Forest Survival Myths That Could Cost You Your Life

Some self-proclaimed survival experts assert that it's acceptable to urinate and then drink nature's lemonade when you're low on water in a dire scenario. Now pay close attention: that is nothing more than a very hazardous myth. It's not only disgusting, but it won't make you feel thirsty either. Actually, you'll have the reverse effect and become dehydrated far more quickly. Urine, as you may know, is the last thing your body does to get rid of waste, therefore it's packed full of things you shouldn't put back into your already parched body. But if you want to freshen yourself, feel free to use your urine to dampen your clothes if you need to lower your body temperature a little.

Another common misconception regarding replenishing your body's fluids is sucking on a stone in the event of dehydration. While it's true that sucking on a stone can aid increase saliva production, this old survival tactic was formerly practiced all around the world. It doesn't, however, actually hydrate you because the stone itself doesn't contain any water. Moreover, if the stone is little, there's a chance that you could inadvertently inhale it and choke. Furthermore, you can never be sure of the experiences the stone had prior to your decision to chew on it.

You may have heard that you may use the fact that moss grows on the north side of trees to guide you through a forest. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but moss doesn't always grow on the north side of trees, despite what is often believed and how it is shown in cartoons and movies. The species and climate of the area affect moss growth. It doesn't care about the North or the South; it just grows where the conditions are right. Thus, don't depend on this rule excessively.

Space blankets, despite seeming like thin rubbish bags, do have some useful uses. Emergency blankets with a Mylar coating really can keep you warm. Their heat-reflective metal coating holds the secret. As a result, the blanket can retain heat and reflect infrared light. Your body loses heat to the surrounding air when you are shocked or exposed, which causes your body temperature to drop. By retaining moisture in your clothing and lowering evaporation, which in turn restricts heat loss, a space blanket helps avoid this. If you cover yourself with one of those sheets that resemble tin foil, you'll stay much warmer. Another benefit is that these blankets are reasonably priced and small, so remember to pack them in your backpack before you leave.
Nowadays, a lot of individuals believe that finding food should come first while lost outdoors. That's a precarious conviction. Give water and shelter a higher priority than food in an emergency circumstance like this. According to a 2009 study, humans can go up to two months without food and eight to twenty-one days without both, depending on their unique circumstances and the surroundings. Finding shelter and water in a survival crisis is significantly more important than obtaining food. You might only survive in severe circumstances for three hours without a sufficient place to stay and three days without water. Your chances of surviving are greatly increased if you have access to water and shelter.

Regrettably, there are a lot of false beliefs out there regarding how to treat hypothermia, like the idea that a hot tub can make the illness go away. Rewarming is necessary when treating hypothermia, which is defined as a body temperature that falls below the usual range of 98.6°F. However, submerging a hypothermic person in a hot tub might result in severe discomfort and potentially even a major medical emergency such as a heart attack. Use skin-to-skin rewarming or hot water bottles beneath the person's armpits as an alternative. In this case, excessive heat sources should be avoided since they might be very dangerous.

Another myth regarding hypothermia is that a person suffering from it should be allowed to sleep. It's actually important to keep them warm while keeping them alert. Severe hypothermia manifests as shivering, disorientation, slurred speech, and clumsiness; sleepiness may ensue. Sleeping with a hypothermic individual can be risky and could have the worst conceivable consequences. While you're warming them up, keep an eye on them and make sure they're still conscious.

Possibly feeding someone who is hypothermic? Although you may have heard that you should never do it, this isn't totally accurate. Small, frequent doses of high-calorie foods are helpful in situations of mild to moderate hypothermia. By producing metabolic heat, these meals aid in the recovery of the hypothermic person's capacity to produce body heat.

You may believe that you can eat anything an animal eats if you are lost in the bush. Hold on, this could be one of the riskiest survival myths. Despite certain basic similarities, human nutritional tolerance differs significantly from that of other species. Certain plants that are safe for animals can pose a serious risk to people. For instance, birds eat a wide range of berries, some of which are poisonous to humans. Even squirrels, who normally eat nuts that are safe for humans to eat, occasionally eat mushrooms and nuts that can seriously harm humans. It's not always safe for you to eat something just because an animal eats it.
There's a myth that says you should follow flying birds to find water, however this is incredibly inaccurate. Many species of aquatic birds travel great distances in pursuit of food, yet some species seldom ever leave the water. Some people think that around sunset, geese are flying toward the water, but it's possible that they are simply making their way to a clearing where they will spend the night.

It's a popular misconception that wood that can be dented with your thumbnail can be used to start a friction fire. Although very common, this myth is unreliable. While certain denser woods work well for friction fires, some softer woods that pass the thumbnail test are unsuccessful. The thumbnail test's success is accidental; it's not a completely reliable technique. Thus, cease ruining your poor nails.

Another myth regarding friction fires is that hardwood will provide the best flames. Although hardwoods like oak and others make great firewood in general, they are not the best for friction fires. Hardwoods are not appropriate for use in friction fire drills or boards due to their high density and ignition temperatures. You may start friction fires considerably more effectively by using non-resinous softwoods like cottonwood, basswood, cedar, and willow.

In the meanwhile, consuming raw meat and fish can help you survive in an emergency. Although hosts on survival shows frequently appear to be consuming a variety of raw foods, this isn't the most optimal survival strategy. Pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, and other microbes, are present in raw animal meat and can readily cause serious and difficult-to-diagnose illnesses in humans. Many sushi eaters don't have health problems, however this is because some raw saltwater fish is safe to eat because the germs it contains aren't dangerous to people. Make sure that meat and fish are cooked thoroughly before consuming them to reduce health hazards.

It's unlikely that rubbing two sticks together will start a fire. Of course, friction can actually start a fire, but using friction fire tactics takes time, practice, and maybe even a little bit of good fortune. Even while it could seem simple in films or TV shows, you shouldn't become overconfident and think you can handle a tough scenario without a lot of experience. Use a downhill speed motion rather than a lot of power if you're still keen to try.

Alright, so let's say you have matches but not enough patience to build a friction fire. They were wet once, but at this time they're all dry, which is fantastic, right? Not really. The idea that dried matches will function as intended is untrue. Matches' chemical components are susceptible to moisture and humidity. Standard safety matches come in a striking surface package consisting of a granular substance, similar to phosphorus-and-glass powder. Together with sulfur and an oxidizer, grit is also used to make the match's head. When a match is struck, a little quantity of heat is produced by the friction between the glass particles grinding together, turning the phosphorus into white phosphorus, which ignites. Wet match heads just won't light because the internal chemical equilibrium is thrown off. Therefore, if you're going somewhere where it might rain, buy waterproof matches or store your matches in a waterproof container. There are many who think that a large fire can serve as a refuge. In actuality, a decent shelter cannot be substituted by even a fire built from enormous logs. The flames will quickly go out if it starts to rain a lot. Furthermore, it's not a good idea to sleep outside because wildlife won't be denied a tasty meal as you would. Spending the time to construct a shelter that will shield you from the elements and the wild is always a wise investment.

It's a fallacy that base layers all function in the same way. Regretfully, this is untrue. For instance, wearing cotton as your main base layer in cold temperatures can result in hypothermia. Cotton works best in hot, dry regions, but it's still ideal for wearing around the house. Cotton loses all of its insulating qualities when it gets wet. The moment you perspire, the moisture seeps into the cotton fabric of your clothes, causing conduction to chill your body. Compared to wool or synthetic fabrics, cotton fibers have the ability to store fluids for up to eight times longer—up to 27 times their weight in water. Accordingly, if the temperature is low enough for a onesie, it's too low for cotton.