As quoted by MSN:
http://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/15-survival-myths-that-could-actually-kill-you/ss-BBiEHCz
1. MYTH: YOU NEED TO FIND FOOD RIGHT AWAY
One of the biggest survival myths is that you need to invest energy and take risks in order to immediately find food, said Ras Jason Vaughan, a veteran thru-hiker, ultra-runner and adventurer who is better known as UltraPedestrian Ras. Shows on television depict survivalists eating raw worms and chewing live snakes to bits within a few hours of being dropped off by a helicopter. Thats just not how real life survival works.
REALITY: SOMETHING ELSE WILL GET YOU FIRST
In reality, you can survive for weeks on just your body's fat stores, as long as you have water to drink. Conserving energy, avoiding injury, and sourcing a supply of water are key to surviving, said Ras. Hunting and trapping prey are hit and miss activities which often produce nothing and simply end up expending energy and risking injury or illness. It's extremely rare for someone to die of starvation in a survival situation. Injury, illness, poisoning and exposure are much [more] likely to result in death. By definition, surviving a situation is short-term, and in the short term a person can be fueled by their fat reserves.
2. MYTH: WITH JUST TWO STICKS ANYONE CAN START A FIRE
None of us would be here today if our ancestors hadnt mastered the fine art of friction firemaking, but this is a skill to practice on camping trips and backyard outings, said Tony Nester of Ancient Pathways Survival School. Its a big mistake to rely solely on friction firemaking in a survival situation, especially when you could end up in a damp environment.
REALITY: PREPARATION IS KEY TO STARTING A FIRE IN THE WILD
Modern survival is about being prepared and carrying at least three firestarters (Stormproof matches, spark-rod, and lighter) with you at all times when in the backcountry, said Nester. I teach primitive firemaking skills to show my students how to perform the method but find that, even under the best of conditions, it is a challenge and not reliable for most people. This is not the method I want to use if I am lost, injured or stranded in the wilds with the sun going down.
3.MYTH: MYTH: REALITY SHOWS ABOUT SURVIVAL WILL HELP YOU PREPARE FOR A DIRE SITUATION
Weve all seen shows like Survivor and Man vs. Wild and while they can be entertaining, you shouldnt take their survival advice seriously.
REALITY: THESE SHOWS ARENT ALWAYS ACCURATE
I've worked as a consultant on several reality shows and these shows are heavily-scripted, said Nester. On one program, there was a crew of 12 people accompanying us, including two staff whose sole job was to drag around coolers filled with double-shot espressos and sandwiches while filming scenes of the host living off the land. There's nothing romantic or fun about real survivalit's only adventure in retrospect.
4. YOU SHOULD SUCK THE VENOM FROM A SNAKE BITE WOUND
Clinical field-trials done by researchers at the University of Arizona have proven that you do more damage to the immediate tissue of a snakebite victim by applying a suction device than if you had left the extremity alone, said Nester. Dont apply ice, a tourniquet, a compression wrap, or attempt the Hollywood cut-and-suck method.
REALITY: GET TO A HOSPITAL QUICKLY
Your best remedy for snakebite is your car keys. Dont waste timetime equals tissue, said Nester. Use good wound care by washing off the bite site, covering with a bandage, and getting the victim to the hospital. Statistically, out of the 6,500 rattlesnake bites in North America each year, there are only 5 or 6 fatalities. Also, 30% of rattlesnake bites are dry so you may not have [been poisoned].Remember the golden rule of desert travel: dont put your hands or feet where you cant see and you will avoid most rattlesnake encounters. And a side notea dead rattlesnake can still bite you long after its been squished on the highway. The bite reflex within the nervous system is still intact for several hours after the snakes demise so dont pick one up lusting after a cool snakeskin belt.
5.MYTH: YOU CAN OUTRUN A BEAR
Its that persistent fear in bear country. Youre coming through a willow thicket, said Nester, and you cant see whats on the other side, and [the bear] cant smell or see you, and you clear the brush andboomtheres one six feet away from you. If the bear doesnt run away first, your own flight instinct is likely to kick in. But be warned...Mark Lebetkin
REALITY: NO YOU CANT; KNOW HOW TO REACT INSTEAD
Running away from a bear is a lost cause: Usain Bolt himself couldnt beat one in a footrace, let alone on uneven terrain. The best thing to do depends on the species. If you encounter a black bear, said Nester, Hold your ground and make yourself look bigopen your coat up, throw your arms up above your headand shout and scream and, a lot of times, theyre as spooked as you are, and will take off. Take the opposite approach with a grizzly: Avoid eye contact, which a bear will perceive to be a challenge. If the bear's not approaching, back away slowly. If it charges, simply stand your ground. If you have pepper spray, be ready to use it and pronto. If it makes physical contact with you, cover your vitals and play dead. (Click here for more details.)Mark Lebetkin
6. MYTH: THE BEST WAY TO STOP A SHARK ATTACK IS BY PUNCHING IT IN THE NOSE
These fascinating giants of the sea are so interesting that theyve earned a whole week of programing on the discovery channel and, unfortunately, more than their fair share of myths. Though being the victim of a shark attack is extremely unlikely, most people think when attacked by a shark, [you should] punch it in the nose to stun it, said Elena Manighetti a long-time outdoor enthusiast and blogger.
REALITY: YOU HAVE A BETTER SHOT AT ESCAPE BY GOING FOR THE EYES
Even though it's true that sharks get stunned if they get punched in the nose, not many people have enough strength to do this, especially underwater, said Manighetti. Even if you could manage the strength to hit the nose hard enough, theres a chance your hand could end up injured by shark teeth. The best way to scare a shark away is to scratch its eyes or gills, it's impossible to overpower these fierce creatures in attack mode.
7. MYTH: YOU NEED TO FIND WATER IMMEDIATELY TO SURVIVE IN DESERT HEAT
There have been many cases of desert survivors enduring without water for up to 48 hours because they holed up in the shade and were smart with their own sweat expenditure, said Nester. Conversely, there have been other hikers who have perished within four hours because they taxed their bodies to the limits trying to locate water during the heat of the afternoon.
REALITY: KEEPING COOL WILL KEEP YOU ALIVE
You will last longer in the heat by holing up in the shade versus searching for nebulous water during the afternoon hours, said Nester. If you do run out of water, find a north-facing boulder and sit in the shade; keep covered like a cowboy to prevent evaporative sweat loss; stay off the hot ground by sitting on your pack or a pile of debris; and only move around during the cooler hours of the morning or evening. If you didnt tell anyone about your travel plans, though, rescue will likely take more than a few hours and you should search for water when the temperature drops.Related: How to SurviveFinding Water in the Desert
8. MYTH: DRINKING YOUR OWN URINE WILL SAVE YOU IN THE DESERT
Gandhi did it. Bear Grylls does it. It sounds logical enough: When there is no water to be found, you can drink your own pee. Your body will just re-filter the bad stuff and extract the usable water, or so the logic goes. After all, when would resorting to this otherwise verboten act be more necessary than in the desert when youre dying of thirst?Mark Lebetkin
REALITY: IT CAN PUSH YOUR BODY OVER THE EDGE
You shouldnt try to quench your thirst with urine for the same reason youre dehydrated: heat. Nester explains: The problem with drinking urinewe hear about it with border crossersthere becomes a tipping point with your bodys ability to thermoregulate. Youre on the cusp of heat exhaustion or heat stroke and you just added one more thing to a body already taxed by the heat. Your kidneys now have to process something, and it taxes your bodys cooling mechanism. If you really want to make your urine useful, though, Nester has some advice: You can pee on a bandana and wear it for evaporative cooling.Mark Lebetkin
Continued next post....
http://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/15-survival-myths-that-could-actually-kill-you/ss-BBiEHCz
1. MYTH: YOU NEED TO FIND FOOD RIGHT AWAY
One of the biggest survival myths is that you need to invest energy and take risks in order to immediately find food, said Ras Jason Vaughan, a veteran thru-hiker, ultra-runner and adventurer who is better known as UltraPedestrian Ras. Shows on television depict survivalists eating raw worms and chewing live snakes to bits within a few hours of being dropped off by a helicopter. Thats just not how real life survival works.
REALITY: SOMETHING ELSE WILL GET YOU FIRST
In reality, you can survive for weeks on just your body's fat stores, as long as you have water to drink. Conserving energy, avoiding injury, and sourcing a supply of water are key to surviving, said Ras. Hunting and trapping prey are hit and miss activities which often produce nothing and simply end up expending energy and risking injury or illness. It's extremely rare for someone to die of starvation in a survival situation. Injury, illness, poisoning and exposure are much [more] likely to result in death. By definition, surviving a situation is short-term, and in the short term a person can be fueled by their fat reserves.
2. MYTH: WITH JUST TWO STICKS ANYONE CAN START A FIRE
None of us would be here today if our ancestors hadnt mastered the fine art of friction firemaking, but this is a skill to practice on camping trips and backyard outings, said Tony Nester of Ancient Pathways Survival School. Its a big mistake to rely solely on friction firemaking in a survival situation, especially when you could end up in a damp environment.
REALITY: PREPARATION IS KEY TO STARTING A FIRE IN THE WILD
Modern survival is about being prepared and carrying at least three firestarters (Stormproof matches, spark-rod, and lighter) with you at all times when in the backcountry, said Nester. I teach primitive firemaking skills to show my students how to perform the method but find that, even under the best of conditions, it is a challenge and not reliable for most people. This is not the method I want to use if I am lost, injured or stranded in the wilds with the sun going down.
3.MYTH: MYTH: REALITY SHOWS ABOUT SURVIVAL WILL HELP YOU PREPARE FOR A DIRE SITUATION
Weve all seen shows like Survivor and Man vs. Wild and while they can be entertaining, you shouldnt take their survival advice seriously.
REALITY: THESE SHOWS ARENT ALWAYS ACCURATE
I've worked as a consultant on several reality shows and these shows are heavily-scripted, said Nester. On one program, there was a crew of 12 people accompanying us, including two staff whose sole job was to drag around coolers filled with double-shot espressos and sandwiches while filming scenes of the host living off the land. There's nothing romantic or fun about real survivalit's only adventure in retrospect.
4. YOU SHOULD SUCK THE VENOM FROM A SNAKE BITE WOUND
Clinical field-trials done by researchers at the University of Arizona have proven that you do more damage to the immediate tissue of a snakebite victim by applying a suction device than if you had left the extremity alone, said Nester. Dont apply ice, a tourniquet, a compression wrap, or attempt the Hollywood cut-and-suck method.
REALITY: GET TO A HOSPITAL QUICKLY
Your best remedy for snakebite is your car keys. Dont waste timetime equals tissue, said Nester. Use good wound care by washing off the bite site, covering with a bandage, and getting the victim to the hospital. Statistically, out of the 6,500 rattlesnake bites in North America each year, there are only 5 or 6 fatalities. Also, 30% of rattlesnake bites are dry so you may not have [been poisoned].Remember the golden rule of desert travel: dont put your hands or feet where you cant see and you will avoid most rattlesnake encounters. And a side notea dead rattlesnake can still bite you long after its been squished on the highway. The bite reflex within the nervous system is still intact for several hours after the snakes demise so dont pick one up lusting after a cool snakeskin belt.
5.MYTH: YOU CAN OUTRUN A BEAR
Its that persistent fear in bear country. Youre coming through a willow thicket, said Nester, and you cant see whats on the other side, and [the bear] cant smell or see you, and you clear the brush andboomtheres one six feet away from you. If the bear doesnt run away first, your own flight instinct is likely to kick in. But be warned...Mark Lebetkin
REALITY: NO YOU CANT; KNOW HOW TO REACT INSTEAD
Running away from a bear is a lost cause: Usain Bolt himself couldnt beat one in a footrace, let alone on uneven terrain. The best thing to do depends on the species. If you encounter a black bear, said Nester, Hold your ground and make yourself look bigopen your coat up, throw your arms up above your headand shout and scream and, a lot of times, theyre as spooked as you are, and will take off. Take the opposite approach with a grizzly: Avoid eye contact, which a bear will perceive to be a challenge. If the bear's not approaching, back away slowly. If it charges, simply stand your ground. If you have pepper spray, be ready to use it and pronto. If it makes physical contact with you, cover your vitals and play dead. (Click here for more details.)Mark Lebetkin
6. MYTH: THE BEST WAY TO STOP A SHARK ATTACK IS BY PUNCHING IT IN THE NOSE
These fascinating giants of the sea are so interesting that theyve earned a whole week of programing on the discovery channel and, unfortunately, more than their fair share of myths. Though being the victim of a shark attack is extremely unlikely, most people think when attacked by a shark, [you should] punch it in the nose to stun it, said Elena Manighetti a long-time outdoor enthusiast and blogger.
REALITY: YOU HAVE A BETTER SHOT AT ESCAPE BY GOING FOR THE EYES
Even though it's true that sharks get stunned if they get punched in the nose, not many people have enough strength to do this, especially underwater, said Manighetti. Even if you could manage the strength to hit the nose hard enough, theres a chance your hand could end up injured by shark teeth. The best way to scare a shark away is to scratch its eyes or gills, it's impossible to overpower these fierce creatures in attack mode.
7. MYTH: YOU NEED TO FIND WATER IMMEDIATELY TO SURVIVE IN DESERT HEAT
There have been many cases of desert survivors enduring without water for up to 48 hours because they holed up in the shade and were smart with their own sweat expenditure, said Nester. Conversely, there have been other hikers who have perished within four hours because they taxed their bodies to the limits trying to locate water during the heat of the afternoon.
REALITY: KEEPING COOL WILL KEEP YOU ALIVE
You will last longer in the heat by holing up in the shade versus searching for nebulous water during the afternoon hours, said Nester. If you do run out of water, find a north-facing boulder and sit in the shade; keep covered like a cowboy to prevent evaporative sweat loss; stay off the hot ground by sitting on your pack or a pile of debris; and only move around during the cooler hours of the morning or evening. If you didnt tell anyone about your travel plans, though, rescue will likely take more than a few hours and you should search for water when the temperature drops.Related: How to SurviveFinding Water in the Desert
8. MYTH: DRINKING YOUR OWN URINE WILL SAVE YOU IN THE DESERT
Gandhi did it. Bear Grylls does it. It sounds logical enough: When there is no water to be found, you can drink your own pee. Your body will just re-filter the bad stuff and extract the usable water, or so the logic goes. After all, when would resorting to this otherwise verboten act be more necessary than in the desert when youre dying of thirst?Mark Lebetkin
REALITY: IT CAN PUSH YOUR BODY OVER THE EDGE
You shouldnt try to quench your thirst with urine for the same reason youre dehydrated: heat. Nester explains: The problem with drinking urinewe hear about it with border crossersthere becomes a tipping point with your bodys ability to thermoregulate. Youre on the cusp of heat exhaustion or heat stroke and you just added one more thing to a body already taxed by the heat. Your kidneys now have to process something, and it taxes your bodys cooling mechanism. If you really want to make your urine useful, though, Nester has some advice: You can pee on a bandana and wear it for evaporative cooling.Mark Lebetkin
Continued next post....
