30 Survival Uses for Floss You Never Thought Of
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When it comes to survival situations, ingenuity and resourcefulness are essential. While you may not have considered dental floss as a versatile tool for emergencies, its uses extend far beyond oral hygiene. Lightweight, compact, and incredibly durable, dental floss can be a lifesaver in unexpected scenarios.
Here are 30 survival uses for dental floss that you may not have considered:
- Suturing Wounds:
- How to: Cut a length of dental floss and sterilize it if possible. Use a sterilized needle to sew the wound shut, looping the floss through the skin on either side of the wound and tying it securely.
- How to Use: Suturing wounds with dental floss can help close cuts or lacerations to prevent infection and promote healing until proper medical care is available.
- Fishing Line:
- How to: Unwind a length of dental floss and tie it securely to a makeshift fishing hook. Use it to catch fish in streams, rivers, or lakes.
- How to Use: Attach bait to the hook and cast the line into the water, waiting patiently for fish to bite. Reel in the catch carefully, using the dental floss to secure the fish once caught.
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- Repairing Gear:
- How to: Thread a needle with dental floss and sew torn fabric or materials together.
- How to Use: Identify the tear or damage in your gear and carefully stitch it back together using the dental floss, ensuring a tight and secure repair to extend the life of your equipment.
- Tripwire:
- How to: Tie dental floss between two stationary objects at ankle height to create a tripwire.
- How to Use: Set up the tripwire in areas where you want to be alerted to movement, such as around your campsite, to act as a makeshift alarm system.
- Emergency Sewing Kit:
- How to: Thread a needle with dental floss and use it to sew buttons, patches, or repairs on clothing or gear.
- How to Use: When clothing or gear becomes damaged, use the dental floss and needle to make quick repairs, ensuring items remain functional in survival situations.
- Fire Starter:
- How to: Separate the strands of dental floss and fluff them up to create tinder.
- How to Use: Place the dental floss tinder among other dry kindling and ignite it with a spark from a fire starter or matches to start a fire for warmth, cooking, or signaling.
- Support for Plants:
- How to: Gently tie dental floss around the stem of a plant and secure it to a stake or other support structure.
- How to Use: Use dental floss to provide support to young or fragile plants, helping them grow upright and reducing the risk of damage from wind or weather.
- Emergency Shoelaces:
- How to: Replace broken shoelaces with dental floss by threading it through the eyelets of your shoes and tying it securely.
- How to Use: In the event of damaged shoelaces, use dental floss as a temporary replacement to keep your shoes securely fastened and your feet protected.
- Making Shelter:
- How to: Use dental floss to lash together branches or other materials for building shelters.
- How to Use: In survival situations, construct shelters by tying together branches or securing fabric with dental floss, providing protection from the elements.
- Emergency Dental Floss:
- How to: Utilize dental floss for its primary purpose—cleaning between teeth to maintain oral hygiene.
- How to Use: Maintain oral hygiene by flossing regularly, preventing dental issues even in challenging situations.
- Hang Food Away from Animals:
- How to: Hang food from a tree branch using dental floss to keep it out of reach of animals.
- How to Use: Prevent animals from accessing your food supply by suspending it out of their reach using dental floss as a sturdy line.
- Splinting:
- How to: Secure splints in place by wrapping them with dental floss.
- How to Use: Stabilize broken bones or injured limbs by wrapping splints with dental floss, providing support and immobilization until proper medical attention can be obtained.
- Crafting:
- How to: Create bracelets, necklaces, or other decorative items by weaving dental floss together with natural materials like twigs or feathers.
- How to Use: Use dental floss to craft decorative items for personal adornment or as gifts, incorporating natural materials for a rustic touch.
- Marking Trails:
- How to: Tie dental floss to trees or rocks to mark a trail and prevent getting lost in unfamiliar territory.
- How to Use: Create visual markers along your path using brightly colored dental floss to ensure you can find your way back or communicate directions to others.
- String for Bow and Arrow:
- How to: Fashion a bowstring for a makeshift bow using dental floss.
- How to Use: Construct a simple bow and arrow for hunting or self-defense using dental floss as a durable and flexible string.
Fashion a bowstring for a makeshift bow using dental floss.
- Flossing Traps:
- How to: Use dental floss to create snares or traps for catching small game.
- How to Use: Set up traps using dental floss to capture animals for food or to alert you to the presence of wildlife in your vicinity.
- Gardening:
- How to: Use dental floss to tie up plants or train vines in your garden.
- How to Use: Support plant growth and organization in your garden by securing stems, vines, or trellises with dental floss.
- Securing Bandages:
- How to: Keep bandages in place by wrapping them with dental floss.
- How to Use: Secure dressings and bandages over wounds using dental floss to prevent them from shifting or coming loose during activity.
- Hang Clothing to Dry:
- How to: Hang wet clothing from a line using dental floss to dry them out.
- How to Use: Air-dry clothing and gear by suspending them from a line using dental floss, facilitating quicker drying times in outdoor environments.
- Repairing Glasses:
- How to: Temporarily fix broken eyeglasses by threading dental floss through the hinge.
- How to Use: Restore functionality to damaged eyewear by securing loose or broken components with dental floss until proper repairs can be made.
- Creating Shelter:
- How to: Reinforce your shelter by tying down tarps or securing ropes with dental floss.
- How to Use: Strengthen your shelter against wind and weather by using dental floss to secure materials and anchor points, ensuring stability and protection.
- Making a Rope Ladder:
- How to: Weave dental floss between rungs to create a lightweight rope ladder.
- How to Use: Construct a portable ladder for accessing elevated areas or escape routes using dental floss and sturdy branches or dowels.
- Emergency Zipper Repair:
- How to: Replace a broken zipper pull with dental floss.
- How to Use: Restore functionality to damaged zippers by threading dental floss through the slider mechanism, providing a makeshift pull for opening and closing.
- Gathering Food:
- How to: Use dental floss to create a makeshift net for gathering berries or small fruits.
- How to Use: Harvest wild edibles by fashioning a simple net or bag from dental floss, allowing you to collect food items without risking loss or damage.
- Securing Gear to Backpack:
- How to: Attach gear or supplies to your backpack using dental floss to keep them secure while hiking or traveling.
- How to Use: Distribute weight evenly and prevent items from shifting during travel by lashing gear to your backpack with dental floss, ensuring easy access and organization.
- Emergency Hair Tie:
- How to: In a pinch, use dental floss to tie back long hair.
- How to Use: Keep hair out of your face and maintain personal hygiene by securing it with dental floss when traditional hair ties are unavailable.
- Crafting Fishing Nets:
- How to: Weave dental floss together to create a small fishing net for catching aquatic life.
- How to Use: Enhance your fishing capabilities by crafting a custom net from dental floss, allowing you to capture fish and other aquatic creatures with greater efficiency.
- Securing Shelter:
- How to: Reinforce your shelter by tying together branches or fabric with dental floss as the binding material.
- How to Use: Strengthen the structural integrity of your shelter by using dental floss to lash together framework elements, ensuring stability and durability in adverse conditions.
- Emergency Rope:
- How to: Braid multiple strands of dental floss together to create a stronger rope for various applications.
- How to Use: Extend the utility of dental floss by braiding multiple strands into a thicker cordage, suitable for tasks requiring greater tensile strength and durability.
- Trail Repair:
- How to: Use dental floss to mend broken straps, buckles, or other components of outdoor gear.
- How to Use: Maintain functionality and extend the lifespan of equipment by making on-the-go repairs with dental floss, ensuring continued use and reliability in challenging environments.
In a survival situation, improvisation can mean the difference between life and death. With its myriad uses, dental floss proves to be an invaluable addition to any survival kit. So, next time you pack for an adventure or prepare for emergencies, don’t forget to include dental floss—it might just save your life.