1. That you should conserve water in the desert. People have died of dehydration while still having water on them because they tried to ration it.
2. Pulling out the bullet. They do it in all the movies. It’s a stupid intervention that has no indication and can just do more harm.
3. Suck Venom from Snakebites: Venom enters the bloodstream too fast, and sucking it introduces bacteria, worsening the wound.
4. Eat Snow for Hydration: Eating snow lowers core body temperature, risking hypothermia; melt it first.
5. Rub Frostbite: Rubbing causes ice crystals to break tissues, leading to more damage.
6. The idea that moss only grows on the north side of a tree could be dangerous, like i wouldn’t want anyone to think of that as a reliable method of navigation. Moss is not a compass.
The idea though comes from the idea that trees receive less sunlight on the northern side of their trunk, at least in the northern hemisphere, which leads to better moisture retention on that side. Really though moss can thrive anywhere as long as it has constant access to moisture.
7.Do not put on a lifejacket while within a vessel that is travelling over or within water. Vessel sinks, you’re inside with lifejacket on, water inside activates self inflation and you’re pushed against the deck head/ceiling because of pressure. You can’t deflate it, and you can’t take it off because of air and water pressure.
8. Narrow River Crossings: Narrower spots often have faster, deeper water; wider, shallower areas are safer.
9. Drowning Victims Flail & Yell: Real drowning victims often go silent as their bodies prioritize breathing over speech.
10. Drinking alcohol warms you. In reality it cause a rush of warm blood to the surface making you feel warm but lowering your core temperature
11. Getting shipwrecked on an island then building a ‘boat’ and leaving the island to find civilization. There are way too many things that will kill you in the water and you are so much harder for rescue personnel to see. Always stay on the island.
12. This may be a myth in of itself but never wear black when trying to hide at night. It’s something I learned in the military but it was recommended to use a darker Grey or Brown. Since black is the absence of light it would silhouette you in low light conditions like full moons
13. Walking anywhere if you’re lost in the wilderness. As long as someone knows where you should be and when you should have been back, stay put so rescuers can find you.
14. If an animal eats it, you can eat it. Terrible advice.
15. Hiding under a bridge during a tornado. Reality is the underpass will act as a funnel, increasing the wind speed. Better to find a low spot or drainage ditch and lie down on the ground, protecting your head from flying debris.
16. Jumping into a trash can from a tall building.
17. Running away from an alligator in a zigzag. You’ll just give it a better chance to catch you. Run straight; they’re fast over short distances, but not for long.
18. Drinking your own urine will not help you stave off dying of thirst. In fact, it will make you more dehydrated as urine contains salts and minerals your body purges.