Primary cause of death in grid down collapse

[Colombo]

I've been thinking over some of the end of civilization theories out there and have come to the conclusion that the most likely mass killer of people will in fact be a bug so to speak. A bacterium, if not vibrio cholerae a similar little bastard that will become such a danger due to the lack of both sanitation and almost no resistance in the population during extreme stress that I suspect it will spread so fast in densely populated areas without sufficient clean water and hygiene as to wipe out up to 90% of the people. Yes I pulled that number out of thin air but I believe the population densities and the immediate need of water will make avoiding contact almost impossible for most. Also on my mind is the lack of knowledge in the population of proper water sterilization combined with the proper disposal of bodily waste not to mention physical contact with contaminated individuals in high density areas that will probably seal their fate. I also suspect proper treatment will be substandard among heavy populations due to a lack of manpower and clean water. One other possible result I also expect would be an explosion in cases of both hepatitis and parasites like bedbugs, lice and intestinal worms. Best to learn about and consider ones options ahead of time.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1433127/

http://tsc.tractorsupply.com/tractor/Duramycin-10

[special-k]

I agree 100%.  I have always figured disease causing pathogens will be the cause of the overwhelming majority of deaths post civilization collapse.  Every day cuts and scratches will easily become deadly...not to mention airborne diseases! 

I have focused my prepping specifically to battle pathogens; with everything from mounds of surgical style gloves, respiratory masks and eye protection... to stocks of immune specific supplements, vitamins, minerals and herbs...and oh yeah, silver based medicine and homemade solutions with a nearly infinite ability to produce more post collapse.

[Treaded]

Good assessment.  And it's spot on.  Even if a pathogen didn't cause it a huge outbreak of disease would still likely be the largest killer in urban areas.  Once the water and electricity go off with no trash pickup or sanitation densely populated urban centers are going to be nothing but stewpots of contagion.  This was one weeks worth in NYC:



Take a look at this article - and it was due to just snowfall.  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1344744/Now-New-York-faces-invasion-RATS-garbage-bags-pile-snow-chaos.html

Rats carry more than 35 diseases that are transferable to humans and other mammals.  Once it gets bad they're going to have to quarantine cities otherwise this will spread as people move out seeking food and shelter.

[Colombo]

Great pic and article Treaded, now think about all that piled up trash and inexperienced people cooking rat kabobs or boiling water on open fires around it with no fire dept and how many abandoned vehicles...



Dresden 1945 pops to mind more than Chicago 1871

[JohnyMac]

Its funny that this subject has come up as my brother and I were just talking to it. Of the many things we thought we might do the number 1 item was the removal of human waste.

Our biggest concern is we have a typical septic system at the BOL which will fill quickly with up to 12 people using it. Having 12 people use it daily will not allow the system to work as designed and back ups will azure. So we decided to build a outhouse immediately if SHTF.

http://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/pubs/html/95231202/95231202.html#INTRO

Check out Dehydrating Toilet on the above site.

[Treaded]

Dresden is going to be nothing compared to it.  When the toilet fills up what do you think they'll do?  Then multiply that x 8.2 million people (in the case of NYC).  Between the rats and the flies I'm willing to bet they end up with at least an 80%+ fatality rate among healthy adults and a 90%+ among infants and the elderly.  And about a week after those bodies start piling up here comes the plague.  And that's before the gangs go to war full scale fighting over what's left.  If you've ever been to Sarajevo, Mogadishu, or Port Au Prince that'll give you a little picture of what's in store for those ultra-urban areas.

The problem I have with the dehydrating toilet is ya still have to shovel that dried out sludge - thereby increasing your chance for contact with a biological nasty.  If you are using a well for water then a pit toilet is out too.  Burning is probably the safest and most effective means but it typically requires some kind of external fuel to burn be it petroleum or natural (leaves, wood, etc).

JM - one thing you can do to increase the capability of your septic system is to reroute everything but the toilets to a "grey water" area - basically create an additional set of field lines that handle nothing but fluids.  My grandfather back int he day had 14 kids (total of 16 people in the house) and the only thing that routed to his septic tank was the toilets.  A good dose of dried brewers yeast once a month kept it running like clockwork.  Once again keep it away from the well. 

[JohnyMac]

Great tip Treaded!

At our home in RI we are on the water so we have an electrical toilet from Incinolet (My wife calls it the atomic toilet) and all gray water goes to a small septic system and then leach field.

Of course in a SHTF seneraio electric will go down and the Incinolet will be worthless. Hopefully we will be at the BOL when that happens.