch the only remaining sensory input.
Many times a headless zombie will grab and hold any moving or warm object, and several escaped ones are caught when found clutching cattle, deer, and even water heaters. A headless zombie also poses little to no threat of contagion and are more of a nuisance than a danger.
Nonetheless, the body should be destroyed if and when found. The best options for destruction of a nuclear zombie (whether it be the head, the body, or both) are fire and acid. With fire, we recommend a complete burn leaving only bone matter. Acid is better and does a more thorough job, but has several dangers ot its own, not least of which is the possibility of splash burns from a still mobile zombie.
Another recommendation for complete destruction is to draw a zombie, or a zombie horde into a confined area and pour napalm, gasoline, or other flammable material on them and then toss in a match. A similar option would be to trap them in an unused and secluded building and burn it down around them. You will need to police any remains for any unburned extremities and destroy them as well.
Follow Up
Nuclear zombies are a rarity, especially given the various bans on nuclear testing adopted by the United Nations and their signatories. Their spread is generally localized and easily contained and are often covered up in mass media, typically reported as chemical spills or even as a rare outbreak of the bubonic plague.
If you do happen to encounter a nuclear zombie do not engage. Note their location and the direction in which they are travelling and advise local and regional authorities as well as your local USZTS. Unless you are in immediate peril do not attempt to contain or destroy these zombies alone.
Photo Credits: http://www.flickr.com/photos/epicfireworks/ / CC BY-NC 2.0, http://www.flickr.com/photos/taniwha/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Related Posts
There seems to be a great deal of confusion on whether or not zombies will attack animals, and if they do, will those animals become infected, simply die, or go on with their lives. As this video shows, some types of zombies will indeed attack animals that enter their vicinity, but this is not always the case.
Some types of zombies will indeed attack an animal, though those same types will typically attack any warm or moving object. Some types of zombies will only attack certain types of animals (e.g., mammals but not lizards,) and some types of zombies will only go after a human being.
To make this a little more straightforward we have come up with the following lists to help you in knowing whether or not your family pets are safe.
Zombies that Will Attack Animals:
Zombies that Will Only Attack Humans
- Chemical Zombies
- Nano-Zombies
- Techno-Zombies
- Other Miscellaneous
To understand how to identify each type of zombie, please click on the links above and review the various articles. This will advise you on how to identify your zombies, and find out whether they are a threat to only you, or if you need to protect your pets as well.
One important item to note when reviewing the articles, not all zombie types can be spread to your animals. So while you may want to protect Spot from being eaten, if he does get bitten, you do not necessarily need to put him out of his misery.
If your pet/horse/cow/sheep does receive a bite, and you are unsure what type of zombie you have encountered, the safest option is to put the animal down. We understand that this is difficult (nigh on impossible for some.) We are pet owners and animal lovers ourselves, and to have to put down your own animal is one of the most difficult decisions one can make, even if it isn’t due to an infected bite from a zombie.
That said, the infected pet is no longer the loving, caring creature you have shared time and adventures with. If not now, then soon it will turn into a vicious, ravenous creature with only your death in mind.
If you cannot bring yourself to put your pet down, and you have not been able to identify the type of zombie bite it has received, you have two options.
- Have an acquaintance do the dirty work for you. Do NOT let a friend do it. It will ruin your relationship completely. You will always question your decision, and if a friend has to put down your beloved pet, you will forever look at them with that question, and that anger. Make sure the person you ask is someone you either don’t like, or don’t have a close connection with. It will change your relationship with them as well, but it’s less likely to ruin a friendship. Ironically, it may even lead to a stronger connection with that person.
- Lock the possibly infected animal up and monitor it over the course of several days. An infection that can spread to an animal will show its signs within 72-120 hours (three to five days.) If your pet is still its same old self after that time, you can consider yourself reasonably safe and release them.
NOTE: We cannot stress enough how dangerous, and frankly stupid this option is. Primarily, keeping a potentially infected animal locked up for up to a week can cause issues of its own. What if you have to move because of a coming horde? What about the animals natural biological processes and the necessary cleanup? Where can you keep a horse locked up that where you can guarantee it won’t escape, break free, etc.?
Additionally, there is no guarantee that even after five, ten, or even 100 days that your pet is guaranteed infection free. All creatures have different resistances to infections. Your chihuahua may be naturally immune to the zombie bacteria, but can still pass it on if he bites you. The only way to guarantee your safety from your pet is to put it down, no matter how difficult the decision.
To be blunt, it’s you or them. In a war against the zombification of all humanity your pet may become collateral damage. It’s sad, it’s difficult to come to terms with, it’s your only guarantee for safety.
In the war against zombies, animals are often caught in the middle. Many people are forced to abandon their pets when they go on the run. Even more are turned and have no recollection of their family and friends, much less their pets.
While some animals are trained to help humanity against the zombie threats, many are left to fend for themselves and have been known to become a danger in themselves. Feral packs of both dogs, cats, and even escaped zoo animals have been known to roam urban wastelands after an outbreak.
For these reasons, we recommend that if you are a pet owner and you realize that an outbreak is occurring, please do something about your pets. They will not likely be able to make it through the outbreak alive, and may even become a danger to you and your survival group. We know it’s difficult, but it may become necessary.
Video Credit: VideoSlave
[...] Nuclear Fallout Zombies [...]
Posted on October 21st, 2009 at 6:05 pm
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