Dear Zombie Master: Safety in Hospitals?

by Max Nomad
(Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA)

Dear Zombie Master,

First things first, your site and Q&A section is fantastic. Kudos.

I've been a fan of the Zombie sub-genre since I was a kid. I understand that it's tough to come up with plausible beginnings that explain why the main character(s) were safely tucked away (and unaware) of the outbreak until about 10-20 minutes into the movie. In recent years, a few O'Bannon-style undead storylines (28 Days Later and The Walking Dead) have the heroes waking up in a hospital.

What I don't understand is how come they were never evacuated or, more likely, found and eaten. The only thing that's easier to smell than a living person is a living person that laid up in a bed and hasn't bathed in days. Those O'Bannon zombies can (and will) open unlocked doors; for them, a hospital would be like unleashing a pack of Grizzly Bears on a Fisherman's Wharf.

I'd like to hear your take on the matter.

Thanks!

Max

Max,

Thank you for the kind words. Now to your question:

First, you have to remember that although smell plays a role the main factor in making zombies aware of your location is through noise. At the beginning of an outbreak there is going to be a lot of chaos and the amount of noise that will accompany that chaos will route the majority of the newly undead to wherever their dinner is running to.

If you are in a coma you are not making much noise at all which will give you a much better chance at survival than someone up and moving around.

As far as evacuation, I do not know about you but I do not want to be moving around someone who can offer me no help whatsoever while a zombie outbreak is going on around me. May seem cold and crass but we are talking about survival and sacrifices will have to be made.

Good hunting and aim high,

The Zombie Master