How ‘Walking Dead’ Fans Can Prepare For The Zombie Apocalypse … Or Just A Natural Disaster

Whether you’re a diehard fan of AMC’s “The Walking Dead,” there’s no denying that the show is infectious. Since premiering in 2010, America’s undead obsession has spread like a deadly disease.

Not only are viewers tuning in to the deadly drama, based on Robert Kirkman’s comic book series, but fans are also gearing up for an impending apocalypse by partaking in zombie-themed races, games and purchasing survival kits. Even the United States’ Center for Disease control has gotten in on the action, dedicating an entire section on their website to a potential zombie outbreak.The page provides a detailed list of items which would likely come in handy should the evil undead one day attempt an uprising. Among the items recommended by the CDC are water, first aid supplies, nonperishable food items, and tools and supplies like knives, battery powered radios and flashlights and more. While it may seem unlikely — OK, next to impossible — the list provides a fun way for the perpetually unprepared to have a few essentials on hand in the event of an unforeseen emergency, undead or otherwise.

The CDC isn’t the only one hoping to trick zombie-obsessed American’s into taking safety seriously. First My Family followed in the footsteps of OpticsPlanet and Man Crates, teaming up with AMC to create a “The Walking Dead” themed survival kit. While their Zombie Preparedness Kit does not feature all the bells and whistles of either of its predecessors, it is certainly practical.

The ZPAK’s contents fit neatly inside a 32 ounce Nalgene water bottle. The kit includes a whistle/compass combo, band aids, a 12-hour glow stick, a rain poncho and a space blanket. The ZPAK may be a no-frills survival kit, but each item serves a purpose whether you’re slaying zombies in Alexandria or just trying to get by. Throughout Season 6 of “The Walking Dead” Rick (Andrew Lincoln), Michonne (Danai Gurira) and the gang have encountered a series of problems that could have been solved by employing any number of the items included in First My Family’s survival kit.

The water bottle, for example, would have been great to have had on hand after the all-out walker attack in Season 6, episode 10. I mean, really, who couldn’t use a cool sip of water after slaying zombies left and right? Plus, now that Rick (Andrew Lincoln), Michonne (Danai Gurira), Carl (Chandler Riggs) and the gang have taken back Alexandria, they have access to running water — what a time to be alive! Both the rain poncho and the space blanket would be perfect for going undercover. Rather than smear your clothing in the rotting flesh, blood and organs of a walker like Jessie (Alexandra Breckenridge), Rick, and Carl in the Season 6 midseason finale, one could cloak either the poncho or space blanket around them, load up on undead flesh and fly under walker’s radar.

Injuries are common on “The Walking Dead” — case and point, Carl’s eye. Although Rick’s son was fortunate enough to find something to patch the wound temporarily, I’m sure it would have been nice to know he had band aids readily available. The same could be said for Scott (Kenric Green), who was shot during episode 7 and struggled to control the pain and bleeding while also keeping up with the group.

While a general rule of zombie survival is to make as little noise as possible, First My Family’s whistle/compass combo would have been great for Glenn (Steven Yeun) to distract the hoard of hungry zombies that came for him — and devoured his cohort Nicholas (Michael Traynor) — during “Thank You.” His wife Maggie (Lauren Cohan) could have used the whistle/compass and the 12-hour glow stick in the First My Family kit during episode 5 when she set out in search of her man. The glowstick could have lit the way as she navigated in the dark — and, let’s face it, it’s easier to hold than that flashlight rig she built.

Overall, the First My Family ZPAK ranks pretty low on the scale.  It’s a cool novelty item and hits many of the important items listed on the CDC’s website — like water and first aid supplies — but also misses the mark in a few key areas. First My Family’s kit is small, does not take into consideration protection and would likely need to be replenished within a day or two of use. It is, however, perfect for the novice survivalist, looking to lay the foundation on a preparedness kit for any potentially disastrous occasion.

The kit can be found HERE. Be sure to tune into “The Walking Dead” Sundays at 9 p.m. EST on AMC.

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