Agree with everything above, but would like add a few things if you guys don't mind:
1) I was a paramedic for many years, and the "cut and suck" way of treating snakebite is (and has been) out of favor for a long time. Outdated survival manuals still discuss it as if it works. FYI in North America, 1/3 of the time a viper bite is dry, 1/3 of the time it will make you ill, and only about 1/3 of the time is it really life-threatening.
Cutting the tissue with a razor blade may actually allow more venom into the bloodstream and make the situation worse. Coral snakes (not vipers, but elapids... like cobras) have extremely potent neurotoxic venom, but small, inefficient fangs. The Arizona coral snake is the most venomous snake (mg. per mg.) in North America, yet it has never caused a single known human death.
2) Food may be a priority in certian medical conditions like diabetes, hypoglycemia, and so on...also if the survivor needs to take certian medications that must be ingested with food.
3) For finding direction, any piece of ferrous metal (stainless steel is an exception) can be magnetized and used as a compass if you bash it repeatedly with a rock. The metal can be floated on a leaf in a puddle and it will give you north-south.
4) Fins, fur, and feathers is often quoted as a survival mantra, but keep in mind that animals may carry disease and parasites, so wash your hands frequently while butchering (if you don't have gloves), and check yourself for fleas and ticks after handling dead animals.
5) Danger from scorpions, tarantulas, black widow spiders, and brown recluse are, in my mind, overstated. It would be very, very rare for someone to die from a bite or sting from one of these animals. Of all these creatures, the brown recluse is the most problematic (in my opinion) because it creates a kind of slow necrosis that spreads over time, and usually requires plastic surgery. The Arizona bark scorpion (the most toxic in North America) is very unlikely to cause death, although high blood pressure, heart problems, and diabetes increase the risks associated with this sting.
The black widow spider will make you miserable, but you have less than a 1% chance of death even if it's untreated.
The problem with tarantulas is not the bite (no known human deaths), but if the hairs from the body get in your eyes...you can go blind. This is true even of the pet tarantulas that you get in pet stores.
..hey it's on movies so it must be true,isn't it??
