6 Survival Myths That Could Get You Killed

Despite all the information available on survival, many people still aren’t sure about what to do in that kind of situation. It is very easy to get lost and not have a clue what to do. It is a good idea for anyone who ever gets out into nature to have some sort of survival training, and not just listen to many of the old wives tales that get circulated around.

Berries

If you are lost or injured, and far away from civilization, there are some things you ‘should’ do and things you ‘should not’ do. One of the dangerous things a person can do is to choose the wrong thing to try to eat. Naturally some berries sounds like a good idea. However, eating the wrong berry can certainly kill you.

Living Outdoors

Remember that the people doing the survival bits on TV actually have support within a few feet at all times. Sometimes survival is more about lasting long enough to effect rescue than actually living outdoors. Studies show that 80 percent of all people who face survival situations in the U.S. are day hikers. It is easy to get a false sense of security when you are taking in the beautiful scenery. However, danger can be right around the corner.

Dead Animals

Survival is about having a list of priorities. Aside from eating the wrong berries, eating animals that you find dead can be a very bad move. You have no way of knowing what killed that animal. It could have been weakened by something poisonous. A fish floating in the water, is not a good idea for a meal. Find a way to catch one alive.

Water

Another thing that can kill you, is bad water. A lot of people with an interest in the outdoors have seen the guys on dual survival find their water sources. Most survivalists will tell you not to bust open a cactus and start drinking. It needs to be the right kind of cactus. You also should not drink from just any stream. There is bad bacteria in a lot of streams that could make you deathly ill, to say the least.

TV Shows

I know many people have seen those TV guys drink their own urine. Unless you have been trained on that, it’s not a good idea. Also, if you have never killed a snake, you may want to just avoid it altogether, it only takes one bite to leave you out there to die. It’s just not worth it. You also need to know how to clean them properly before eating them.

Common Sense

One more thing you should do is not panic. Remain calm and conserve your energy. If you really want to learn how to survive in the wild, take some courses and training. Going out with just good common sense has caused many people not to come back. Not everything makes good common sense. It has its place but isn’t always the answer.