Let's consider common advice from survival specialists. Which of them is trustworthy, and which is better to forget.
In emergency situations, fear and panic can cloud the mind. Therefore, in calm moments, it is important to systematize all possible survival methods in memory, and even better — to periodically review them so that the necessary information surfaces from the subconscious automatically in a critical moment. The correct information.
1. “Water from unverified sources should be boiled for at least 10 minutes to kill all dangerous microorganisms.” If you have enough fuel for a stove or have gathered plenty of firewood, feel free to boil water for even half an hour. Bacteria do not care; they will die as soon as the water boils. The rest is just wasting energy heating up the “corpses.”
2. “Young rattlesnakes inject all their venom, while adults dose it and may sometimes bite ‘dry.’” This is indeed the case. Adolescent rattlesnakes cannot control the “venom dispenser” and release their entire supply at once. Their more experienced relatives act more cautiously and, therefore, are less likely to harm a person.
3. When thirst torments you and there is no water — you can drink your own urine. Human urine is 95% water. The concentration of toxic substances is not so high as to cause more harm than dehydration. However, as it passes through the kidneys multiple times, urine becomes “thicker” — more toxic. In this case, the risk of poisoning significantly increases.
4. “If thirst strikes you in the desert, cactus juice will help!” The liquid contained in cacti won’t kill you, but it can cause vomiting and diarrhea. These unpleasant processes will lead a person stranded in the desert to face what they fear most — dehydration. It is better not to take risks and try to find water in the cracks of rocks if they appear on the way.
5. “Moss on tree trunks can help you navigate in the forest: it always grows on the northern side.” In reality, mosses are not so predictable. In shady forests or near bodies of water, they can grow on all sides of the compass.
