10 KILLER Survival Fails

Summary

In this informative video, Greg Ovens of Rocky Mountain Bushcraft debunks common survival myths found in books and on TV. He cautions against rubbing snow on frostbite, eating any berries birds consume, and relying on moss growth to determine direction. Ovens also warns against drinking urine in a survival situation, as it can lead to faster dehydration. He emphasizes the importance of fire-making skills and the practicality of using paracord over plant fibers for bow drill strings. The video serves as a reminder to always research and question survival techniques for reliability in critical situations.

Takeaways

• 🚫 Rubbing snow on frostbite is dangerous; it should be warmed up instead of being cooled down.
• 🍓 The myth that eating berries birds eat is safe for humans is debunked; some berries can be deadly.
• 🌲 Moss growth on trees does not reliably indicate direction, as it can grow on all sides of a tree.
• ❌ Drinking urine in a survival situation is a fallacy; it can dehydrate you faster than not drinking anything at all.
• 🔥 The importance of fire-making skills in survival situations, and the practicality of different methods is emphasized.
• 👟 Shoelaces are not always suitable for making bow drill strings; other materials like paracord are more reliable.
• 🌿 Making a string from plant fibers can be time-consuming and impractical in a survival situation.
• 🌞 The use of a clear ice lens to start a fire with the sun is not practical due to the rarity of clear ice and insufficient sun intensity.
• 🔥 The fire roll method is not practical as it requires specific materials like ash and cotton to smolder into coal.
• 🔧 Carrying a lighter and a Ferro Rod is recommended for starting fires in survival situations due to their reliability.
• 🌳 Researching plants is crucial for accurate identification to avoid consuming toxic berries or plants.

Q & A

What is the common misconception about treating frostbite with snow that Greg Ovens addresses in the video?

The misconception is that rubbing snow on frostbite can warm up a frozen object. In reality, this is harmful as it does not warm the area but instead cools it further, which is the opposite of what should be done.

Why is the advice to eat berries that birds can eat potentially dangerous according to Greg Ovens?

This advice is dangerous because some birds can safely eat berries that are toxic to humans, such as nightshade berries. Consuming these berries can lead to poisoning and even death.

What is the myth about moss growth on trees that Greg Ovens debunks?

The myth is that moss only grows on the north side of trees, which could help in navigation. Greg shows that moss can grow all around trees, not just on one side, making this method unreliable for determining direction.

Why should drinking urine be avoided in a survival situation as per Greg Ovens' explanation?

Drinking urine should be avoided because it contains concentrated salts which can dehydrate a person five times faster than not drinking anything at all. It does not provide the necessary hydration for survival.

What is the importance of the string in a bow drill setup according to Greg Ovens?

The string is the most important part of a bow drill setup because it needs to be strong and reliable to create friction and generate an ember for starting a fire. Weak or stretching strings can break or fail to produce the necessary heat.

Why does Greg Ovens recommend against using plant fibers like dogbane for a bow drill string in a survival situation?

Greg recommends against using plant fibers like dogbane because it can take a very long time to create a strong and thick enough string, which is impractical in a survival situation where time is critical.

What is the practical alternative to plant fiber strings that Greg Ovens suggests for a bow drill setup?

Greg suggests using paracord as a practical alternative because it is reliable, does not break easily, and only needs to be tightened a few times before attempting to start a fire.

Why does Greg Ovens mention the movie 'The Edge' in the context of survival techniques?

Greg mentions 'The Edge' to illustrate the point that some survival techniques depicted in movies, like making fire from ice, are not practical in real-life situations due to the specific conditions required for them to work.

What is Greg Ovens' opinion on the necessity of bringing a lighter and a Ferro Rod when going into the wilderness?

Greg believes that bringing both a lighter and a Ferro Rod is essential for wilderness survival. A lighter can be used to start a fire, but if it gets wet, the Ferro Rod serves as a reliable backup as it can still spark even when wet.

Why is it important to do your own research on plants, as emphasized by Greg Ovens?

It is important to do your own research on plants because there can be mistakes in books and videos about plant identification. Misidentifying plants can lead to consuming toxic berries, which can be dangerous or even fatal.

What are the fallacies Greg Ovens discusses regarding the identification of poisonous and edible berries?

Greg discusses two fallacies: one is that birds can eat certain berries safely, but humans cannot; the other is that sweet-tasting berries are safe to eat while bitter ones are poisonous, which is not a reliable method of identification.