Over the years, you have probably been told or read about several survival tips for when SHTF, but what are the chances ALL of them actually work? Not high. And they might just do you more harm than good! We are here to debunk these myths and set the record straight.
Here is a list of myths that don’t actually work:
- Myth 1: You can suck the venom out of a snakebite.
This is so not true. When someone is bitten by a snake, the venom is immediately entered into the bloodstream. If you put your mouth on the wound, you are exposing it to more bacteria and exposing your mouth and esophagus to the venom. If someone gets bitten, try to keep their heart rate low and hold the infected limb above heart level. - Myth 2: Always play dead when you are attacked by a bear.
The general advice if you are out in the woods and see a bear, it is best to quietly back away. In the case of an actual attack, your response should depend on the type of bear and the type of attack. A brown or grizzly bear attacks because it is defending its cubs. These kinds of bears will pretend to charge at you, back away slowly and defensively. In the rare case that the attack is predatory, fight for your life. - Myth 3: You need to find a food supply immediately if you are lost in the wilderness.
This is not even close. You can survive up to six weeks without food. The exact amount of time might vary depending on your overall health, but water and shelter from the elements are far more important. - Myth 6: If an animal eats something, it’s safe for you to eat it.
Again, not true. Animals can eat some berries and mushrooms that would kill a person if they were to eat it. Avoid at all costs. - Myth 7: Rub someone’s skin or put them in a hot tub to warm them up.
Rubbing skin that is frostbitten can damage it even more and hot water can be shocking to a person’s system. You need to warm them up slowly with blankets or putting bottles of warm water on them. - Myth 8: If a shark attacks you, punch it in the nose.
It is actually really hard to land a good punch on the nose of a moving shark. If a shark comes for a bite, try to put a solid object between you and the animal. - Myth 9: Always swim parallel to shore if you are caught in the current.
Swimming directly parallel to shore only works if the current goes directly out to sea. The general idea is to stay along the shore, but swim perpendicular to the current as much as you can. Try not to tire yourself out too much. If you can’t swim, tread water until you can.
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