11 Survival Myths That Could Kill You

Survival occurs when preparation surpasses the weight of the situation in front of you. Preparation, as we all know, is something that you do on a daily basis.

You want to stay prepared so you don’t have to get prepared.

However, when you are taking in poor information you are unknowingly setting yourself up for failure of the potentially deadly variety. Today we are going to look at 11 survival myths that continually get perpetuated on the internet and in other forms of media. If you want to stay alive when disaster strikes, sometimes you need to know what not to do.

 Myth: Physically rub frostbitten skin

Survival Myths Than Can Kill You

No, no, no. Faux survival experts everywhere seem to believe that you must rub down frostbitten skin in order to try and rejuvenate the injury. Not only will doing this be painful but it will also cause immense tissue damage. Instead focus on slowly re-warming the afflicted areas while using painkillers to calm the worst of the hurt.

 Myth: Focus on finding food first

Survival Myths Than Can Kill You
Source

A human being can survive without food for about three weeks. It won’t be fun, but you will live. However, it takes only three days for you to die from dehydration. In life or death survival situation focus on: water, shelter and food — in that order.

Myth: Suck out a snake’s venom

Survival Myths Than Can Kill You

You can thank Hollywood for this survival myth. When a snake bites you the last thing you want to do is get the venom in your mouth. You won’t be able to suck faster than the poison spreads, anyway. Call 911, clean the wound as best you can, and focus on keeping the injury physically below your heart level. Oh, and pray. There are dozens of deadly snakes throughout North America, so hope you didn’t stumble upon one.

Myth: Let someone with hypothermia nap

Survival Myths Than Can Kill You

Rest may be the great cure for many afflictions, but not hypothermia. If you or someone you know is suffering from hypothermia you need to keep them awake until they are warmed through to the bones. A byproduct of hypothermia is drowsiness, so you must pay close attention to this symptom.