When it comes to survival, bad advice is just as dangerous as the threat of wilderness. Movies, TV shows, and even friends who mean well have spread dangerous survival myths that appear intelligent yet threaten your safety. Some of the most common tips are completely wrong – believing them may even lead to death. Let’s address these myths now so you know what steps to take if you ever find yourself lost or in trouble.
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You Can Suck the Venom Out of a Snake Bite
Movie scenes show heroes pulling venom from snake bites with their mouths to save lives. But in reality? This does not work because you cannot remove enough venom to help. Sucking the wound can worsen the injury and introduce bacteria. The venom spreads too quickly for this method to work effectively.
What to do instead: Stay as still as possible and get immediate medical assistance. Moving less helps slow down the spread of venom through your body.
Rubbing Frostbitten Skin Will Warm It Up
When skin and tissue freeze because of freezing temperatures they develop frostbite. Rubbing damages frozen tissue, making things worse. Friction can inflict irreversible damage to body vessels.
What to do instead: Reheat the affected area gradually using warm water but ensure it’s not hot – and keep it covered. Seek medical help ASAP.
You Should Play Dead If a Bear Attacks
In a bear attack, what you do depends on the type of bear attacking you – making a mistake could result in death. You need to know whether you should fight back or play dead.
What to do: When facing a black bear attack stand tall and yell to make yourself appear larger – resist the urge to flee. When facing an attack from a grizzly bear, you should play dead by lying flat on your belly and shielding your neck. But defend yourself if a bear is actively hunting you.
Drinking Cactus Water Will Keep You Hydrated
Stranded in the desert? DO NOT drink from a random cactus. The water found inside many cacti contains toxins that can lead to sickness or hallucinations when consumed. Vomiting and diarrhea will dehydrate you faster.
What to do instead: In desperate situations, you can search for barrel cacti, which may hold drinkable water. Searching for shade and conserving energy is the safest option until you locate an authentic water source.
You Can Always Tell Which Plants Are Safe by Testing a Small Amount
Thinking the “universal edibility test” is reliable is a dangerous misconception. A single bite of some berries or plants can be deadly. Delayed reactions from toxic plants may give the false impression that they are safe to consume. Some plants like water hemlock can cause death within a few hours.
What to do instead: Consuming wild plants without expert knowledge is dangerous unless you can identify them with absolute certainty.
You Should Ration Water in a Survival Situation
When you’re stranded with minimal water supplies, you might believe that drinking small amounts can extend its availability, but this method has serious health risks. Not drinking enough water can result in your body becoming dehydrated more quickly. Your body requires continuous water intake to function properly.
What to do instead: You should drink water when you feel thirsty and continue to search for additional water sources to maintain proper body function.
You Can Use a Car Battery to Boil Water for Drinking
Survivors in movies often connect car batteries to create fires, but this technique is difficult to implement in real survival situations. Car batteries don’t have enough power to bring water to a boil. Trying to boil water with a car battery might even result in toxic fumes or trigger an explosion.
What to do instead: Boil water using a controlled fire. If possible, use purification tablets or filters.
If You’re Lost, Follow a River to Find Civilization
The statement is partially true but fails to guarantee safety at all times. Some rivers lead away from civilization and continue deeper into the wilderness. Following a river path can take you to hazardous areas with cliffs and rapids. Moreover, you risk becoming totally exhausted as you attempt to move through difficult terrain.
What to do instead: As you follow the course of a river, maintain a safe distance and search for signs of trails, bridges and signs of human activity.
You Can Find Direction by Moss Growing on Trees
The survival myth that trees have moss only on their north side is incorrect. Trees can support moss growth on any side as long as there is enough moisture and shade. If you rely on this myth, you will likely become more lost.
What to do instead: Navigate your way through the wilderness by using the sun or stars or a compass instead of moss.
If an Animal Eats It, It’s Safe for You Too
The fact that an animal eats a plant doesn’t automatically mean that humans can consume it safely. Birds, squirrels and other animals have different digestive systems compared to humans. In fact, many animal species can consume berries and mushrooms that would be lethal to humans.
What to do instead: It’s best to eat only familiar safe foods but prioritize locating water and shelter above all else.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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