Averaging about 99 cents for a 16 oz. container, Isopropyl Alcohol (rubbing alcohol) is one of the cheapest ways you can start getting prepped for a Zombie outbreak, or other disaster situation. And with a wide range of uses, it’s bound to come in handy.

The primary purpose of rubbing alcohol is as an antiseptic for wounds, or to help with the sterilization of medical tools. These two reasons are enough on their own to have a bottle handy for emergency situations, but there are plenty of other reasons as well.

Hand Sanitizer - Your hands, are one of the most likely culprits when it comes to spreading disease… especially when they are covered in Zombie blood. You need to make sure that they aren’t just clean, but that they are sanitized as well. Incredibly effective against germs and bacteria, isopropyl alcohol makes a great hand sanitizer for use during all sorts of situations. Be careful about relying too heavily on it as a cleanser though, it can dry out your skin with repeated use, and become less effective.

Degreaser - Rubbing alcohol is a natural cleaner/degreaser that can help to clear the grit, grime, and gore from your blades, boomsticks, and other gear. And it wont just clear your gear of the daily dirt from apocalyptic living, it’ll sanitize it as well. Just like it’s important to keep your body clean and in working order, the same goes for your gear.

Deodorant - It might not be important to smell great when you’re on the run from Zombies, be helpful to mask your scent… and we prefer clean to dirty. Applied to the armpits with a spray bottle, rubbing alcohol can be used as an effective deodorant. Adding a drop or two of essential oil can freshen you up further, but don’t go overboard… there’s no need to smell like a flower.

Fire Starter - Well will all need to get warm, cook our food, and purify water at one time or another during a major disaster, and we’ll need a fire to do it with. Rubbing alcohol is highly flammable and works incredibly well as a fire starter, catching with a match, lighter, and even striker (if you get the spark right). Rubbing alcohol relatively clean, compared to most other fuels, but you may see a little soot when you’re done.

Defrost – With freezing temperatures and icy conditions, winter weather has a way of beating folks down. Removing ice from your vehicle can be done quickly and effectively by pouring a little rubbing alcohol onto the glass. The ice should dissolve immediately and you should be free to continue on your way… as long as you can get the car started, and you’ve got somewhere to go.

Insects - Dealing with insects is never fun during a survival situation… especially if you already have a bunch of Zombies after you. Rubbing alcohol can be used a number of ways when dealing with creatures of the buggy kind.

Ticks: Applying a few drops of rubbing alcohol to the body of a tick should force it to loosen it’s grip on you, allowing for safe removal.
Bug Bites: Dabbing a bug bite with a little bit of rubbing alcohol can help reduce the itching that may occur.
Pest Killer: Effective when it comes to small insects like ants, slugs, flies, etc., rubbing alcohol can help keep the pests our of your home, hair, and habitat. It’s most easily applied directly to the pest with a spray bottle.

Every emergency kit and Bug Out Bag should have at least one small bottle of rubbing alcohol on hand, you never know when it might come in handy… just remember that it does burn a bit when applied to an open wound, and you should never drink it for a buzz… it doesn’t work that way.

You might also want to check out our Sugar Antiseptics DIY, to learn more about keeping wounds clean. And here’s a bit about a newer strain of swine-flu: http://zombease.com/2012/10/01/going-viral/