Sign in or 
Location: Antibiotics and Disease in a Zombie Apocalypse
Discussion: Diseases in a Post-Z World:Tetanus
Category:
Discussion Forum /
General Discussion
Share this
Showing 8 posts
Dr.Wheatie |
Diseases in a Post-Z World:Tetanus
Nov 13 2010, 7:48 PM EST
| Post edited: Nov 14 2010, 9:42 AM EST
Pre-Z we are sheltered from many serious diseases as adequate immunization programs and medical treatment make them all but unheard of. Post-Z this may not be the case. Most people relate tetanus to the shot you get when you cut yourself. Some may even be aware of tetanus causing lock jaw. Tetanus is a condition involving severe muscle spasms. It is caused by a toxin released during an infection by the bacteria Clostridium Tetanii. These spasms if untreated can progress to cause total paralysis, respiratory failure and death. The infection is typically caused by dirty wounds as spores of the bacteria live in dirty enviroments typically outdoors. Cuts and puncture wounds caused by contaminated objects transfer the spore into damaged skin allowing the bacteria to grow and release the toxin. Animal bites are also a potential cause as animal mouths can harbor the bacteria. This is a situation where an ounce of prevention is worth a TON of cure especially in a post-Z world. Prevention involves thorough cleaning of any dirty wound and maintenance of your immunization status. Treatment involves IV antibiotics and life support that most likely will not be available. Tetanus immunization is recommended every 10 years or within 5 years if you suffer a tetanus prone wound. If a significant Zombie outbreak occurs, individuals should make every effort to get a tetanus booster. There is no minimum interval between plain tetanus immunizations therefore in the event of a Zombie outbreak the date of your last tetanus shot is irrelevant. Your doctor may be reluctant to give you one if you have had it within 10 years. He or she may not be aware of the potential apocalypse and the need to maximize your tetanus immunization time. While maintaining you immunization status is important, getting a booster at the time of an outbreak will maximize the length of time you are immunized. 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?
Keyword tags:
antibiotics
immunizations
medicine
survival
|
|
S.Pro.Ukr |
1. RE: Diseases in a Post-Z World:Tetanus
Nov 14 2010, 12:31 AM EST
You've got a point. A very valid point. It wouldn't be just tetanus, though. It would be just about every disease there's a vaccine for... I wonder if it would be possible to somehow get a stockpile of vaccines in a BOL or something like that without ending up on every FBI and CDC watchlist ever made... Do you find this valuable? |
|
Dr.Wheatie |
2. RE: Diseases in a Post-Z World:Tetanus
Nov 14 2010, 10:28 AM EST
In the US there are vaccines for approximately 24 diseases. When considering vaccines that would be readily available and critically important at the time of a Z-outbreak I would consider tetanus the most important. For an adult you could eliminate approximately 15-18 others as they are vaccines against diseases that are not medically dangerous, only dangerous in small children, are for travel or the disease is essentially non-existant due to vaccinations. When considering children that opens up a whole bunch of issues. Also if TWAWKI never returns we will have issues of diseases such as polio and mumps making a comeback. I will definitely expand on the vaccine issue in future posts. 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
|
S.Pro.Ukr |
3. RE: Diseases in a Post-Z World:Tetanus
Nov 14 2010, 11:53 AM EST
"When considering children that opens up a whole bunch of issues. Also if TWAWKI never returns we will have issues of diseases such as polio and mumps making a comeback. "Which is why I was wondering if it was possible to amass a private stockpile of vaccines. If you had one, you could vaccinate those who may need them. Or, on the other hand, you could try raiding medical institutions, although I believe that's been discussed in other threads. Do you find this valuable? |
|
Dr.Wheatie |
4. RE: Diseases in a Post-Z World:Tetanus
Nov 14 2010, 1:18 PM EST
Obtaining them pre-Z would be difficult but not impossible. Post-Z foraging would be easier as I doubt they would be at the top of most peoples list and would be left behind in most offices/hospitals. The limiting factor, especially in a long term scenario, is they have to be refrigerated.
Do you find this valuable?
|
dinolaurous |
5. RE: Diseases in a Post-Z World:Tetanus
Jun 8 2011, 2:23 PM EDT
I think a bigger issue would be getting needles and syringes. You need a new one every time, and there is only so much you can do to clean one. That adds up to a lot of medical supplies over time.
Do you find this valuable?
|
junedragon3 |
6. RE: Diseases in a Post-Z World:Tetanus
Jun 8 2011, 4:55 PM EDT
If no vaccine is available to you after Z-Day (the odds of acquiring some are heavily stacked against you), the most you can really do is try to maintain hygiene (as much as possible) and disinfect any injury where the skin has been broken as soon as possible. It is a good idea to pack some disinfectant products in your BOB as well as bandages (getting a first aid kit is great as all such items are included in one easily accessible container).
Do you find this valuable?
|
redcomrad |
7. RE: Diseases in a Post-Z World:Tetanus
Jun 8 2011, 11:50 PM EDT
In my opinion if we had a pandemic though it would be a major killer the majority of people would die of things like this. also be careful of cholera and other water borne pathogens those would be probably the main killers after civilization has collapsed.
Do you find this valuable?
|
