8) Alligators
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To avoid alligators your best bet is to avoid the water’s edge at dusk and dawn. But, if you’ve been playing silly buggers and you’re caught unaware what do you do? The old wives tale is that running in a zig-zag is helpful, but that’s wrong. It’ll slow you down and they’ll catch you.
Run away from the water, they don’t like coming in land too far. But do remember that despite their looks they can easily keep up with a human runner, so no slowing down until you know you’re safe.
If the beast does catch a hold of you go for the eyes, nose and ears. If you find yourself under the water with an alligator attached to you, it’s pretty much lights out. But, if you are already in the gator’s mouth, and in the very unlikely event that you remember, here’s a lesser known technique: get your hand in its mouth and punch its palatal valve.
The palatal valve shuts the throat off when it is submerged. If you open it, water will flood in and the alligator will be forced to surface. Here’s where the valve is. This picture shows it open:
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Obviously, it’s a long shot.
