How to survive a Zomboid finger death scratch

[Whiskeyjack]

I've seen the odd comment about how your character is doomed to the zomboid netherworld once you've been "scratched". So far I've survived over 10 different scratch scenarios. I hope the guide below is helpful for anyone looking to avoid the almighty 'zomboid finger death scratch'.

Here is how I survive a scratch (if you're interested)

List of necessary items: (ie. never leave home without them)

1. Lots of food (for about 2-3 days worth of eating every 2-6 hours in game)
2. Bottle of Disinfectant (or alcohol wipes)
3. Sterlized rags and/or sterilized bandages (take a bottle of disinfectant or Whiskey and use some of it to sterilize the rag/bandage). You'll need around 4 - 8 rags/bandages
4. Painkillers
5. Books, magazines, entertainment
6. Access to sleep (bed, tent, chair, couch, whatever you can get access to sleep on)

Procedure:

1. Disinfect scratch site with the "bottle of disinfectant" or Whiskey.
2. Bandage the scratch with a "sterlized rag or sterilzed bandage". A normal rag or bandage won't be as effective.
3. Eat some food. Preferrably something that gives you the "well fed" moodie icon (for healing bonus)
4. Sleep for no more than 2-3 hours, then remove bandage.
5. Repeat 1 - 4 (even if the bandage looks clean) for a minimum of 24 hours (in game)
6. Day two you should be changing the bandage every 4-6 hours and keeping your food up too.
Note 1: Read a book when you notice your character getting the "stressed or anxious" moodie.
Note 2: Keep activity low. Don't go on runs or looting missions. Stay at base camp and focus solely on getting that scratch to fade away.
Note 3. If your character is experiencing a lot of pain. Make sure to pop those painkillers to help. You won't be able to get rid of all the pain but you should be able to stay at the lowest moodie icon.

Somewhere around day three you should notice the scratch site fading and your character should be improving. Keep the scratch site clean with disinfectant and a steriziled rag/bandage and you'll have a strong chance of pulling through.

If you have a negative character trait for healing and being prone to infection. You can still survive a scratch. You will need to be incredibly vigilant to do so, but you have a chance with the above procedure.

Let me know if this works for you the way it has for me.

[Teotwawki]

Have things changed with scratch infection chance then?

I've seen it mentioned that there is roughly a 3% to 5% chance to escape a bite without being infected. (Probably 96% zombie-infection chance per bite).

Also, I've seen it mentioned that there was a 70% to 80% chance to escape a scratch without being infected. (Probably 25% zombie-infection chance per scratch).

I was under the impression that if a character failed these RNG rolls, then no matter what precautions were taken from that point forward, the best that could be hoped for is to delay the time of death due to zombie infection.

I believe that zombie-infection and normal-infections can both lead to death, and your guide is probably very helpful at avoiding normal-infection.

However, unless things have changed, I think you have had RNG "roll statistically correct" 7 or 8 times, "roll lucky" 1 or 2 times and "roll very lucky" once.

Perhaps things have changed, but I'd be trying seriously hard not to get scratched again ;)

[Mr. Quiet]

Great first aid info at the very least! In my experience, if a zombie wounds you and breaks the skin, it is generally mortal. I think having the 'blood and saliva' transmission toggled also affects this outcome too. Still, these are real good first aid tips for new survivors!

[Whiskeyjack]

I haven't noticed the RNG affecting the medical procedure. However, I tend to always select "Lucky" when I create a character (but not always).

Hard to say why I've had success with this.

Finally, the guide does reference "scratch" and not "bite". I've survived a bite before but I haven't troubleshot the above medical procedure for "bites"

Hope that helps. :)

[Nerdygamer1]

I've never had any issues with being scratched. I think I usually just slap a rag on it and call it a day. Granted, if I have the supplies, I will try and disinfect the wound/rag, but I thought that was just to keep the pain down. I've never had anything other than a bite get marked as "infected"

[SilentDeath777]

There is a way to notice what situation is what. You actualy have to watch the health bar for a reason, because even if you patched it up you have to watch the bar closely once you notice it that it goes down you are safely zombified even after patching it up, then even eating food won't do anymore good. But to notice that it requires simply put to be not hungry or fed while watching it. More often then not its end up turning to Zombified status once it goes down with an almost not noticeable drop. Thats how you actualy see it if it happens. (Wound infections of desinfectation don't matter there.)

[Rey Skywalker stan]

I got scratched once because I thought "Oh yeh, I can handle them" And I totally freaked out.

I ran into a room, locked door, began slowly crying, and thought "GOD PLASE DON'T LET ME BE INFECTED" I began to use disinfect on my wound.. I think I used 5 bottles, then some whiskey.

My character was so much pain and there were zombies banging on the door, and I only had one painpill which did nothing. I was able to make it in the end but Oh gosh it was so scary for me xD