Tweaks and Tricks That Could Save Your Life

Discussion in 'General Survival and Preparedness' started by Dunerunner, Jan 25, 2015.


  1. Dunerunner

    Dunerunner Brewery Monkey Moderator

    A few of mine and some from the web...

    1. When camping or just in a SHTF situation where there is no electricity, a standard headlamp strapped to a 1 gallon plastic milk jug filled with water can light an entire room or tent.

    2. You can use AAA batteries in electronics that call for AA batteries by filling the gaps with folded up aluminum foil. the operate time won’t be as long as with AA's but, it could get you by in a pinch.

    3. A space blanket (one with an aluminum reflective surface) can be set up on the opposite side of your campfire to reflect heat back toward you. It also serves as a wind break.

    4. A 55 gallon Black Plastic contractors trash bag makes a great emergency poncho. remember when venturing out into the wilderness to always have a water proof hat. One of the roll up hats from Outdoor Research are perfect. Outdoor Research | Hats: Warm Hats, Winter Hats, Sun Hats, Rain Hats | Outdoor Research | Designed By Adventure | Outdoor Clothing & Gear

    5. An empty Altoids tin makes a nice storage container for your dry fire starter, char cloth, flint and steel.

    Got a Tip, Trick or Tweak.... Feel free to add on.
     
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  2. Motomom34

    Motomom34 Monkey+++

    Clarification on #1. Turn the headlamp so it shines through the jug correct? That is a really interesting suggestion. I will try it when it is dark out. For now-

    002.JPG
     
  3. Dunerunner

    Dunerunner Brewery Monkey Moderator

    Exactimundo!! thanks MM!
     
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  4. Motomom34

    Motomom34 Monkey+++

    I have a roll of these in our emergency bag. Lots of survival uses for trash bags.

    10 Survival Uses For A Trash Bag | Outdoor Life
     
    arleigh, Aeason, Meat and 5 others like this.
  5. KAS

    KAS Monkey+++

    if u can get your hands on "drum liners" the are even better cause they are thicker and i like them cause the fold up flat....
     
  6. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

    I use drumliners, myself, for recycling. They hold more and don't tear.they are a much thicker plastic.(1st choice)
     
  7. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

  8. Bear

    Bear Monkey+++ Founding Member Iron Monkey

    A pin or other way of making some pinhole "Glasses" just in case you lose your contacts or glasses... not the best... but if you are a blind bat like me... these could help "See" your way out of a bad situation... just the knowledge of it could help save your life... try it while you are watching tv or at the computer... it really works...

    It's one of the reasons why I keep that pin in my SAK ;)
     
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  9. Dunerunner

    Dunerunner Brewery Monkey Moderator

    The sewing kits they supply for you in many hotels can serve many uses besides mending your socks or re-attaching a button. Needles can be formed into fish hooks, needle and thread can stitch up a nasty wound. If you throw in a small spool light fishing line like 6# test monofilament, you would have a hand line or materials for a snare.
     
    Aeason, chelloveck, KAS and 3 others like this.
  10. Dunerunner

    Dunerunner Brewery Monkey Moderator

    The edge of a metal lid removed from a can of food, makes an effective cutting tool. If you used your knife to open the can, you have a nice serrated edge on the can lid.
     
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  11. KAS

    KAS Monkey+++

    the lid from a spam can works great for slicing up the spam>
     
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  12. arleigh

    arleigh Goophy monkey

    i cary a set of hemostats and needle fine tweezers for dealing with splinters and some sewing issues.
     
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  13. hot diggity

    hot diggity Monkey+++ Site Supporter+++

    My trouble has always been AAAA batteries for my little Streamlight Stylus. It's my back-up for the back-up lights, but it is tiny and tough. Batteries are always an issue, so I found an easy source. Standard 9v batteries contain six AAAA size 1.5v batteries. They lack what the battery guys call "the consumer tip" are just a little shorter than the real deal AAAA batteries, and what looks like the + bump on the end is actually the - end, but by just stretching the battery spring out a bit and loading them "upside down" they work fine. (I will post pictures this evening)

    Best part is that there should always be some nearby since they are in just about every smoke detector and alarm clock I've handled. Takes just a couple minutes to strip down a 9v to it's component parts. Eleven lumens isn't much, but it sure beats stumbling around in the dark. :)
     
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  14. Meat

    Meat Monkey+++

    I kept a crank em up flashlight around for years. Time to re-supply. :D
     
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  15. hot diggity

    hot diggity Monkey+++ Site Supporter+++

    Picture of AAAA batteries sourced from a single 9v battery.

    This took all of a minute to complete with a pair of pliers, and Interestingly, the batteries worked in my new Stylus without any spring stretching. That may indicate that my older work out lights have suffered spring fatigue.

    I may whip up a separate post on this now that I have pictures.
    The only strange part of the whole operation is that the + end of the batteries inside the 9v are the flat end. The familiar bump that we look for as the + end is soldered on there during final assembly of genuine AAAA batteries.

    KIMG1161.
     
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  16. Ganado

    Ganado Monkey+++

    @Meat no pic no link no proof!

    @Dunerunner great post I keep one like that in my purse for the same reason.... batteries are easy to find
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jan 15, 2017
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  17. Meat

    Meat Monkey+++

    Blah blah. I'll post a pic of me walking on water. Stand by.
     
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  18. Yard Dart

    Yard Dart Vigilant Monkey Moderator

    NO!!
     
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  19. Meat

    Meat Monkey+++

    It's taking awhile to sort through all of my selfies but it's in there somewhere. [afro]
     
    Yard Dart likes this.
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