These are the common survival tips that will actually get you killed (2024)

Do you think you could survive alone in the wilderness?

I'm sure a lot of people think they'd be alright at least for a few days, foraging for nuts and berries and finding shelter under a nice tree.

However, but if you're thinking of relying on certain survival tips in particular, you might actually be in serious trouble.

Those with survival knowledge that goes beyond watching Naked and Afraid have debunked some of the common tips, so you can find out where you might have gone wrong.

If you're face to face with a bear, play dead

In theory it makes sense that a bear wouldn't consider you a threat if you're immobile, but unfortunately it actually depends on the bear.

If you happen to encounter a grizzly bear, playing dead may help show the bear you're not a threat, and therefore save your life.

However, Bear Smart points out that playing dead is 'the wrong thing to do' if you're being attacked by a predatory bear.

Instead, the site suggests the exact opposite of playing dead: fight for your life.

"If a bear attacks (particularly a black bear) in an offensive manner and physical contact is made, fight for your life," it says. "Kick, punch, hit the bear with rocks or sticks or any improvised weapon you can find."

Clear water is safe water

Nobody wants to drink water that's cloudy and full of little floating bits, but that doesn't necessarily mean that water is safe to drink if it's clear.

Water Mission, which works to provide safe drinking water to communities, stresses that water can be clear but still contaminated with invisible and dangerous bacteria or viruses that could make you seriously ill.

If you're in need of water and aren't sure whether the source you're using is safe, the CDC recommends bringing the clear water to a rolling boil for one minute - or three minutes if you're at an elevation above 6,500 feet.

The CDC notes boiling water is the surest method to kill germs and bacteria.

Zig zags will save you from alligators

You might not even need to be in the wilderness to find yourself in an encounter with an alligator, but if you do, zig zag running is not the answer

Some claims suggest running in zig zags will prevent an alligator from catching you, but Switch Grass Outfitters says this 'could not be any further from the truth'.

Alligators can chase you even if you're not running in a straight line, so the best option is, simply, to bolt as fast as you can and hope it gives up.

Moss will point you in the right direction

Ever heard the saying that 'moss only grows on the north side of trees'? Well, it's a lie.

In reality, it depends where you are in the world, and the type of climate the tree is growing in.

According to the Woodland Trust, moss 'doesn’t occur exclusively on the north side of trees'.

It is more common for moss to grow on the north side of trees in the northern hemisphere, and on the south side in the southern hemisphere, but moss can thrive on all sides of a tree in the right conditions.

If the tree bark has shaded crevices or there's dripping water around, it's entirely possible for the moss to grow in any direction - so it's not necessarily the best compass if you're lost and hoping to save yourself.

Open the windows in a tornado

Survival skills aren't limited to being lost out in the woods, so it's worth noting that even if you're indoors, you could be making some risky mistakes.

One claim suggests that if you're ever hit by a tornado, you should open the windows in your home to equalize the pressure and prevent the glass from smashing.

However, Ground Zero Shelters lists opening windows among the things you should 'never do' during a tornado, as it will bring strong wind inside the home.

"The best thing you can do during a tornado is to stay away from windows altogether," the site says.

So, armed with this newfound knowledge, hopefully you'll stand a much better chance!

Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/DamianKuzdak/ArtistGNDphotography

Topics:Nature, Life