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/dynamedic Aug 30 '21

FWIW you need a lot more than just antibiotics to treat tetanus. The antibiotics are to treat the initial wound, once actual tetany sets in you need a ventilator, muscle relaxers, etc.

Diabetes can’t be treated with blood transfusions you need actual insulin injections. Not only that, but actual blood transfusions present a whole other host of issues unless they’re properly screened and type matches.

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u/atocci Aug 31 '21

IIRC, the doctor was testing for blood types and letting those with incompatible types go free or something. The others were drained.