28 Interesting Tips and Survival Facts That Might be Useful in a Pinch

These might save your life one day.

Published 6 months ago in Ftw

You know what they say, "knowledge is power." And while sure, it's a pretty cliche thing to say, it's such a popular turn of phrase beacuse more often than not it's true.

This couldn't be more true than facts about survival, you know, facts that tell you NOT to conserve water in fear of dehydration, or how cobwebs are coagulants and can be used to help clot wounds.

Now, we don't know if you'll ever have to actually use these survival facts (we hope you don't), but you never can be too prepared for when life hands you lemons or for when you get that feeling in your stomach that something is off. (It's never the wrong decision to trust your gut and you'll never regret taking that extra step of precaution when you're in a situation you think could be dangerous.)

So memorize these facts, beacuse you never know when they might just save your life.

1
You can tell the difference between a fracture and a sprain if the subject is nauseous when you apply pressure to the wound. Nausea is a symptom of a fracture

2
if your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, or in a snowstorm, stay with the car. It is a shelter and easy to see from the air. Whereas people who walk off to get help end up lost or frozen, fall into ditches, get covered up by snow, etc.Also, in an emergency situations, do not take shortcuts through unfamiliar territory. If you know a sure way to get somewhere, use that.

3
Honey is a natural anti-biotic and can be applied directly to a wound.
4
this is pretty well known, but if you get stabbed/impaled by something, leave it in until you can get proper medical attention!

5
Keep away from idiots.
6
This isn't physical first aid, but if you experience a traumatic event, play Tetris as soon as possible. It helps to block the formation of memories that can lead to post-traumatic symptoms and flashbacks.
7
When encountering bears, remember this:Brown = lay down (play dead)Black = fight backWhite = goodnight

8
pine tree sap is highly flammable, and a ripped shirt soaked in it and wrapped around a pole is a fantastic torch
9
Had an elderly neighbor pass out in his yard last summer at the age of 96. Ran over while calling 911 and checked vitals, then ran back home after remembering from 30 years back in boyscouts that if someone is possibly heat strokin, stuff ice packs in their armpits and growing area. Paramedics said it probably saved his life and kept his heart from stopping. He was back home from the hospital 2 days later and back out mowing his lawn in 98 degree weather. He's a stubborn old man with a good heart
10
Trust your instincts. Don’t worry about “looking dumb” or “offending” someone by crossing the street, not getting into a lift, doing something because others dare you and a whole lot of other things.

11
People have been found dead of dehydration with drinking water on them. If you end up lost or stranded don’t try to ration water yourself to make it last longer, your body is best at utilizing whatever reserves it has. Dehydration symptoms can come on quickly and it may already be too late before you realize.
12
If you have to do chest compressions, do them to the beat of (ironically) Another One Bites the Dust at 114 bpm. Also, if you ain’t breaking ribs you ain’t doing any good.
13
If you are bitten by a cat and it breaks skin, it is advised to go to urgent care immediately. This is not because of rabies but rather the nasty bacteria in a cat's mouth. Cats' teeth are so sharp and small that it is essentially taking a hypodermic needle of bacteria and injecting you. The puncture wound is usually so small that the skin heals very quickly and the bacteria in deeply, making it hard to clean properly. These bites more often than not result in nasty fast-spreading infections.Getting bitten in the hand or finger are the worst spots.Look for red streaks.Luckily, oral antibiotics that are started on right away usually clear the infection...but sometimes you will need IV antibiotics.The oddly cool thing, and I can speak from experience, when you get IV antibiotics for this kind of bite you can basically start feeling the infection stop spreading and your swollen wound site beginning to shrink. It was like instant relief. My cat bit me (by mistake, he was trying to bite a brush). I didn't think anything of it. The next day the infection was spreading up my arm and my finger looked like a cocktail sausage. The ER doc said I could have lost my hand if I waited just a little bit longer to go somewhere.

14
If you feel like you are going to throw up, get an alcohol swab or a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol on it and breath in the fumes. It takes away the need to hurl long enough to get some Gravol on board, or at least to get to a bathroom. 17 years as a nurse. Still use this trick all the time. Have seen it stop people from throwing up mid hurl(but it’s not long lasting and you don’t want to be breathing and alcohol fumes for hours so it’s just a temporary fix).
15
Super glue can be a band aid in desperation
16
Cobwebs contain coagulants. You can use cobwebs to stop a wound from bleeding

17
Not so much of a tip as dispelling a myth, but you definitely don't have to run zig zag away from an alligator or crocodile. Just run straight and fast.
18
The needles from a white pine tree are very high in vit A and C, and you can make tea out of it if you're at risk of a vitamin deficiency
19
If you have asthma and without an inhaler nearby you can drink a strong cup of coffee to lessen the symptoms temporarily

20
Don't immediately offer water to burn victims until checked out by an EMT or authorized medical personnel. They could choke if their throat is swollen from breathing smoke.
21
If you sustain a serious (LIFE THREATENING) cut on your arms or legs and are bleeding heavily, tie a tourniquet tight above the wound (tourniquet should be closer to your body than the wound) and try to raise the injured limb above chest level to decrease the blood flow. The more quickly you lose blood the less likely you are to be able to take any further measures to ensure your safety. If you don't have a string, rope, belt to hand, use your shirt, pants, underwear, whatever you can effectively use to tie on your limb. In a life or death situation, it's better to be alive than "decent"
22
I have used duct tape and electrical tape as a band aid. Just don't use carpet seam tape. I knew a carpet installer once that did that, and ended up with blood poisoning that almost killed him.

23
If you're choking and no one's around to give you a heimlich, fall on your stomach. It's the same principle and a lot easier to pull off than a self-heimlich.
24
If somebody comes from behind and tries to strangle you, raise your hands high and twirl around
25
Rubbing Vaseline or some type of lip balm up your nose can help with nose bleeds when in dry climates or high altitude.Any time I travel out west I do this. I also do it basically when I turn on the heat in my house for the first time. I do it before bed and keep the practice up until I quit running the heat. It also helps me be less congested when I wake up. I use Blistex.

26
Birch tree bark makes great fire starter.
27
You can get limited water by placing a bag over a branches full of leaves but keep it closed around the branch. Then after a little while you accumulate a gulp of pure water. Also, dig a hole with a cup in the center and place a similar film/wrap over the hole with a rock over the cup on the plastic. it will fill the cup over time due to humidity. It will only prolong the inevitable, but it's something.
28
Never ever eat a bear's liver. Their livers contain so much vitamin a that you will quickly and painfully die of poisoning.In a similar vein, if you suspect you've just ingested Deadly Nightshade, you need to quickly drink about 1 liter of vinegar to give you enough time to make it to the hospital.