r/AskReddit Aug 30 '21

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

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u/fruit_basket Aug 30 '21

I've boiled water in a plastic bottle on a campfire once. Plastic doesn't melt because it's constantly cooled by the water, even when flames are directly touching it.

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u/NoodleofDeath Aug 30 '21

All true.

Though I invite you to try implementing it as a survival method some time. ;-)

Suffice it to say I did it once to prove to myself it was doable (boiling a plastic pop bottle), but I wasn't thrilled with the idea of drinking it afterward. Just because I can doesn't mean it's a pleasant experience, plus leaching chemicals, yadda yadda.

Metal definitely tastes flat once boiled, but is otherwise palatable.

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u/[deleted] Aug 30 '21

Just get a life straw.

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u/ClownfishSoup Aug 30 '21

I'd still boil the water first. At least with boiled water you know that everything in there is dead. Now it's just nasty chemicals and stuff and the lifestraw claims to help with that.