Random Survival Myths That Are Completely Wrong (12 items)

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  (#5) MYTH: Any Kind Of Shelter Is Better Than No Shelter At All

  Whether you're lost in an area with stifling heat or frigid cold, finding shelter is important - as long as it's the right kind of shelter. 

  In hot conditions, it's best to construct a shelter with adequate airflow so you don't sweat and lose valuable hydration. The shelter is an ideal place to be during the hottest times of the day, so it should provide protection from direct sunlight.

  Cold environments necessitate a structure that can block wind and insulate as much warmth as possible. That said, if you build a fire in it, make sure the smoke can escape. 

  Survival experts make it clear the ground itself is important for finding adequate shelter. Digging a hole in the ground can keep a person cooler or warmer, for example. Don't count out natural shelters like caves and rock overhangs. 
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  (#7) MYTH: Suck The Poison Out Of A Snakebite

  Sucking venom from a snakebite is a relatively common movie trope, but in reality, it's not a good idea. According to medical professionals like Dr. Barry Gold, "the only thing that's effective is taking [the person] to the hospital."

  Attempting to suck the poison after a snake strikes may make things worse because putting one's mouth on the bite can lead to infection. It's also dangerous to cut open the wound to remove the venom. Both acts could also damage nerves and blood vessels.

  Tourniquets and ice are also ill-advised.
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  (#4) MYTH: Alligators Won't Catch You If You Zigzag As You Run Away

  There's a misconception that, should you come across an alligator, running away from it in a zigzag pattern will help you escape. Alligator expert Frank Mazzotti told the Los Angeles Times in 2012: 

  The shortest distance between two points is a straight line, and that’s the fastest... Run away in a straight line. Everything you hear about running in a zigzag line is untrue.

  Although alligators move quickly on land and in water, achieving speeds as high as 9 and 10 mph, respectively, on the whole, alligators generally don't go after someone unless they're provoked. 
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  (#8) MYTH: You Can Wait Until You Hear A Tornado Before You Need To Take Cover

  Weather outlets issue tornado watches and warnings to indicate whether conditions are right for a storm or if one's been sighted, respectively. Although it seems like an okay idea to wait until you hear the actual tornado to take cover, if you hear it - you're likely too late to get to safety.

  In the instance of a tornado, you also don't need to open the windows to relieve pressure or find the southwest corner of the building.

  An additional myth about surviving a tornado involves driving when one strikes. Contrary to popular belief, crawling under a highway overpass to seek shelter is a dangerous option. Meteorologist Phill Warren explained that "winds will actually funnel under the bridge and accelerate," causing objects to fly around or the road to collapse. Staying in your car or finding a ditch to lie flat in are the best options. 
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  (#11) MYTH: If You Get Stabbed, Pull The Object Out

  Punctures require immediate pressure and some sort of absorbent material for blood, but if the knife or other implement is still in, do not pull it out. Removing it may open up a deeper wound or remove the pressure the knife is applying inside.

  By leaving the object in, you're essentially plugging the hole up. Dr. Malcom Mahadevan put it this way:

  Once you pull out the knife, it's like the proverbial guy who has his finger stuck in the wall to stop the water from coming through. The minute you pull out the finger, or in this case, the knife, that's it.

  This is true for even the smallest of impalements. Emergency physician Gail Larkin recalled:

  I had a patient once with a very tiny stab wound to his chest. Someone on the scene had pulled out the knife by the time we arrived. The patient argued vehemently that he didn't want to go to the hospital. It was... tiny...  like a fingernail slit. It was hardly bleeding. He felt fine. We finally convinced him to go as he began to feel lightheaded. He died of a tiny but fatal puncture... to his heart. If the knife had been left in his chest, who knows if he would have lived.
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  (#1) MYTH: Drink Cactus Water If You're Stuck In A Desert

  When lost and dehydrated in the desert, one option is to cut open a cactus and drink water from it, right? Wrong. 

  Drinking water from a cactus is not only dangerous, but also can exacerbate dehydration. Cactus water contains acids and toxic alkaloids, chemicals that are deadly to humans when consumed. The chemicals come from the cactus flesh itself and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and, in the long term, kidney problems. 

  The spiny outsides of cacti are especially perilous, too, but cactus fruit like that of the prickly pear is safe - if you can find it. The cactus water you find on store shelves is actually made out of these fruits, not from the water stored in the plants. 

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