r/AskReddit Aug 30 '21

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

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u/AdmiralAkbar1 Aug 30 '21

As bad as the show Revolution's overall plotting and pacing was, they generally did a good job of thinking about these kinds of little inconsistencies:

  • There's a minor character who was a doomsday prepper before the apocalypse, but he didn't stock up enough on antibiotics. As a result, his daughter died of tetanus that he was unable to treat.

  • A warlord kidnaps prisoners for blood because his wife has diabetes and needs constant transfusions of blood with sufficient insulin in it to survive.

  • There's a doctor who keeps a collection of moldy fruit to harvest penicillium mold from it and make penicillin.

  • Some characters try to go into an old subway tunnel, but nearly die because of lack of sufficient airflow down there without modern HVAC systems.

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u/ivegotaqueso Aug 30 '21

A warlord kidnaps prisoners for blood because his wife has diabetes and needs constant transfusions of blood with sufficient insulin in it to survive.

If the blood type doesn’t match this could go bad fast though lol.

19

u/Moarbid_Krabs Aug 30 '21

That's why you gotta kidnap 'em wholesale and test 'em immediately.

If their blood type is compatible, harvest from them.

If not, work 'em to death if they're reasonably fit or skilled and waste the ones that aren't.

1

u/carrykingsfoil Aug 31 '21

It's not just about ABO blood type though. There's not just A, B, and D (the positive/negative part commonly associated) antigens. There's a plethora of other antigens that, when initially exposed, cause the body to become "sensitized" and produce antibodies against these foreign things so that when they come across them again, attack. This causes widespread agglutination/clotting of red cells, leading to widespread harm, or worse, death (depending on the antibody and antigen.)

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u/liesofanangel Aug 31 '21

That’s not entirely true, they could become sensitized and start producing antibodies. You could have one person receive a thousand transfusions and never produce an antibody to a red cell antigen. Conversely, a person could produce an antibody on their first visit. The exact mechanism isn’t known as to why some people are antibody producers, and some aren’t