Hello everyone, Robert Raskin of Las Vegas here, and today I’d like to talk to you about the common survival tactics many of us have heard about that could actually end up getting you killed. A part of being prepared is doing your research and being able to differentiate fact from fiction before you are in a life-or-death situation.
Suck Out the Poison
If movies taught you to pull out your pocket knife, cut open a snake bite, and suck out the poison, it’s time to choose different movies! Not only will sucking the poison out of the wound not do any good as the venom will already be in your bloodstream, you could actually poison yourself or someone else by putting snake venom into your mouth.
Take Cover
We all hear that if you are lost in the forest the first thing you need to do, after you get your bearings, is to make a shelter. The problem is many of us do not know specifically what kind of shelter you’ll need to build, and this can be a matter of life or death. Making a roof is important, but keeping yourself off the forest floor is a bigger priority, because the forest floor will get your clothes wet, and THAT will kill you.
Drink Melted Snow
Snow is made from frozen water, so if you are dehydrated in the snow, you can just drink melted snow, right? WRONG. Snow will dehydrate you just the same way seawater will, so it’s better to melt the snow over the fire first, boil it, and then drink it.
Run from Predators
There is so much conflicting advice out there about what to do if you come face to face with a dangerous predator like a wolf or a bear. Do you play dead? Do you run? Running will make the predator see you as prey, and they have more experience taking prey down than you have running from a predator. It’s better to stand your ground and make yourself as intimidating as possible.
Drink Alcohol to Warm Up
If a Saint Bernard comes to rescue you from the snow with a brandy barrel around his neck, tell him you’re the designated driver! Contrary to folk wisdom about drinking alcohol to warm up, it will actually lower your body temperature. Sure, it’ll make you feel warm, but you’ll freeze to death just the same.
Chances are you won’t find yourself in any of these situations, but if you do you’ll need more than a smartphone to save your life. Check back with me, Robert Raskin, regularly, because I post new advice and articles twice a week.