Common “Survival Tips” That Could Actually Land People In More Trouble

Drinking your own pee in the desert. Sucking out snake venom. These are just a couple of the most widely believed survival tips out there. But guess what, folks? They may actually be myths. And there are plenty more where that came from. Yep, here are 40 “tips” you should think twice about calling upon in a bind — they could really hinder your chances of escaping hazardous situations safely.

40. Jump in a free-falling elevator

If you ever find yourself inside a free-falling elevator, resist the urge to leap into the air. You might think it’ll improve your odds of survival, but it could very well have the opposite effect. Instead, the advice is to get on your back and make sure you’re as flat as possible.

39. Cotton is a good base layer in cold weather

Yes, cotton is a comfortable material to throw on at home. Out in the elements, though? Not so much. The Outdoor Life website noted that the fabric’s ability to insulate goes by the wayside as soon as it gets damp. Plus, the cloth doesn’t dry out as quickly as other garments. That’s bad news if you’re on a cold and rainy hike!

38. Punches stop shark attacks

We have no idea where this tip came from, but it seems to massively overestimate most humans’ abilities. That’s according to outdoor lover Elena Manighetti, anyway. She told website The Active Times in 2015, “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.” Instead, she suggests going for the gills or eyes.

37. Hide under an overpass during a tornado

Have you ever seen that heart-stopping viral video of a group riding out a twister in the girders of an overpass? Well, don’t follow their lead in similar situations. As a Reddit user noted, “The one they chose had some unusual construction that offered them protection in a way most don’t. Wind speed increases the higher you get from the ground, and the narrow passages can create a wind tunnel effect.” Stay low, then.

36. You can eat anything animals eat

In a survival situation, you can live off of anything that an animal can eat, right? Nope — that’s definitely a myth. Think about it. Just because certain creatures don’t find a plant or berry to be toxic, it doesn’t mean you’ll be so lucky. It could be a fatal mistake!

35. You can always be airlifted out of trouble on trails

Help is not always on hand when you need it — especially in some of the world’s most remote locations. As outdoor specialist Jackie Whitt told The Active Times, “One of the biggest myths is that hikers think helicopters can rescue them [from] anywhere. That’s not the case.” Best to brush up on your first aid training before heading out, then. 

34. You should try to get off a deserted island

Should there ever come a time when you’re marooned on an island, don’t move. Sure, every fiber of your being will be pushing you to venture out and find help, but that could backfire in a major way. Your best chances of survival are to stay put for as long as possible.

33. Build a fire in a cave to keep warm

Finding a cave to hunker down in while stuck out in the wild may sound ideal. There’s just one problem: the cold. Whatever you do, though, resist the urge to light a fire. Rocks increase in size when they’re exposed to high temperatures, forcing them to crack. See the problem here? Your hideaway could collapse!

32. A rope around your waist will save you from a fall

By securing a rope to your midriff, you might believe that you could escape an otherwise deadly plunge with your life. In reality, though, that may not be the case. A Reddit user explained, “It might prevent you from hitting the ground, but you can still damage your internal organs and break your back doing this. Safety harnesses go around your hips and legs, not your waist.”

31. Bears can’t run down hills

Imagine you’re getting pursued by an angry bear, and you spot a hill nearby. Could this be your out? After all, some stories suggest that the creatures can’t dart down slopes. That, of course, is a myth. These animals can maintain their speed whatever the terrain, hitting close to 40 mph at times. Yikes!

30. Lean-tos make great shelters

At first glance, a lean-to seems like an ideal shelter if you have to hunker down outside for the night. Yet that’s not really the case. To be properly protected from the elements, you’ll need additional walls and an entrance. Seems obvious when you think about it. 

29. Nose grease can spark fires

Struggling to get a fire going? Well, ignore the rumors that nose grease can help. It’s a really bizarre myth! The suggestion is that it could provide vital lubrication to your bow drill. It won’t. Plus, given how physically taxing startling a fire in this way can be, your oily snout will probably be dripping in sweat by that stage. And that’s no good, either.

28. Drinking urine will save you in the desert

As a last resort, would you gulp down urine to survive in the desert? Yes? Well, that’s not a good idea. When we pee, the liquid is obviously warm. Putting that into your overheated body will only make things worse. Tony Nester, who runs Ancient Pathways Survival School, informed The Active Times, “The problem with drinking urine [is] there becomes a tipping point with your body’s ability to thermoregulate.” Plus, it’s pretty gross when you think about it.

27. Suck on a stone for hydration

This myth has to be true, right? It’s been passed down for years all around the world. If you haven’t heard of it, the basic gist is that sucking on a stone can keep your mouth hydrated. But this could be more trouble than it’s worth. Imagine if you accidentally swallowed one, for example. Uh oh.

26. You can safely jump into water from high places

You see it in movies all the time: characters leaping into water from high places and emerging unscathed. It’s a very different story in real life, though. If you believe you can escape injury from similar falls, you’ve got another thing coming. The impact alone will likely break a bone or two. Don’t take the risk!

25. Zigzag to get away from an alligator

Ah, yes. The famous “zigzag” survival tip. It’s long been suggested that sprinting side to side is your best bet to escape a charging alligator. Yet in practice, this method could leave you at a disadvantage. Moving in this way won’t create a big gap between you and the predator, so if anything, it may allow them to close in.

24. You’ll never get lost with a GPS

GPS kits are hugely helpful when you lose your bearings, especially on hikes. But as great as they are, you should never rely on them alone. As Outdoor Life points out, they’re not indestructible. So, should it stop working for whatever reason, you need something else to fall back on. A compass and map are musts.

23. You don’t need survival tools for short hikes

Do you really need to pack a bunch of survival tools for a short trip down a trail? Outdoor expert Brice King certainly thinks so. He told website The Active Times, “The weather may deteriorate, [and] you may get lost or become injured. You always want to have a few key items with you when you venture outdoors — snacks and water, extra layers of clothes, a map and compass, a flashlight, and [a] medical kit.”

22. You need to find food right away when lost

If you get lost without food, eating will probably be the only thing on your mind. But the pros say we should keep our cool in situations such as this. “In reality, you can survive for weeks on just your body’s fat stores,” hiking expert Ras Jason Vaughan told The Active Times. So don’t waste valuable energy panic-searching for your next meal.

21. Don’t feed a victim of hypothermia

This tip might seem sound at first, but it’s not at all accurate. In truth, it seems that it’s patients in shock who shouldn’t eat anything, as opposed to those with hypothermia. In fact, food can help warm people up if they’re dealing with the latter, which is a big plus. Just don’t overdo it.

20. Rub frostbitten skin

How do you warm up your hands outside? By rubbing them together, right? So should it be any different with frostbitten skin? Yes...for goodness sake, yes! When you get frostbite, it means tiny bits of ice have made their way into your skin, so applying friction to those areas will result in a lot of pain.

19. Eating raw meat is safe

If survival experts on TV can eat raw meat in the wild, why can’t you? Well, the general advice is not to. You’ll be exposing yourself to hazardous germs that could make you very sick. Even if you get lucky and avoid illness on the odd occasion, don’t take that as a sign of immunity.

18. Anyone can start a fire with two sticks

Starting a fire with two sticks may not be the best method. As Tony Nester told The Active Times, “I teach primitive fire-making skills to show my students how to perform the method. But [I] find that, even under the best of conditions, it’s a challenge and not reliable for most people. This isn’t the method I want to use if I’m lost, injured, or stranded in the wilds with the sun going down.”

17. Let a hypothermic sleep

If someone in your hiking group develops hypothermia, ignore the myth that they should sleep. It could save their life. Yes, you shouldn’t let them fall asleep, as they might not wake up again. You’ve got to do everything in your power to engage them while their body heats up.

16. Always swim parallel to shore when caught in a rip current

Rip currents can be terrifying — yet it’s not impossible to escape their clutches. The standard tip is to swim along the shoreline at a parallel angle. Now, even though that’s not actually a myth, here’s something else to consider. These currents can move in any direction. So sometimes, you may have a better chance of paddling at a right angle to the land.

15. Leave your vehicle to find help in a snowstorm

A lot of people would probably seek assistance on foot when caught driving in the snow, but one Reddit user had a strong argument for why we shouldn’t. “You are literally inside a shelter ALREADY,” they said. “It’s easier to spot a snow-covered vehicle, than a snow-covered corpse. [And] don’t keep your engine running. It’s a snowstorm, your exhaust will block.”

14. You can ride out a forest fire in a cave

Does a cave make for good shelter from a raging forest fire? Nope. That’s a very dangerous myth. The fumes from the fire will engulf all the oxygen. One Reddit user recommended doing the complete opposite, in fact. “You have a much better chance of running through the flame front,” they said. “Protect your eyes, face, and especially your airways. Cover as much of your skin as possible.”

13. Conserve water when lost

While it might sound like a good idea initially, conserving your water supply when you’re lost in the wild isn’t always the right move. One Redditor had a different suggestion: “Drink what you have until it’s gone. Use that time with good hydration levels to take stock of your situation and make good choices. Decision-making and physical ability drop off very quickly when you’re dehydrated.” 

12. A big fire is better than a shelter

There’s no denying the fact that starting a fire will keep you warm in the great outdoors. But is it better than constructing yourself a shelter? No chance. While a fire could easily be snuffed out by bad weather, the refuge will at least keep you dry.

11. Moss grows on north side of trees

Lost your compass? Well, don’t rely on this myth to get you back on the right track. No matter what you’ve seen on TV in the past, it’s not a given that moss will form only on the northern side of tree trunks. Instead, the greenery will thrive in a heated spot that gets plenty of light. It could be pointing in any direction.

10. Follow flying birds to a water source

Could those birds above you be heading to a water source? It’s certainly possible, yet you shouldn’t take it as fact when out in the wilderness. Quite simply, they could be traveling anywhere. Do you really want to follow them and get into a bigger jam? It’s not worth it, folks.

9. Someone who almost drowned doesn’t need a doctor

Our lungs keep their shape because of the substance that lines their surface. And that substance may disappear if it comes into contact with water — which it’s likely to have done in someone who has drowned. Even if that person appears to be breathing okay, they still need to get to a hospital. Their lungs could close in on themselves at any moment.

8. When in doubt, drink boiled water

It seems not all water will be decontaminated once it’s boiled. Yes, this process will remove bacteria, but there are some pollutants that aren’t affected by the increase in temperature. Survival specialist Justin Jackson told The Active Times, for instance, “no matter how long you boil chemically contaminated water, it won’t be safe to drink.”

7. Wet matches work if they’ve been dried

Think you can light a match from that box you dropped in the lake earlier? Well, we’ve got some bad news! No matter how dry each match might become later, they’re not going to work. According to Outdoor Life, the tips boast a “careful chemical balance” that can’t be restored after getting wet.

6. Drinking alcohol will warm you up

Hiking in freezing conditions comes with its fair share of risks. You don’t want to get stranded! Should that happen, though, you need to watch what you drink. The perception that alcohol can heat up your body is completely wrong. The contents actually cause the veins to expand near your skin, making you colder. A warm beverage will serve you better.

5. Cactus water will save you from dehydration

What’s inside a cactus? Water, right? Well, apparently not the kind you should be drinking — even if you’re extremely dehydrated. Doing so will probably give you a very bad stomach, in turn causing you to lose more moisture. According to Tony Nester, who spoke to The Active Times, the substance itself is “very high in alkalis” — chemicals your already-stressed body will have to work very hard to break down.

4. Sucking on a snake bite will get rid of the venom

You’ve all heard this one, right? The best way to deal with a snake bite is to suck the toxins out yourself. But is it true? Nope. Apparently, it’ll only make things worse. The germs from your mouth will simply get into the opening, potentially causing an infection. Instead, just cover it up and seek immediate medical attention as quickly as you can.

3. Eat snow to stave off dehydration

Snow may be water, but eating it to stave off dehydration won’t do you any favors. Naturally, swallowing lumps of the icy substance will cool you right down from the inside out and could therefore increase your chances of getting hypothermia. Plus, your body will have to work extra hard to warm itself back up again. As Justin Jackson told The Active Times, “It’s best to melt it before ingesting it.”

2. Copy reality TV survival shows

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking survival TV programs can prepare you for the rigors of the great outdoors. But that’s just not the case. Nester revealed that teams behind the camera are often stocked up with supplies that you simply wouldn’t have out in the wild. He also noted that plenty of the broadcasts follow a script, so the scenarios aren’t as natural as they appear.

1. Find water ASAP to survive the desert heat

As hard as it is to believe, getting stranded in the desert with no water isn’t an automatic death sentence. Nester told The Active Times, “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 sweat expenditure.” It seems you’re more likely to survive that way than going off on a wild-goose chase for water.