15 survival and emergency myths that can put you in danger

Under pressure, we fall back on what we “know”: what we’ve seen in movies, what our parents told us, what we read in a group chat. The problem is that some of it is wrong and can do more harm than good. Here are the most widespread myths and what experts actually say.

Earthquakes

1. “Stand in a doorway during an earthquake.” False in modern buildings. A doorway is no stronger than the rest of the wall, and the door can slam on you. The advice is Drop, Cover, Hold On: under a sturdy table or desk, holding on to it. See what to do in an earthquake.

2. “The triangle of life: lie next to a large object, not under it.” Civil protection organizations don’t recommend this. You can’t predict where voids will form, and moving during shaking exposes you to falling objects.

3. “Run outside as fast as you can.” Most earthquake injuries come from falling objects and falls on stairs during shaking. Stay put until it stops, then leave calmly.

Cold and heat

4. “A drink of alcohol warms you up.” Alcohol widens blood vessels in the skin: you feel warm, but your body loses heat faster. It raises the risk of hypothermia.

5. “Rub frostbite with snow.” Rubbing damages the affected tissue further. Rewarm gradually with lukewarm (not hot) water and see a doctor.

6. “You lose most of your heat through your head.” You lose heat through any uncovered part of the body, roughly in proportion to its surface. A hat helps, but the rest of your clothing matters just as much.

First aid

7. “Put butter, oil or toothpaste on a burn.” They trap heat in the skin and raise the risk of infection. Cool the burn under cold running water for 20 minutes, then cover it with cling film or a clean dressing.

8. “Don’t touch a lightning victim, they’re still charged.” False. The body doesn’t hold a charge. Call the emergency number and start CPR right away if they’re not breathing.

9. “Suck out snake venom.” It doesn’t work and can infect the wound. Keep the person calm and the limb still at heart level, remove rings and watches, and get to a hospital.

10. “Tilt your head back for a nosebleed.” Blood runs down the throat and can cause vomiting. Lean slightly forward and pinch the soft part of the nose for 10–15 minutes.

Water, food and gear

11. “Bottled water expires.” Water itself doesn’t go bad. The date on the bottle relates to the packaging and taste. Store it somewhere dark and cool and rotate it as recommended. See how much water to store.

12. “A generator is safe in the garage with the door open.” No. Carbon monoxide builds up fast and gets into the house. Run generators outdoors only, at least 20 ft (6 m) from doors and windows. See our generator guide.

13. “You can drive through water on the road.” 12 inches (30 cm) of moving water can carry away a car. In the US, more than half of flood deaths happen in vehicles.

Preparedness

14. “The government will come to help right away.” Responders do everything they can, but in a major disaster they face thousands of calls at once. That’s why authorities ask every household to cope alone for at least 72 hours.

15. “Prepping is for paranoid people.” It’s for anyone with a family and a home who wants to get through common events more easily: power cuts, storms, floods, earthquakes. See what is a prepper.