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Rubbing frostbitten skin -

Frostbite occurs when ice crystals form in your skin and other tissues. But rubbing the injury will cause even more tissue damage. Instead, treat frostbite with painkillers as you slowly rewarm the tissue.

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Drinking liquor will warm you up -

Actually, liquor is the last drink you need in a cold-weather survival scenario. While you might feel warmer, alcohol dilates skin-surface blood vessels and capillaries, which will cool you down even faster. Instead, drink hot tea or cocoa.

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A big fire beats a shelter -

While large fires have kept people alive in the cold, you can't afford to skip building a shelter. Imagine if it rains or becomes really windy. Plus, you never want to sleep out in the wide open.

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You’ll never get lost with a GPS -

You should always take a GPS unit with you into the backcountry. But you can't solely rely on it for navigation. You better bring a map and a compass, in case it breaks or the batteries die.

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You can eat anything animals eat -

Despite our shared biology, we can't always eat what animals eat. For example, birds and squirrels can eat certain berries and mushrooms that would kill a person.

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All base layers work equally well -

This is actually not true. For example, cotton can lead to hypothermia if you rely on it as your primary base layer in cold weather. It's great in hot, dry climates, but once it gets wet, it loses its insulating properties.

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Jump into water to escape from bees -

You might think jumping into a nearby lake is a good way to escape from a swarm of bees, but they'll just sting you when you surface again. Instead, run away until you lose them, or find a car or structure to seal yourself inside of.

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You can suck the venom out of a snakebite -

This technique is a big no-no. The venom will immediately enter the bloodstream, and putting your mouth in the wound will only deliver extra bacteria. Plus, you'll get venom in your mouth!

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Moss grows on the north side of trees -

The truth is moss can grow on all sides of a tree. So don't depend on this myth for navigation.

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If a shark attacks you, punch it in the nose -

Let's be real: it's really hard to land a solid punch on the nose of a moving shark, especially in water. If a shark comes for a bite, try to put a sold object between you and the animal.

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A lean-to is a great shelter -

A lean-to might help protect you from the wind, but it won't keep you warm. Instead, you need something with walls, a roof, and a small doorway to stay warm and dry.

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Don’t feed a victim of hypothermia -

In moderate cases of hypothermia, high-calorie foods can be given in small, repeated doses to restore the victim's heating abilities. But in more serious cases, feeding the victim can be dangerous, as they might vomit and choke.

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Let a hypothermia victim get some sleep -

A person suffering from serious hypothermia will get drowsy. This is a warning sign that sleep can lead to death. Keep the victim awake as you warm them up.

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Eating raw meat and seafood is safe -

It might be safe once in a while, but raw animal flesh can contain pathogens, which include bacteria, fungi, protozoa, worms, and viruses.

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Always swim parallel to the shore if you're caught in a rip current -

This isn't entirely wrong, but it works best if the current goes directly out to sea. The best thing is to remain calm, and swim at a perpendicular angle away from the current and towards the shore.

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Follow flying birds to find water -

While some aquatic birds rarely leave the water’s edge, you can't trust that all birds fly to find water. Sometimes they could simply be flying toward a known clearing to spend the night.

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Space blankets are useless -

Those Mylar-coated emergency blankets might not look very warm, but the aluminum coating on these blankets is thermal-reflective, meaning it will keep you heated. So they're actually lifesaving.

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Build a fire in a cave for warmth -

This is actually quite dangerous, as heat causes rock to expand. This can lead to breakage, and the last thing you want are rocks falling on you!

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Eating snow for water - Snow contains more cold air than frozen water, so munching on it won't hydrate you. On top of that, you'll risk getting brain and core freeze, which can lead to hypothermia.

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Drink your own pee to stay hydrated -

Sure, you can drink your own pee, but should you? Urine is full of the body’s waste products, so it's actually not smart to drink it...

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Drink raw blood to survive -

Yes, there's water in blood. But drinking raw blood could mean you’re consuming pathogens, which is a big no-no.

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The fluid in a cactus can save you from dying of thirst -

If you're lost in the desert, don't get your hopes up if you find a cactus. Most of the time, cactus fluid will make you sick. This can lead you to vomit up precious liquid, leaving you even more dehydrated.

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Always play dead if you're attacked by a bear -

Playing dead only works if you’re being attacked by a mother grizzly defending her cubs. But if a black bear attacks, always fight back by making yourself large and loud.

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If escaping a bear, climb a tree -

Bears are excellent tree climbers, so you won’t be even remotely safe by climbing one. Follow the tips from the previous slide.

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A hot bath will cure hypothermia -

Rewarming is the main way to treat someone with hypothermia. But a hot bath can cause excruciating pain and can even trigger a heart attack. Instead, place hot water bottles under both armpits, or use skin-to-skin rewarming.

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Sucking on a stone for hydration -

The idea is that sucking on a stone causes saliva to flow, but there's actually no real gain. Plus, if the stone is too small, you may end up chocking on it.

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You need to find a food supply immediately if you're lost -

You can actually survive up to six weeks without food. So your main priority is to find water and shelter.

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Running water is safe to drink -

Just because water is running, doesn't mean it's entirely safe to drink. Pathogens, heavy metals, and other contaminants can still be present and make you sick. All water obtained from the wild needs to be filtered and purified before consumption.

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Rub two sticks together to make a fire -

Yes, friction is a way to create a flame, but not by rubbing two sticks together. 

Sources: (Outdoor Life) (Insider)

See also: Tips and hacks for a successful camping trip 

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