Now, coming Just days after the World Health Organization (WHO) said that the H7n9 virus appears to be under control in China, things are looking grim.

Adapting at an incredible rate – nearly 8 times faster that an average flu virus – H7N9 has recently developed the ability to spread via airborne transmission. This new information, combined with H7N9′s ability to spread before symptoms are present, rapid mutations, resistance to vaccinations and nearly 27% mortality rate of the afflicted, are cause for serious concern.

Rapidly gaining the ability to spread like a common cold – via unwashed hands, contaminated surfaces like doorknobs, bodily fluids and now a simple cough – this increasingly virulent form of the flu can quickly and easily jump from one person to the next, spreading further before those affected may even show signs of infection.

Scientists and doctors the world over are already referring to H7N9 as one of the most lethal strains of influenza ever due to it’s extremely rapid rate of mutation and mortality rate of nearly 27% of affected individuals. Combined with its extremely high resistance to current vaccinations and the recent discovery of airborne transmission it looks like H7N9 is suddenly on the fast track to becoming the next viral pandemic… possibly contributing to the illness and death of millions along the way.

Is this new evolution of H7N9 just one step closer to a Zombie outbreak? Only time will tell.

Preparing today can save you tomorrow. Review the Zombease outbreak guide here and learn about quarantines here.

Basic rules for safely handling a weapon, NO MATTER WHAT IT IS:

1. Never point a weapon at anything you don’t intend to use it on or against.
2. If a weapon takes ammunition, it should not be loaded when not in use.
3. Be certain of the intended target and the immediate surroundings. Make note of what is before the target, to the sides of it and behind it. Avoid collateral damage whenever possible.
4. Regularly clean weapons and check them for defects in operation and materials. Replace or repair weapons as needed.
5. Do not alter or modify a weapon without the proper training, supplies and safety considerations.
6. Study and learn the mechanical and physical handling characteristics of all weapons you intend to use.
7. NEVER treat a weapon as a plaything, no matter what the circumstance is. Accidents are called accidents for a reason.

A weapon in the hands of an untrained person can easily do unintended harm. Training and continued practice is a must for safe handling of weapons, be they baton, bullet-slinger, baseball bat, or other. For your safety and the safety of those around you, always follow the above stated guidelines, as well as common sense safety considerations.

As mentioned before, these guidelines are standard for any weapon or defensive item you might use. From the blade of a knife to the blunt end of a baseball bat, and the business end of a boom-stick, the destructive capabilities of all weapons MUST be treated with respect and wielded safely and appropriately at all times.

The last thing you want in an apocalyptic world, is an unintended injury or kill. Be careful, be aware, and best of luck out there

For more information on Anti-Zombie weapons and defense see: Anti-Zombie Weapons and Defense and don’t forget to check out our gear reviews to see some of the latest and greatest Survival/Camping/Anti-Zombie gear around.

Both headlamps and handheld options have situational advantages and disadvantages, lighting up areas in very different ways and sometimes with different sources of power and levels of effect. Let’s look at the pros vs. cons of both tools to find out which one is the best bet for everyday and survival or camping use.

Headlamp: From bulky and battery heavy units to lightweight LED models that run on watch batteries, headlamps come in a variety of shapes and sizes, each offering their own unique advantages and disadvantages. Headlamps are best used during rescue, repairs, maintenance operations, evasion and escape or whenever you need a free pair of hands. When you’re hopping fences, climbing walls, slogging through rubble, running in the dark or performing duties after hours, a headlamp might just be the way to go.

Pros – Lightweight, compact, worn on the head, held in the hand, clipped to belts and/or gear, readily available power source, beam follows your gaze, hands free operation, difficult to misplace when in use, wide beam, water-resistant, one-size fits all.

Cons – Plastic housing, must turn body/head to change direction of the beam.

Handheld: Available in a variety of shapes, sizes, weights and abilities, handheld lights can be heavy-duty 500+ lumen workhorses down to single battery 10 lumen lights. These lights are best used in tactical situations and/or as a backup while walking, searching or scavenging at night or in poorly lit areas.

Pros – Lightweight, compact, focused/adjustable beam, extremely durable, water-resistant, readily available power source, best option for tactical use.

Cons – Easy to drop or misplace when in use, handheld, does not automatically follow gaze.

In conclusion: No matter how you get it or where it’s coming from, one reliable light-source is just as good as the next. The key-word here is “reliable”. Without a reliable light-source, no matter what it is, you’re bound to end up in the dark… and that can be a very scary place to be, whether you’re dealing with the undead or not.

We recommend packing at least 1 headlamp, 1-2 flashlights and extra batteries and/or a charger for both. Remember, two is one and one is none.

See also: When the Darkness Falls and TerraLux TT-4 Tactical Flashlight Review

Like many household objects and supplies, baking soda can be put to a multitude of uses during a survival situation. Because of the wide variety and types of uses it works for, it’s important to always have a little of this magic dust on hand.

MEDICAL USES:

1. Antacid for settling the stomach.
2. Deodorant, applied in powder form to underarms.
3. Toothpaste, mouthwash, canker sore treatment.
4. Soap/Body Scrub for decontamination.
5. Relieve insect bites, bee stings, jellyfish stings, and poison oak/ivy irritation.
6. Relieve diaper rash, chaffing, and other skin irritations.
7. Treat heartburn with 1 teaspoon baking soda and one-half glass of water.
8. Unblock stuffy nose with baking soda in steaming water.
9. Absorbs radioactive fallout. Applied directly to the skin, baking soda can absorb small amounts of radiation.

CLEANING USES:

1. Surface scrub for decontamination and cleaning a variety of surfaces. See also: Decontaminating With Bleach
2. Dish washing component and laundry powder.
3. Remove odors from shoes, clothes, gear, etc.

GENERAL PURPOSE:

1. Extinguish small fires.
2. Apply to glass to help repel rain and other moisture.
3. Scatter around gardens to prevent damage from pests.
4. Deodorize bathrooms, and latrines.

These are just some of the literally 100s of uses that baking soda can be put to, grab a box, do a little research, and discover just how versatile this amazing powdered prep really is.

Baking soda is an extremely lightweight and cost-effective material, and could easily make life in a post-apocalyptic or post-disaster situation a bit more doable. Check out our other survival and preparedness tips for more simple solutions to ever day survival in an Undead world… not to mention the potential disasters of everyday life.

Time: Early morning, autumn.

Supplies: (see scenario)

Scenario: The leaves crunch under-foot as you hike back to your vehicle, taking your time to enjoy the woods around you. This 3 day solo retreat to the mountains is exactly what you needed. You know that you’ll have at least a dozen voice mails pop up once you’re back in range of a cell tower, but you’re feeling recharged and ready to go at it again.

As you approach the gravel parking lot, you don’t see your car. You look around and find a bit of broken glass on the ground… right where you’re car used to be. There aren’t any other cars in the lot and you didn’t see any other folks on the trail. Crestfallen, you check your phone – still no signal.

Taking a quick inventory of your supplies – Cell phone, car and house keys, basic multi-tool, single-person tent, one liter water bottle (half full), water filter, 3 granola bars, paracord bracelet (14 feet of cord from Zombie Tactical Cord), small first-aid kit (3 band aids, 2 gauze pads, 2 Tylenol, 2 Advil, tweezers, 2×2 square of moleskin, and 1 packet anti-biotic ointment), mid-weight hiking boots, long pants, quick-dry t-shirt, long-sleeve shirt, rain jacket, baseball cap, handkerchief, 60 degree sleeping bag and a small backpack – you realize that unless you’re lucky enough to thumb a ride, you’ll be on foot all the way back to town.

Two hours and six miles later you reach a small mountain town by midday. Exhausted and having gone through your water, you stop in to the general store to refresh and rest for a few moments. Pushing your way through the doors and looking down the aisle, you suddenly realize that you’re alone. Calling out, “Hello?” you wait for someone, anyone to respond, but you’re met with silence. Confused and growing concerned, you head back outside to look for others. The parking lot is empty and there is no movement in the streets.

Your cell phone still hasn’t picked up a signal, and as you glance up you notice a payphone on the side of the building. The phone is off the hook as you reach for it and hold it to your ear. There’s no sound coming from the receiver, the line is dead. You try hanging it up and trying again, nothing. It suddenly dawns on you that with no working phone lines, no transportation and nobody around, you’re stranded and alone with no connection to the outside world.

With roughly 4-5 hours of daylight left and no knowledge of where everyone is or what happened while you were on the mountain, what do you do?

Kelly Kettles come in three sizes, each one available in both aluminum and stainless steel builds – Trekker, Scout and Base Camp – along with full accessory kits. The variety of sizes and option to choose either an aluminum or stainless steel build means that there is literally a Kelly Kettle stove out there for just about everyone… whether they plan on using it to help them outlive the undead or just have a hot cup of coffee on a camping trip.

For the purpose of our tests and review, we chose the Kelly Kettle Scout with complete kit. Measuring 10.2 inches high by 7.3 inches round (when packed), the mid-sized Kelly Kettle Scout isn’t the most smallest bio-mass stove you can find, but after testing it we can say that it is one of the most efficient… and with a weight of just 2.2 lbs it’s light enough to be packed just about anywhere you can go.

Kit includes – Kelly Kettle Scout, removable fire base, cooking pot (lid doubles as fry pan), pot support, two-piece grill, pot gripper and light-weight stuff sack.

Product Dimensions / Weight Capacity…. 37.2 fl. oz. / Weight….  2.2 lbs (full kit)

Employing the classic double-walled design of volcano stoves, the Kelly Kettle Scout is capable of holding/boiling (or transporting while unlit) up to 37.2 oz. of water, while pulling double-duty by providing a an open flame via the outlet at the top of the unit… and that is something that most other stoves can’t do.

With just three pine-cones, a sheet of paper and a single match we had the Scout lit-up and working right out of the box. Once lit, we had a rolling boil and a bit of bacon cooking in just under five minutes. When it came time to add a bit more fuel to keep the heat up for our cook tests (about 10 minutes in) I discovered that the fuel intake was a bit on the small side to add larger diameter pieces – like more pine-cones – so I switched to small sticks found in the Zombease garden. The fire kept up, the water kept boiling and the second set of bacon sizzled away. This dual-action versatility of the Kelly Kettle is one thing that puts it far ahead of other similar bio-fueled stoves.

The somewhat small air/fuel intake, combined with a tapered chimney, created the perfect updraft to feed our fire and keep it burning extremely hot throughout our tests… no matter what bio-mass we used. In fact, Kelly Kettles can burn so efficiently and so hot that the company has this to say: “If you use your Kelly Kettle without water in the chamber you run the risk of overheating and melting the inner chimney wall.” While some folks might see this “super-heating” as a sign of serious defect, we think of it as sign of superior output.

With the ability to start a fire – protected from both the wind and rain – boil water and cook food at the same time comes the ability to stay warm on a cold night, feed yourself properly, stay hydrated, stay clean and stay alive… and all with an easily portable stove that fires up with just a few pieces of biomass like a pine cone, dried twigs, wads of moss, newspaper and so on.

Like all the stoves in the Kelly Kettle line, the Scout is a sleek and lightweight multifunction option for anyone out there looking to get a real boil for their buck, without sacrificing the convenience of portability or performance for an affordable price. Whether you’re battling the undead for breakfast, on your way to the woods for the weekend, headed to the river for the day or you’re looking for a lightweight stove for your Bug Out Bag or Home Emergency Kit, having a Kelly Kettle by your side is a sure-fire way to go.

The steel bodied Kelly Kettle Scout is available for $84.99 or as a full kit for just $103.99. Check out Kelly Kettle and their whole line of stoves today at http://www.kellykettleusa.com/.

We would like to thank Kelly Kettle for sending us the Scout Kit for testing and review, as well as supplying the world with one of the greatest stoves we’ve ever seen.