Have you ever been stuck in a situation where you thought there was no way out? You shouldn’t give up that easily if you ever face such dilemma. What you need to be is a great analyzer and fast thinker. Figure out how you can overcome any problems whether they be big or small. Who knows, perhaps some of the everyday items just lying around in your home may spell the difference between surviving or perishing all alone in the middle of nowhere.
Without getting too dark, below are just some examples of everyday items you can use in emergencies. All you need s a little creativity and you could be on your way to better life.
Bleach
Most of you are probably aware that bleach is an important survival item. Aside from keeping your clothes clean and disinfected, bleach can also make water clean enough to drink.
Dirty water is first filtered to get rid off and contaminants such as sand and dirt. Afterwards, you should boil the water to kill all bacteria. If boiling is not an option, you can use bleach instead. Add 1/8 teaspoon of unscented bleach to a gallon of clear water. If the water is a bit cloudy, make it 1/4 teaspoon of bleach. Mix them and let it sit for half an hour before consuming the disinfected water.
Coffee Filters
For many of you, a hot cup of coffee will help you survive the day. But do you know that coffee filters may help you survive emergency situations? If you find yourself without clean drinking water, you can use the coffee filter to separate sediment from the water that you have collected. Afterwards, you should boil the water so it’s safer to drink.
In an EOTW scenario, you can re-start your life and become self-sufficient by planting and growing your own food. You can also use coffee filters as temporary pots to grow your seeds.
Cotton Balls
Cotton is perhaps one of the most versatile everyday items you have in your home. It’s commonly used for cleaning everything from your face to the top of your dusty table. Aside from using cotton balls in applying and removing makeup, they can also be vital during emergency situations.
Get a good night’s sleep when you’re stranded in the wilderness or in an evacuation shelter by plugging your ears with cotton balls. Build fire easier and faster by using cotton balls as tinder. It’s even more effective if you put a little petroleum jelly or lip balm, everyday items that are usually in your bag. Patching wounds with packed cotton balls can help stop bleeding.
Dental Floss
Flossing is a good way to keep your teeth and gums healthy but there’s more to dental floss than meets the mouth. Dental floss is strong enough to catch fish and for tying branches together to build a shelter.
Duct Tape
Many people consider duct tape as a survival gear since it’s usually among the stuff you pack in your emergency kits. It’s actually a good idea to bring one these everyday items with you all the time since you can practically fix anything with it, including a space craft.
Aside from normal repairs, a duct tape can be used to prevent windows from shattering during a storm. Before a storm comes, put tape on the glass so they shards won’t go flying in case it breaks.
These everyday items can also be used for medical emergencies. If you can make a sling out of duct tape for your broken arm or stabilize a sprained ankle by wrapping it with tape.
If you need more proof that duct tape is an essential item to have, just ask the crew of Apollo 13. They would have died if not for the duct tape.
Feminine Products
Some feminine products do more than just keep the ladies as comfortable as possible during their periods. Sanitary napkins, for example, can stop bleeding by acting as a wound dressing.
In case you’re shot, you can stop the bleeding by plugging the bullet wound with a tampon. In the same way, you can use it to stop a nosebleed. These everyday items can also be plugged in your ears to minimize noise and get some sleep. Additionally, tampons can be used as a water filter.
Straws
Don’t throw away your drinking straws just yet. In fact, don’t throw the plastic ones at all as they can harm animals and pollute our waters. If you happen to have some of these everyday items at your disposal, you can use them in a variety of ways so you don’t immediately have to throw them out.
Make small storing tubes out of these straws. Simply cut them in the size you prefer and close one end with a hat sealer. If you don’t have one, an iron or hair straightener will do the job. After sealing one end, fill the straw tube with herbs, spices, powdered drink, shampoo, conditioner, topical creams, or anything that you can think of. Seal the top end.
Tin Cans
Clean, empty tin cans can be used for a number of things. First, it’s a great alternative to pots and pans in case you forgot to bring them to camp. You can also serve food or make coffee in a tin can.
Perhaps the most important use of these everyday items for emergencies is to build a rocket stove out of them.
Trash Bags
There’s a reason why preppers, survivalists and outdoor enthusiasts include garbage bags with their gear. Garbage bags are one of the most versatile everyday items around.
Use trash bags as a shelter by simply cutting the bag open along one side and the bottom. You can then place it over a frame you fashioned from branches. If you already have a tent, you can trash bags as ground cover instead.
Trash bags are also waterproof so you can turn one into a rain poncho or as a bag for your stuff. You can use these everyday items to collect rainwater. If there’s a river nearby, use a trash bag to gather water and bring it to your camp for boiling.
If you don’t have any means of boiling the water, you can simply leave the trash bag under direct sunlight. The sun’s radiation will take care of it.
Ziploc Bags
Ziploc is a brand name for those plastic bags that zip up on top. There are lots of uses for these everyday items aside from storing stuff. Basically, these bags are for storing basically anything. Before an emergency even occurs, you need to keep copies of valuable documents in Ziploc bags. This will keep them dry and safe from water damage.
You can also use it to collect and purify water under direct sunlight similar with the trash bags earlier. Place water-filled Ziploc bags inside the freezer for your ice needs. You can also make a gel ice pack to treat sprains and swelling.
Keep your feet warm and dry when it’s raining by wrapping them in Ziploc bags. You can also use them to keep wounds and other injuries from getting wet.
There tons of everyday items you can use for other than their intended purposes. All you need is to look around and let your mind imaging your way out of trouble. Hopefully, the short list above would help a great deal. If you know of other survival hacks using everyday items, go ahead and share them in the comment section below. This will be very much appreciated.
Some everyday items become tough-as-nails survival gear after being subjected to intense makeovers. Such is the case with the tactical pen. These macho looking pens are not only tools for writing, they’re also vital in your survival. The Strikepen, for example, is more than just a pen. This alloy writing tool comes with a tungsten steel striker for breaking glass and a bright LED emitter to light up your way especially during emergency situations. The unassuming multi-purpose pen also features a blade, flat head driver, hex wrench and a bottle opener.
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