We found a list of a bunch of survival myths you see in movies all the time. But they don't actually work. And they could KILL YOU if you actually tried them in real life.
1. "You should suck the venom out of a snakebite." It just doesn't work and actually gets bacteria into the wound. Instead, keep the bite below heart level and get to a hospital as quickly as possible. Just don't panic, because you want to keep your heart rate low.
2. "Always play dead if you're attacked by a bear." If it's a brown bear or a grizzly bear, that may be true. However, black bears are WAY more common in the U.S. and you need to FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE if they attack you.
3. "If you're lost in the woods, you need to find food right away." Don't waste your time and energy on it...you can actually survive several WEEKS without food. Finding WATER is a lot more important because you'll be dead in a few days if you don't.
4. "If you break open a cactus, you can drink the water." Some types do have water in them but it's not CLEAN water...the chemicals in it can make you sick. Then you'll probably puke and become even more dehydrated.
5. "If you're attacked by a shark, punch it in the nose." You're actually better off going for its eyes or its gills.
6. "If somebody is suffering from frostbite, rub their skin or get them in a hot bath." Rubbing frostbitten skin can damage it even more, and hot water can be shocking or damaging for someone dealing with frostbite and hypothermia. You need to warm someone back up slowly, preferably with blankets and some warm water bottles under their armpits.