17 Survival Myths That Could Potentially Put You in Danger

Survival TV makes danger look simple, but real life rarely gives you a camera crew or a second take. A lot of the tips people repeat with confidence can actually make a bad situation worse.

That is what makes this Reddit discussion so useful, because people jumped in with the survival myths they have heard most often, along with the reality behind them. The thread covers everything from deserts and lightning to frostbite, avalanches, and alligators.

Some of the biggest surprises are the ones people still believe. Read on for the myths Redditors say you should unlearn fast.

Here's how the question went

kuroi_sny

That question opened the floodgates.

1. If you think about quenching your thirst with some tempting cactus, you might want to think twice.

Kraymur

2. In any case, to survive the dry heat of the desert, it’s better to have clothes to cover you day and night.

Curious_Wrangler_980

That desert advice sounds simple until you are the one stuck there.

3. Alligators really like surprise attacks, so take note of these myths.

TchaikenNugget

4. Finding your way back might get a little foggy.

dildorthegreat87

5. There are all kinds of tricks to escape an alligator, but they might not apply when it’s displaced.

NightOnFuckMountain

Nature does not always follow the usual script.

6. Lightning strikes can be quite unpredictable.

CatboyInAMaidOutfit

7. This myth seems to have jumped to the wrong conclusion with the right message.

Histidine

8. It might be a fruitless mission.

loveliboi

Some of these myths have been around long enough to sound convincing.

This is similar to the practical fixes that make ordinary situations easier to handle.

9. There are a lot of myths about avalanches.

alyssaskier

Say it louder for the people in the back!

alyssaskier

10. When things are getting frosty, there are less extreme methods to prevent frostbite from worsening.

Grungemaster

11. Search for water immediately so you can quench your thirst without having to ration for a long time.

ItsMeLukasB

12. Some things are not what they seem.

[deleted]

13. Survival doesn’t always have to mean being in the desert, forest, or in the middle of nowhere.

Ladyingreypajamas

Even the modern stuff gets called out here.

These are modern survival tips:

Ladyingreypajamas

14. Warm tummy, cold rest of the body.

Morning_Throbber

15. Look for other sources of information.

DemocracySausage89

16. Animals and humans can have a huge difference in tolerance for food. What can be beneficial to them might be toxic for you.

lordbeezlebub

There are many shows that introduce survival tips, and people who think they’ve done the math believe what they think is correct. But it’s better to learn from different sources.

What’s even better is that you don’t get stuck in situations where you would have to use the skills listed in this article. Sometimes, your logic gets thrown out the window before you can even react.

Some myths are best left behind.

WIBTA for leaving an unprepared friend behind on a Mount Everest hike, read this Everest dilemma.