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Knowing survival skills is essential. It can save your life, and if you are aware enough, you can save another life too.
Most of us may think that we can handle an emergency situation just fine. After all, it all depends on the human spirit, doesn’t it?
Actually, it doesn’t. Survival technique is an exact science. And just like other fields out there, it is prone to stupid myths too.
1. When a snake bites, suck out the poison
Snake venom can only be countered by antivenin, and it doesn’t matter how well you can suck the blood out of the wound. There is a good chance that the person who is sucking the blood out can get venom inside him too, or the wound may get infected with saliva.
The best solution here is taking the victim to the nearest hospital, and to describe the snake properly to the doctor there.
2. Punching a shark on its nose when it tries to eat you
Sharks have been around on this planet for literally hundreds of millions of years. Also, they are one of the most efficient predators on the planet. Why would such an awesome predator be afraid of nose boops flimsy humans will give it.
Punching a shark on its nose won’t do anything. It will still eat you. Even if you punch like Mohammad Ali.
3. Taking bullet/metal out after you have been shot or stabbed
Bullets are extremely hot when they are fired, and hence, instantly cauterize the wound they create. They are not harmful inside the body per se. But if you do get shot, do not pull the bullet out because you might just bleed to death. Let the doctors do the work.
4. Eating snow in the cold when you are thirsty
Let’s say you run out of water during a hike through the snow-covered mountains. What do you drink? Snow, obviously! It is, after all, frozen water, right?
WRONG.
Seawater is also salty water in the end, but that also kills you. The same thing holds for snow, which will dehydrate you even further, and you will still be thirsty. The best thing you can do is melt it over some fire and drink it after boiling the melted water.
5. Putting something in the mouth of a person suffering from a seizure
Seizures can snap a human jaw shut very tightly. It is not advisable to try to pry open it when the person is going through one. If you force it open too hard you can break their jaw or even a couple of teeth.
The best thing you can do is turn the person on their side so that he/she doesn’t choke on their own saliva – a problem that is actually real.
6. Drinking whiskey because you are too cold
Drinking alcohol actually lowers your body temperature. But you feel warm just because the blood flow is diverted to your skin. You just feel warm, you are NOT warm at all.
7. Drinking your own pee when you are stranded
Urine is salty. Also, it is a waste product of our body. The same exact waste you body DOESN’T need at all. Putting it back into your system will only dehydrate it even further.
8. Putting your head back after a nose bleed
Tilting our head back is the first thing everyone does after getting a nose bleed. But you should NOT. Tilting it back makes the blood flow into your throat, and in the meantime, if you breathe, the blood can go in your windpipe, choking you.
You should instead lean forward and pinch your nose until the bleeding stops.
9. Run away if you see a wild animal
If you happen to encounter a wild animal like a leopard, wolf or a bear in a forest, chances are you are doomed for real. I am not even kidding. And our basic instinct will tell us to flee but that is a bad idea too.
When you start running from a wild animal, you are automatically putting yourself in the category of a prey. That’s what the wild animal will think too.
Try to stay calm and walk out silently and cautiously, you might just make it.
10. Not letting people doze off after a head injury
If someone fainted due to a collision on their head, let them sleep. Forcing them to wake up by slapping them or by screaming “Don’t you give up on me!” will not do any good.
The myth comes from the era when we didn’t have X-rays and MRI scanners. That’s when the doctors checked on the patients by waking them up.
Now we can just see how bad it is on a computer monitor.
11. Vomiting after consuming poison
This myth does make sense logically that when you consume something poisonous, vomiting it out will throw the toxic stuff out.
But the problem with this technique is that when you vomit it out, there is a chance that the poison may harm your throat and mouth all over again.
That’s why doctors use a stomach pump.
12. trying to find a way home when you are lost
It is adventurous when you take it upon yourself and set out to find your way back – just like every inspiring story ever. But assuming you haven’t been a douchebag and have told your folks where you have gone trekking you should just camp where you are and wait for help.
This way you conserve more energy, rather than going into the wild and not getting any more lost in the way.
13. Getting to a doorway during an earthquake
Get under a table, bed or stand in the doorway. That’s what we were taught to do when an earthquake struck. But what with the modern building techniques, the materials used have gotten cheaper and more flimsy. They are no longer the heavy teak wood thick frames your grandfather’s house had.
The doorway will probably not hold at all, and neither will the table. Your best bet is your bed, or the outdoors.
14. Cutting open a cactus and drinking the water in there
The water from cactus will more likely give you severe diarrhea, dehydrating you further.
15. Giving CPR
CPR is not that effective as they make it out to be. Improperly given CPR can cause fractured ribs or a fractured sternum too. It is best if you wait for the emergency services before you do more harm than good, or let someone take control who has a proper first-aid training to give CPR.
16. Rationing water in the desert
Humans are not camels. We do have novel ways to store water so that it can be used later. Humans need to drink water regularly, and in a desert this need is amplified.
Also, the leftover saved water is no good if you faint out of dehydration because you are saving water for later.
17. Finding water immediately when in a desert
This is literally the worst thing you can do. Your survival chances are almost zero because you are in a desert, and if you expend energy wandering in the sun, looking for water, it is only going to get worse.
The best thing you can do is wait in a shade and move only when it is cooler – in the mornings or evenings. This is because you will sweat less and conserve energy.
18. Trying to build a shelter when you are lost in the woods
When stranded in a forest, your top priority should be fire and insulation from the cold. Making a roof that goes over your head is secondary. You may build the perfect roof but it is the wet and cold ground that is the silent killer.
Many campers lose a lot of body heat because of cold forest floors. Make a nice insulated and warm bed before a roof.
19. Rub sticks together to create fire
Unless you are a true pro and the weather is completely on your side, it is highly unlikely you can pull this off easily. Rubbing two pieces of wood together is a demanding job on your muscles.
Carry waterproof matches. Or flint stones.
20. Peeing on jellyfish wounds
Jellyfish wounds do sting a lot. And the most popular remedy that has been countlessly portrayed on TV doesn’t work at all. It only makes the stinging feeling burn more, and not to mention that embarrassing feeling when your friend pees on you.
It is not only the techniques that matter, but how to use them and when to use them also is equally important. When you go off on an adventure, it is very important that you keep the famous scout’s motto in your mind –
“Be prepared!”
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