Learn the truth about these commonly held but incorrect beliefs—before it’s too late!

 

Hello all! Rob Raskin of Las Vegas here again, and today I’d like to discuss the truth behind some of the myths many preppers believe that could cost them their lives. When it comes to survival, believing something simply because it’s what you’ve read or what the experts said or the way your grandfather did it isn’t enough.

 

There are a lot of commonly-held beliefs that simply aren’t true. Separating fact from fiction is something you’ll need to do now, before TEOTWAWKI, because afterward it’ll be too late.

 

Ready to bust ten of the biggest survival myths? Keep reading!

 

10 Survival Myths Busted

These ten survival myths are far from being the only prevalent myths out there. While these are important, it’s just as important to double-check any information you get that is related to your survival.

 

If You See a Bear, Play Dead

The myth: If you see a bear, you should play dead to get it to leave you alone.

 

The reality: Playing dead when you see a bear is a great way to end up in that bear’s stomach. This technique will only work if you’re trying to get a mother grizzly who is trying to defend her cubs to leave you alone. Try it with any other bear and you won’t end up on the winning end of that situation. Research the bears that are in your area and find out how to handle each individual type and situation. For example, in most cases you should back away from a bear as quickly as you can, and if it’s a black bear you’d better hope you have a weapon handy.

 

Use Moss as a Compass

The myth: Even without a compass you can navigate your way through the forest by relying upon moss, which always grows on the north side of trees.

 

The reality: Moss can grow on any side of the tree where it can safely avoid sunlight. The location of moss on trees is entirely dependent upon their location and how much sun or shade they get, and it has nothing to do with a compass. To reliably find your direction in the forest, learn how to use the sun, moon, and stars as your guides. They’ve been there for millennia, and they’re much more reliable.

 

Rubbing Sticks Together Creates Fire

The myth: If you need to start a fire but you don’t have matches it’s no problem, because you can rub two sticks together to create a flame.

 

The reality: Unless you’ve had a lot of practice starting a fire this way, you may be rubbing those sticks together for a long time without any effect. It’s better to keep matches in a waterproof container or to invest in waterproof matches or other fire-starting implement. And remember, you can’t use matches once they’ve gotten wet, even if they’ve since dried. The chemicals will be ruined once they’re wet.

Yes, friction is a way to create a flame, but no, you can’t just rub any two sticks together. Friction-fire techniques require practice, patience, and luck. Just because it looks easy on television, don’t assume you’ll be able to do it under pressure without a lot of practice.

 

Drink Whiskey to Stay Warm

The myth: If it’s cold, you can warm up by drinking alcohol.

 

The reality: Alcohol will make you get cold even faster because it dilates your blood vessels. While you may temporarily feel warmer, this will only serve to mask the signs of hypothermia. Instead, try warming up with a shelter, some mylar blankets, and a warm non-alcoholic beverage. If you find a cave to take shelter in, be sure you don’t light a fire instead or you could cause a collapse. Also, remember a well-constructed shelter will keep you warmer than a fire will.

 

Animals Eat Raw Meat, and So Can You

The myth: To survive, you can eat what the animals eat—including raw meat.

 

The reality: Raw meat, raw fish, and many other things that are safe for animals to eat are most definitely not safe for human consumption. While they can be in certain circumstances, you won’t know whether or not the raw meat you’re consuming has been contaminated by pathogens until it’s too late. If you want to stay safe, make sure any meat or fish you consume has been thoroughly cooked beforehand, and educate yourself about the edible plants in your area.

 

Suck the Poison Out of a Snake Bite

The myth: If you are bitten by a venomous snake, cut the puncture holes with a knife and suck the poison out of the wound.

 

The reality: The last thing you want to do with an open wound is put your mouth on it, because your mouth is filled with bacteria. Snake venom travels to the bloodstream far faster than you can possibly suck it out. Not to mention the fact that you don’t want venom in your mouth! If there are still doctors after TEOTWAWKI, your best bet is to compress the wound and get the victim to a doctor. Educate yourself about the snakes in your area and learn how to avoid them.

 

 

These are the top five most dangerous animal attack myths.

 

EMP myths debunked by a NASA engineer.