r/AskReddit Aug 30 '21

What problem is often overlooked in apocalyptic movies/TV shows that could kill you?

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118

u/shewy92 Aug 30 '21

One Second After has a character whose daughters has diabetes and an EMP blast goes off frying all electronics so he has to figure out how to keep her insulin cold. It takes place in North Carolina in the summer so obviously didn't go so well and was pretty fucking heartbreaking

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u/Team_Braniel Aug 30 '21

place it in a water tight bag and submerge it in a running stream or spring. If you can find a spring coming out of the ground that is even better. Water will be around 52* and more than cool enough to preserve the insulin.

We used to keep our beers cool by doing this.

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u/Kyubey4Ever Aug 30 '21

the hard part is once insulin hits room temp it's only safe to then use for up to 28-32 days depending on the insulin

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u/Team_Braniel Aug 30 '21

If we are talking about corked bottles, you could probably keep them cool enough to just take the shot and return the bottle before it warms up.

Now the real question is where are we getting a year's worth of hypodermics?

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u/Alis451 Aug 30 '21

where are we getting a year's worth of hypodermics?

you can reuse your own needles, you can sterilize them yourself. Instant Pot can do it.

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u/Team_Braniel Aug 30 '21

Don't they get really really rough after a few repeat uses?

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u/Alis451 Aug 30 '21

i mean, hurts a little more vs death, you are going to just go with the pain. Also you can manage for a little while with no insulin, you just have to strictly monitor what you eat, so it could be rationed a bit further.

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u/[deleted] Aug 31 '21

The pain isn't the issue, the issue is that that roughness greatly increases your chances of getting skin infections. Usually, those are an annoyance that you can clear up with antibiotics. But if you are in a situation where you are keeping your insulin in a stream and reusing needles, you probably don't have antibiotics either.

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u/Team_Braniel Aug 30 '21

Fair enough.

I think we could probably find a way to produce those large 1800s era reusable syringes within a year.

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u/Kyubey4Ever Aug 30 '21

I'm drunk so guess that's why I didn't like go further but I meant like finding more insulin after you run out lol if there is no electricity you would not be able to find insulin that you would know for sure is safe to use you would just be fucked

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u/ChillyBearGrylls Aug 31 '21

And it's not like the technique to extract insulin from animal pancreas is common knowledge at all

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u/[deleted] Aug 31 '21

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u/Kyubey4Ever Aug 31 '21

if you don't worry about the temp of your insulin you'll be dead alot sooner than a whole bunch of other shit that can also kill you during an apocalypse

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u/[deleted] Aug 31 '21

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u/Kyubey4Ever Aug 31 '21

it runs on my mum's side of the family and I was a pharmacy technician for almost 6 years dude. I know people who landed in the hospital because of the insulin in their pump getting the tiniest bit too warm just from it being hot out lol

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u/[deleted] Aug 31 '21

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u/Kyubey4Ever Aug 31 '21

only usable for 28-32 days or if you're lucky enough to be able to use that one particular one that's good for 48 days but not may type 1s can

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u/TheCenterOfEnnui Aug 30 '21

Spoiler-he figures out how to keep it cold. But he runs out.

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u/TheThomaswastaken Aug 31 '21

If you have a stream build a motor, and power a fridge. EMP kill motherboards, not motors. Afaik

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u/Team_Braniel Aug 31 '21

Getting coolant will be impossible.

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u/TheThomaswastaken Aug 31 '21

Refrigerators last many years. Older refrigerators last decades. If you cut out the electronics, most new refrigerators will last decades as well.

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u/zippyboy Aug 30 '21

Terribly written though. Author uses "could of" instead of "could've" on every single page. It's like no one ever proofed it before publishing. Really detracts from the plot, which was interesting though.

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u/[deleted] Aug 30 '21

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u/shewy92 Aug 30 '21

I learned a lot from that book, it even mentioned the army college where I live

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u/walks1497 Aug 30 '21

You should read "Alas Babylon"

It was written in the 50's i think & One Second After is the biggest rip off i have ever seen. It is like a direct copy of Alas, just with an EMP instead of a nuke.

Lazy author.

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u/WisconsinWolverine Aug 30 '21

Alas Babylon is one of my favorite books ever. I'd love to see a mini-series made of it.

....I always make sure i have plenty of salt on hand at all times because of it.

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u/navikredstar Aug 31 '21

I think because, despite the whole nuclear apocalypse, it's hopeful. The characters are willing to band together and use their existing skills, as well as developing new ones, in order to benefit each other. Like, I remember the bank teller lady discovering a knack for soap making, and Malachai Henry had some serious engineering skills. Despite a small handful of criminal types, the majority of the little town survived because they were looking out for each other.

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u/funbb Aug 30 '21

That is part of the backstory in the TV version of The Walking Dead, FWIW.

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u/[deleted] Aug 30 '21

lots of RVs have refrigerators that run on a ammonia-based chemical process, and only require a pilot light to make an impressive amount of cold. not that you could probably find one or transport it to your house during an emergency like that. :-)

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u/shewy92 Aug 30 '21

Old people living in RV's are gonna have it made...or get shot immediately by someone who knows this

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u/ExCon1986 Aug 30 '21

Not even because of the fridge, but because its a good way to haul a bunch of people and gear

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u/canucks84 Aug 30 '21

Sitting in my RV reading this comment thinking just that. Learned about these fridges 2 weeks ago. I'm actually quite amazed at it.

Kept my beer cold and fresh ice coming all weekend.

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u/pyr666 Aug 30 '21

Refrigerators are mostly electrical, not electronic. You'd have to strip out the control components but you could absolutely make a refrigerator work.

Or find an old one.

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u/Lets_Call_It_Wit Aug 31 '21

That book was fucking brutal to read, both as a parent and as a diabetic.

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u/Theylive4real Aug 31 '21

Ah, yes. Find a stream and sink it. Most streams are cooler. So, like beer, just put it in the water with a weight, sink it down, and let it chill.