The five most important survival skills to have during an Apocalypse

Assuming that an apocalypse happens that doesn’t instantly destroy the earth, there’s a good chance you’re probably going to be alive for a while. During this time things are going to take a major turn for the worse and the only thing you will be able to rely on are your skills and your knowledge. To get a head start on staying alive longer than people who can’t run as fast as you, here are the five most important survival skills to have during an apocalypse.

Lock picking

Many people would scoff at this one and probably think that since police aren’t a thing anymore, a hammer or crowbar would be able to get the job done in a fraction of the time. This may be true in many situations, but the amount of locks that you can’t remove by force could be the locks that hide the most important supplies. You can’t smash a steel-plated door open with a crowbar, and hitting the lock is only going to seal it shut and become useless even if you find the key. The other main reason picking a lock beats breaking one is the level of noise required to do so. If you’re trying to not get noticed by bandits or whatever may be out there, picking a lock is significantly quieter than smashing a piece of metal with another piece of metal.

(Smashing a window will usually gain you access to a building, but apart from being very loud, you now have a smashed window letting in the cold and allowing easy access for anyone else that wants to get in, maybe while you are sleeping)

Defense

When people realize there are not going to be any consequences if they kill someone, they are going to do whatever it takes to get the things they need, or want. The chances of every person you run into being someone nice is impossible, and at some point, they are going to try and take the things you have. Learning how to defend yourself is going to be a priority, but this doesn’t necessarily mean learning how to become a boxing champion. If you’re small and not very strong, you can still use a gun, or simply become really good at hiding or making traps to stop anyone chasing you. Whether you choose to face people head-on in a suit of armor with a battleaxe, or you’d rather lead them into a series of traps to let your creations do all the work, at some point, you’re going to have to learn how to deal with other people.

(Hopping over a hidden trap you know is there when you’re being chased may be a better option than trying to take people on directly. Work with what you have and create your own defensive style based on your abilities)

Foraging and shooting

The more people there are in one area, the more concentrated the panic and problems will be. In the event that a mass panic hits the world, the cities and highways would be jammed up and most of the problems would be concentrated in these population centers, making them primary areas to avoid. Heading out into the wilderness where there are fewer people will be the best bet to avoid the initial panic and death wave, but being in a safe area won’t do you much good if you’re going to starve to death. Living off the land is extremely difficult unless you happen to be in the perfect spot, but learning how to stretch your supplies and add to your calorie count will increase your chances of survival substantially. Fishing would be the most useful skill to learn because it can be done along any coastline and provides the best food return for your efforts, but the more wild food you can recognize the higher your chances of staying alive in the wild will be.

(Foraging when your life depends on it is very different than doing it for fun. Eating the wrong kind of mushroom will be more painful than running into some bandits)

Transport

You can guarantee that at the first sign of a panic, a bunch of idiots will get in their cars and crash into something. The emergency and road services will be overrun and won’t be able to clear it, leading to completely blocked main roads across the country. That giant 4×4 packed with supplies and weapons won’t help you when the only way to get past the blocked road is to drive through someone’s house. Learning how to operate basic modes of transport will be a lifesaver, with the three most important being a bicycle, a boat, and your own body. Chances are you probably already know how to drive a car, but they are difficult to pick up and carry over a fence unlike a bicycle, not to mention the bike is almost silent and gives you access to new route options. Boats would allow access to isolated islands and increase fishing potential, but the most important is your own body. There’s a good chance you’re going to have to do a huge amount of running and walking and being fit enough to do that is vital. Also, the same rule applies with zombies as it does with tigers, you don’t need to be able to outrun them, you just need to be able to outrun the slowest person you’re with.

(Cool-looking vehicles like this would be perfect in the right area, but completely useless in the middle of a blocked city. As powerful as things like this may be, they aren’t capable of pushing dozens of cars out of the way or driving through people’s garden walls)

Self-preservation

The state of your body will play a huge part in your struggle for survival, and learning how to maintain and repair it is a must. Basic first aid and knowledge of medicine will help stop infection and allow you to effectively treat wounds, but even though this is the most important self-preservation skill it isn’t the only one you should learn. Sowing is taught in survival schools as well as to soldiers and police officers, and for good reason. Being able to fix rips in tents and clothing could stop you from getting soaked and freezing to death, and you won’t realize how important this skill is until your situation depends on it.

(Infection from the smallest wound can be as deadly as a bullet. Knowing which medicines to look out for and how to use them will save your life)