Never underestimate the value of normal, everyday items in survival situations. The more that you can improvise and work with what’s available at the time will make it easier to accomplish common tasks or solve unexpected problems. Here are a few ideas to experiment with now and file away for future use.
Guitar Pick Fire Starter
You can never have too many fire-starting items on hand in an emergency, and guitar picks represent an unlikely resource. They are very flammable, easy to tuck away, and you can pick up a pack of cheap ones for a few dollars. Put one in your wallet, pocket or tuck a few in your backpack or bug out bag. All you need to do is light a corner with a match or lighter before placing it in your tinder. The only drawback is these things burn pretty fast, so they won’t always work on hard-to-light fires.
Ramen Noodle Fuel
If you’re looking for a fast, easy and efficient source of fuel, consider soaking some Ramen noodles in anti-freeze for a minute or so before placing it in the pit of your rocket stove. This should give you about 15-20 minutes of burn time, and this is perfect for cooking small meals or boiling water. You don’t have to forage for wood or build a fire, and you can also hold on to your fire-starters for another time.
Polish Your Matches
Chances are that you’ve heard about coating matches in candle wax to make them more waterproof. However, did you know that you can achieve similar results by using nail polish as well? Simply dunk the top third of each match, head and stem included, into the polish for a second or two before pulling out. Let some of the excess polish drip off before laying the matches out to dry. When ready to use, just strike them as you normally would and you’re good to go.
Soda Bottle Water Catcher
You can easily modify a 2 liter soda bottle and turn it into an automatic water catcher. All you need to do is trace some lines that extend from each of the bottom “feet” of the bottle to about 4 inches up the sides. Cut out these segments from the bottom up, but leave the plastic attached along the sides. Bend the segments outward at about a 50-60 degree angle.
Screw the cap on the bottle, flip it upside down, and twist it into the ground near some grass or other vegetation. The morning dew will collect on the plastic “petals” and drip into the bottle. While the amount of water that you collect will depend on a lot of different factors, every drop counts, and this is a great way to give yourself access to an effortless supply. You can also use this in the rain as a way to enjoy a quick harvest of water as well.
Wear Nylons
Nylons can be very beneficial in survival situations for a number of reasons. First, they are excellent insulators while also promoting air circulation. Putting them on beneath everything, including underwear, can help the body to retain more heat while also minimizing sweating and skin irritation as a result. Nylons can also be worn to protect against tick bites as they create a protective barrier that makes it difficult for ticks to latch on to the skin. Finally, you can wear them like socks in order to minimize blistering as you hike.
These simple tips illustrate how easy it is to improvise things from common, every day items in a survival situation. Try these for yourself, and don’t forget to keep your eyes open for other ideas that can make life easier for you during a survival situation.