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Redditors Debunked These 30 Survival Myths That Could Actually Get You Killed

Instead of keeping you alive, this false information might bring you closer to death.

Redditors Debunked These 30 Survival Myths That Could Actually Get You Killed

Survival myths can be just as dangerous as the disasters themselves, especially when bad advice spreads faster than the truth. In this Reddit thread, one user kicked off a discussion about the kinds of tips people repeat during emergencies, even when those tips could make things worse.

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From fires and storms to snake bites and hypothermia, commenters weighed in with examples of what not to do when panic sets in. The result is a long list of myths that sound helpful at first, but can turn a bad situation into something far more serious.

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Some of these replies are blunt, and a few are surprisingly memorable. Read on.

The Actual Thread on Reddit.

The Actual Thread on Reddit.Reddit/standardgenre45
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#1 Don't get home until the doctor says so.

#1 Don't get home until the doctor says so.Reddit/EatDiveFly
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#2 The sooner the report, the better.

#2 The sooner the report, the better.Reddit/SalFunction12| Taylor Grote

That one comes up fast.

#3 Choose a rock that will help make fire, not a grenade.

#3 Choose a rock that will help make fire, not a grenade.Reddit/ascootertridingataco| Aaron Burden

#4 Things you have to be BEARy careful about.

#4 Things you have to be BEARy careful about.Reddit/Siriuxx| Céline Chamiot-Poncet

#5 If you're trapped in a snowstorm while driving.

#5 If you're trapped in a snowstorm while driving.Reddit/davidvidalnyc| Danny Sleeuwenhoek

#6 Humans and animals have different diets.

#6 Humans and animals have different diets.Reddit/eslforchinesespeaker| Sebastian Unrau

#7 Water is important, but you are more important than water, so keep yourself hydrated.

#7 Water is important, but you are more important than water, so keep yourself hydrated.Reddit/RangerActual| Kate Joie

#8 Antivenin is not universal. Don't endanger yourself further by trying to catch the snake that bit you.

#8 Antivenin is not universal. Don't endanger yourself further by trying to catch the snake that bit you.Reddit/harrymurkin| James Wainscoat

That is not the kind of follow-up anyone wants.

#9 Cactus will make it worse.

#9 Cactus will make it worse.Reddit/Ehzabeth| David Sola

#10 Get yourself a homemade Pedialyte or Gatorade.

#10 Get yourself a homemade Pedialyte or Gatorade.Reddit/cardamom_poppies| Bluewater Sweden

#11 Don't breathe, cover yourself, and run.

#11 Don't breathe, cover yourself, and run.Reddit/scoopdiddy_poopscoop| eberhard grossgasteiger

And if you are stuck on hiking logistics, it is like the Mount Everest call on whether to leave an unprepared friend behind.

#12 Unless it's a fruit or a vegetable, don't eat anything raw.

#12 Unless it's a fruit or a vegetable, don't eat anything raw.Reddit/mjohnsimon| Marie-Michèle Bouchard

#13 Don't wait; get to safety as soon as possible.

#13 Don't wait; get to safety as soon as possible.Reddit/WhiteGravy747

#14 Grab yourself some bear spray.

#14 Grab yourself some bear spray.Reddit/SugarRAM

#15 Avoid alcohol at all costs.

#15 Avoid alcohol at all costs.Reddit/bobbi21| phil cruz

#16 Punching the shark's eyes is a better idea than punching its nose.

#16 Punching the shark's eyes is a better idea than punching its nose.Reddit/KrazieKanuck| Alex Steyn

#17 Do not remove the object.

#17 Do not remove the object.Reddit/fall_and_green| Jp Valery

#18 Tie it in the right place.

#18 Tie it in the right place.Reddit/nowhereman136| Robert Zunikoff

#19 Staying in this situation is more beneficial than leaving.

#19 Staying in this situation is more beneficial than leaving.Reddit/Slavic_bumpkin| Ivars Krutainis

#20 You have to be noisy when alone at regular intervals.

#20 You have to be noisy when alone at regular intervals.Reddit/peelinglintforprofit

People really did not hold back here.

#21 Shelter is also one of the basic human needs. Secure one.

#21 Shelter is also one of the basic human needs. Secure one.Reddit/Tru3insanity| Ahmed Zayan

#22 Don't directly apply what you see on television or social media; learn to analyze the situation.

#22 Don't directly apply what you see on television or social media; learn to analyze the situation.Reddit/SanibelMan| Nikolas Noonan

#23 All you have to do is stay.

#23 All you have to do is stay.Reddit/rowman25| NeONBRAND

#24 Always choose the better option, no matter how small the chances are.

#24 Always choose the better option, no matter how small the chances are.Reddit/NuckingFutsWinx| Gaurav Baya

#25 Choose wisely.

#25 Choose wisely.Reddit/hacktheself

#26 Lightning news for you.

#26 Lightning news for you.Reddit/whimsy_rainbow

#27 They could be migrating. Who knows?

#27 They could be migrating. Who knows?Reddit/C_IsForCookie| Mehdi Sepehri

#28 Sucking is equivalent to a faster death.

#28 Sucking is equivalent to a faster death.Reddit/JakeRyback18| David Clode

#29 Urine is a toxin flushed from your body, which is why you shouldn't drink it.

#29 Urine is a toxin flushed from your body, which is why you shouldn't drink it.Reddit/westglade| Marvin L

#30 Great for the survival of the species, but not for surviving hypothermia.

#30 Great for the survival of the species, but not for surviving hypothermia.Reddit/RavennaMagnus| Rahul Bhosale

Misinformation can spread quickly these days, so you must be able to distinguish between facts and myths, especially if you are in a life-and-death situation. Keep in mind that every wrong move decreases your chances of survival.

Are you also a victim of these survival myths? Like and share this story with your family and friends to spread awareness!

Some of these myths sound harmless until they are not.

Worried about survival under pressure, check out which eight U.S. locations are considered flashpoints in World War 3.

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