U.S. Zombie Tactical Squad

Protection from the Undead

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

Save Yourself, Be A Leader

Posted by mercutiom On November - 6 - 2009

When a zombie outbreak occurs the safest people aren’t the ones who are the most prepared, their the ones who are the most organized.  It doesn’t matter how many weapons you have, how much food you’ve stored, or how impenetrable your defenses, if you’re group isn’t organized with each one doing what they’re best at then death is only a matter of time.

Being a leader is the most important choice you can make to ensure your team is as organized as possible during your survival.  Now being a leader is quite different than being the leader of the entire group.  You may not be the best person to be the overall leader, look at yourself seriously and decide.

Also, look at who the rest of the group defers important decisions to.  If that turns out to be you, then you’re the leader, if it’s someone else then they are.  Take that information and use it.  If you’re not the group leader, then look at what you’re doing better than everyone else and be the leader in that.

You might be the best at tracking down zombies, or finding caches of food, or starting fires.  Don’t get frustrated that you’re not in charge of the group if you’re not.  It’s perfectly acceptable to be a leader at something and not be the leader of everything.

If you do turn out to be the leader of the whole group then there are some important things you’re going to have to do.  First you have to figure out if anyone else is vying for your position.  If someone is then you’ll have to figure out how to deal with that.  If no one is, then you have to start worrying about everyone else.

One of the most important things a leader needs to do is to figure out what other people are good at and influence them to become leaders in those areas.  This can be the hardest part of being the leader.

The easiest way we’ve found to do this is that if something needs to be done (hunting, tracking, building, whatever) then have everyone take turns doing it.  Observe them when they’re doing the chore, and, it should go without saying, do it yourself as well.  See who excels at the task and get their advise on how to do it better yourself.

By doing these few simple things you end up doing several things.  By doing the chore yourself, you’re showing your team that no one is special and everyone needs to pitch in to survive.  By having everyone do the necessary tasks you show them that they all need to work to survive.  By asking the person who excels you’re showing that person and everyone else who the natural leader of that task is.

These are only a few steps that a leader needs to take in order to ensure your group survives the zombie outbreak.  To ensure you’re team will survive, you really need to start preparing now.  Read up on leadership, read up on apocalypse scenarios (sci-fi is full of them,) start jogging, hiking, running.

By preparing now, you’re setting yourself up to survive once the zombies begin the brain binge.  So get out there and prepare to lead.

Photo Credits:  brewbooks, Mountain View Hiker

Related Posts

Add your comment

Moving? Some Things To Look For

Moving? Some Things To Look For

Posted by mercutiom
Oct-27-2010
Eating In The Aftermath: Mushrooms

Eating In The Aftermath: Mushrooms

Posted by mercutiom
Oct-25-2010
Installing A Security Door

Installing A Security Door

Posted by mercutiom
Oct-8-2010
Freezing: What Ice Really Does To The Undead

Freezing: What Ice Really Does To The Undead

Posted by mercutiom
Oct-1-2010
Looters, Raiders, And Crazies

Looters, Raiders, And Crazies

Posted by mercutiom
May-4-2010

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

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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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

Zombies Versus Animals

Posted by mercutiom