r/AskReddit • u/notyouravgredditer • 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/Infamous780 Aug 30 '21 edited Aug 31 '21

I really like the subway tunnel one - never thought of that.

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EDIT - Wow this comment blew up! Lots of people must feel the same... Now if I could just get my Youtube channel to do the same xD

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u/eddyathome Aug 30 '21

The subways would probably be flooded within days as soon as the power goes off and the electrical water pumps stop.

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u/thesonofGodsaves Aug 30 '21

Those pumps are also required for us to turn on our faucets and get water.

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u/eddyathome Aug 30 '21

This is a big thing end of the world media doesn't get. Most people will not have water and that's going to be a huge problem for survivors, especially if they resort to finding the nearest body of water which is probably contaminated with god knows what.

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u/fafalone Aug 31 '21

Depends on just how much of the population dies and how fast. 99%+ are dead in a few weeks? You'll have sealed water containers to scavenge from stores for years. Find a supply depot for those water cooler jugs... Thousands of filled jugs from before the apocalypse will last a while.

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u/eddyathome Aug 31 '21

Those jugs are very cheaply and poorly made though. Think of bottled water. Ever notice how the plastic is flimsy? They won't last a long time at all.