The scenario rises again and again. The survivors of a zombie outbreak face constant attacks from zombies, and dangers from the undead as well as their less-than-friendly living brethren.
Finally after a days, or even weeks, of running and jumping and dodging, not to mention a lot of saving each other’s lives, they find out that one of their number has been bitten.
They might be blissfully ignorant of the fact that a bite equals an unpleasant death and consequential rise from the grave, but it always happens. The smallest scratch, that makes bodily fluid transfer possible, creates a zombie.
So, as a survivor, what is the protocol when dealing with our doomed compatriots? Should they be slain on the spot, their brains destroyed and their body burned, lest they should rise and track down their former friends?
Or should they be given every accommodation? Should they be allowed to live out the remainder of their lives in the company of their friends? And, only when the last breath has passed from their lungs and their dull, staring eyes have reopened, filled with murderous, apathy should we destroy them.
This is a question that has plagued survivors time after time, and will continue to be an issue in the future. I can’t give you a hard fast rule for dealing with your companions because every group of friends is different.
Immediate and merciless destruction of a victim of zombie contamination may work well in some groups and cause stress and turmoil among the remaining survivors of others.
Only the group can know what’s best.
With that said, I’d like to make sure you can make a well-informed decision when the time comes, so here is some information you may find interesting.
The Process of Becoming a Zombie
An infected individual, depending on the size of the wound, may have anywhere between 24 and 120 hours before they die and their corpse is reanimated as a flesh-eating menace.
Before reanimation, the infected will go into an extended coma, accompanied by high fever, that generally lasts between 4 and 7 hours. At the end of the coma, the victim’s heart and nervous system stop during what is known as clinical death.
The final rest of the victim has a wide range, it can be anywhere from less than a minute to several hours, so this is really one of the more dangerous times to be with the infected friend.
When the zombie rises, it’s important to remember that it is a zombie and is in no way related to your former friend. The only thing the zombie shares with your friend is their body. More than one person has been lulled into the false belief that they could do something to cure their loved ones. Don’t become a victim yourself.
Considerations During Destruction
To stop the zombie you must remove the head or destroy the brain. Removing the head severs the spinal cord and stops the zombie from moving. Destroying the brain destroys the creatures conscious mind.
This is an important distinction. Studies show that an immobile zombie with a severed spinal cord still has a conscious mind trapped inside.
Further Dangers
When destroying the newly created menace keep in mind that all of its body fluids have the potential of infecting you. A single drop of blood mixed with your own will make you the next to die.
Finally, I think it’s important to discuss your plans with your companions well in advance. An open line of communication is always important in any group, and especially important when you may have to kill one of them.
