Separating FACT from FICTION in survival shows

12/06/2022 / By Zoey Sky

Survival reality shows have become more popular in recent years, but can they actually help you survive when SHTF?

Although these shows are supposed to teach viewers how to survive in different types of environments with little to no resources, not all survival shows feature useful tips. In fact, some of the actions of the contestants and hosts on these shows may do you more harm than good if you mimic them in a survival scenario. (h/t to TheOrganicPrepper.com)

What survival shows get right

Here are some things survival shows got right.

Some shows teach useful survival basics

Even the worst survival show can show the basics of survival. Some of the basics include the Survival Rule of 3 and how to fulfill those needs.

If you need a reminder of the Rule of 3, it states that you can survive:

Three minutes without air
Three hours without shelter or maintaining core body temperature
Three days without water
Three weeks without food

The numbers involved in the above rules are not concrete since many variables will dictate how long you can survive, but you should at least remember the order of the list. (Related: One mistake is all it takes: 6 Dangerous survival myths, DEBUNKED.)

Calories and possible food sources in the wilderness

You can survive much longer without food than water, but calories become crucial in a survival scenario. If you don’t consume more calories as you engage in more physical activities, you will become very tired, very fast.

Being able to improvise is key to your survival

Many objects that the average person will readily throw away may have many survival uses, and the best survival shows will show participants using their basic tools in creative ways.

Here are some examples of common objects with various survival uses:

Disposable chopsticks are a great utensil, but when SHTF you can break them up for tinder to start a fire. Additionally, you can sharpen chopsticks if you need a makeshift weapon or pointed tool.
Safety pins can be used to make fish hooks or a quick repair for torn clothing or tents.
Empty cans can be used to make containers for boiling and drinking water. You can also cut cans to make a mini stove for cooking. Sharp pieces of tin or aluminum can be used to create bladed weapons.
A metal can and some tubing from the beach can be turned into a system for distilling water.
You can use a battery and some steel wool to start a fire.

If you spot a broken-down vehicle in the middle of nowhere, check inside to see if there are any useful materials on it.

When SHTF, being able to adapt and use limited resources creatively can help save your life.

What survival shows get wrong

Despite the good points of survival shows, many of them often show wrong facts that can get you killed in a survival scenario. Below are some mistakes you should avoid even after you see them being done on a popular survival show.

Drinking urine can make you sick

Urinating is the body’s way of eliminating waste products.

In survival shows, people drink urine when they run out of water. However, this is bad for your body because when urine is consumed, it puts waste products back into the body.

This then makes the body work harder, and it may also harm your kidneys.

Even if you have a good reason to start drinking urine, you should avoid it because it can make you vomit. If you don’t have water to drink, the last thing you want is to vomit and lose even more water.

Water from feces can cause cholera

In the show “Man vs. Wild,” host Bear Grylls once “drank” water from what may be a pile of elephant dung.

Feces contain waste products and it can also contain bad bacteria that can make you sick. If you’re out of resources, keep looking for more water instead of making yourself sick with water from feces.

Like urine, feces can also trigger vomiting and make you lose water.

Wrong ways to use a knife

A knife is versatile and it is one of the most popular and important survival tools. However, survival shows often feature two very wrong ways to use a knife.

First, they use knives to baton-cut wood. An outdoor “survival” knife is often used for three things: cutting, slicing and stabbing. They aren’t meant for chopping.

You can use your knife to chop up some wild onions or meat for your next meal, but don’t use your knife to chop wood. Doing this greatly increases the risk of damaging the most important tool you have.

The second wrong way to use a knife is to tie it to the end of a wooden pole to create a “spear.” Most of the time, these knife spears are done to protect against or hunt for larger animals like bears, boars, deer, lions or tigers.

Unfortunately, using your knife like this can mean getting your only weapon stuck in one of these animals.

Instead of attaching your knife to a pole, use it to whittle the end of a wooden pole into a fine point. This gives you a spear, and you get to keep your knife.

Survival shows are often dramatized

Since shows are meant to attract more viewers, they often dramatize everything for entertainment.

They also show people running and taking unnecessary risks when simply walking will do. When SHTF, running and sliding down hillsides or jumping from boulder to boulder can get you hurt.

Shows also make it look like while many wild edibles are safe to eat, they all taste bad. This isn’t always true, especially if you know how to prepare and eat them properly.

If you want to learn about survival, it’s better to do your research and read survival and prepping reference books instead of watching these shows.

If you’re looking for an informative survival show, try “Survivorman” by Les Stroud. Survivorman may be one of the best shows that can be watched on this topic because it takes an educational, realistic and honest approach to survival.

If you love watching survival shows, keep watching them at your leisure. But if you want to learn about actual survival, practice your skills before SHTF and learn how to use your tools properly.

Watch the video below to know more about five survival items you may already have at home.

This video is from the Alex Hammer channel on Brighteon.com.