One of the most frustrating aspects of learning survival skills is dealing with the misconceptions found in the industry. Unfortunately, most of what people know about survival comes from television programs. Whiles these shows can provide some great knowledge, they are also focused on ratings and entertainment. This means that they sometimes suggest things for rating purposes that are not showing accurate survival information.
Even people dubbed as ‘survival experts’ will sometimes suggest actions that could end up killing you in a survival situation. In order to ensure you are learning the right information, it is vital that you verify everything. If you see something new, go online or ask other survivalists if it is accurate information before it becomes a fact in your mind. In this article, we will cover some of the most common survival misconceptions to help you sort everything out.
Food
One of the first topics you see people cover on television is food. Often it appears that you need to spear a pig or a deer in order to survive in the wild. This is simply not true. Here are some common food misconceptions:
Hunting is Best – Primitive hunting can bring you lots of protein, but it can also waste a lot of time and energy. Hunting with a spear is one of the most inefficient things you can do for survival. I’m not saying I never hunt, but it is not my first choice. Trapping, fishing, or foraging for wild edibles are better ways to get food.
Food is the Top Priority – Again, not true. You can survive about three weeks without food. However, going for several days without food can make you weak, depressed, and disoriented. Cover your other survival needs first and then take the time to find food.
Setting a Few Traps Works – It is common to see survivalists on television set up one or two snare or deadfall traps before bed and wake up to a meal. This rarely happens. If you want food daily, you need 20 to 30 traps on a line.
When You Find Food, Eat Lots – While you do want to be sure you do not let any meat go bad, you must be careful about how much you eat. Eating too much of anything after starving for days can make you sick. In addition, the more food you eat the more water you need to process it.
Berries and Mushrooms are Safe – Many shows depict survivalists going after the first berries or mushrooms they find. Mushrooms and berries can be hard to identify, and you have about a 50% chance of ending up sick between the two.
Meat Should Be Roasted – If you want to get the most nutritional value out of meat or fish, it should be boiled with bones and edible organs. This soup will give you a flavorful broth packed with nutrients.
Water
I think more people get sick on survival television from hydration mistakes than anything else. Water must be purified before drinking with just a few exceptions.
Clear, Running Water is Safe – Wrong. Unless it comes from ice, from a spring, or directly from the sky it will need to be purified.
I Can Eat Snow – If you are in temperatures low enough to have snow, you should not be eating it. It will drop your internal body temperature. In addition, snow is 90% air so you are not actually getting much water in your system.
I Can Drink My Urine – Absolutely not! There is a particular ‘survival expert’ that does this on a regular basis. Drinking urine puts toxins and sodium right back into your system. It will probably just make you vomit.
Always Carry Water – Water is heavy. You are better off having ways to purify water.
Fire
Fire is often vital to keeping warm and avoiding hypothermia. On survival television, it looks like experts are lighting bow drill fires in minutes. This is just the magic of editing. I have spent hours and sometimes days building a fire, so take it seriously.
Starting a Fire is Easy – This is often not the case. If it is windy or rainy, you are going to have some issues. You give yourself the best odds by having tools like lighters, ferro rods, and Wetfire cubes with you.
Friction Fire is Best – I see so many survivalists go straight to friction fire for no apparent reason. Friction fire is tough, and the hardest part is finding wood that is the right density. This can take days.
Fires Should Keep Burning – Many survivalists will keep their fire going for their entire challenge. This is always an option and may be your best in a wet climate. However, with dry materials you are better off to just light your fire when you really need it. You will burn up less firewood.
Lenses Are Ideal Fire Starters – Lenses only work with strong, direct sunlight. It must be a sunny day with no trees overhead, and it still might not work.
Shelter
Often survivalists will build large, elaborate shelters on television. Here are some mistakes people make with shelters:
Big Shelters are Better – Small shelters are warmer, stronger, and quicker to build. You can use any extra time to add insulation.
Shelters Should Be Right by Water – Often these low areas next to water will flood. They also attract biting insects and predators. Keep at least 100 feet from water.
My Shelter Needs a Few Inches of Insulation – To keep warm without a fire and to keep the rain out, you need at least four feet of insulation.
I Can Sleep on the Ground – The ground will suck the body heat out of you. You need an insulated bed at least four inches off of the ground.
Caves are Ideal Shelters – They sometimes work fine, but they often have other animals living inside.
Other Misconceptions
Hiking to Safety is Best – If people know where you are, if you are injured, if the weather is bad, or if you are with a vehicle, you are best to stay put and wait for rescue.
I Can Write ‘Help’ in the Dirt – You need contrast for signals to show up at long distances. Put white rocks on dark hillsides or use dark poles on light rocky faces.
All Wounds Need Tourniquets – Most bleeding wounds need cleaning, pressure, and perhaps stitches. You only need a tourniquet if you have cut a limb so bad that you will bleed out otherwise. Remember that tourniquets often cause people to lose that limb.
Suck the Venom – When I was growing up, we were taught to suck the venom out of snake bites. This has now been proven to make things worse. Get all venomous snake bites to a hospital immediately.
Predators are a Major Threat – While they are an issue in many parts of the world, predators are one of the least common reasons why people die in survival scenarios. Worry about dehydration and hypothermia instead.
Working Hard Will Keep Me Warm – When it is cold outside, people sometimes think that keeping up their heart rate is best. While it does greatly help prevent hypothermia, you must be sure you do not sweat. If your clothes get wet, you have actually made your situation worse.
Experts Just Need a Knife – While I have completed survival challenges with just a knife for my gear, I would not suggest it. A real survivalist is more prepared and will have more helpful gear with them. Very few people can survive with just a knife.
As you can see, there are lots of misconceptions commonly taught regarding survival. While the internet and television are wonderful resources, they can also provide incorrect information. Be sure you put every piece of new information through the wringer. Try it out for yourself and ask other survivalists. Do research online. If you take the time to verify everything, you will be that much more prepared.