Happy National First Responders Day!
October 28 celebrates all the men and women who are the first to respond in emergency situations and when disaster strikes. We salute you, modern-day heroes and we are grateful for everything that you do!
Wilbur’s Finest dedicates this article to all First Responders worldwide.
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Have you ever seen preppers, soldiers, and emergency responders wearing a paracord strap around their wrist or hanging from their bags or pants?
That’s because they’re an essential multi-use tool that is loved by survivalists and outdoor folks. Paracords have endless possibilities of using it for practical and emergency purposes.
Wanna know what they could be used for? In this article, you’ll learn about the 3 major purposes of paracord and 28 specific ways to use it when you need it most!
3 Major Purposes of a Paracord Strap
(And 28 Specific Ways To Use It!)
The world of prepping is very interesting. If you’re new to this, you’re definitely in for a treat! Who knew that this unassuming accessory is actually a survival tool that can be of great help in emergency situations, survivability, and in life outdoors.
Outdoor Medical Emergency
Did you know that a paracord can be used as first aid in the wilderness?
With so many fun activities you can do out in the wild, it’s not surprising if you or a friend gets injured. That’s why you should always be ready for anything.
And this paracord bracelet does the trick! Here’s how:
Use as a tourniquet
If a wound is bleeding profusely, knot a paracord above it and tighten it until it stops bleeding. Ideally, this should be done as a last resort.
Create a splint
For injured limbs or joints, create a splint to stabilize the injured body part. Using paracord, tie a soft cushion to a sturdy branch (or any rigid object).
Use as a makeshift sling
Yes, you can support an injured shoulder or arm using a paracord. Tie the paracord to the wrist and elbow with padding between it and the skin to prevent chafing. Loop the paracord around the back of the neck and tie it to the wrist and elbow.
Make a stretcher
In worse case scenarios, you might need to transport an injured or sick person. Tie paracord lengths between two poles. If poles are not available, make a stretcher entirely made of cord by using criss-cross patterns.
Use as sutures
Quality paracord straps have at least strands. They are thin enough that they could pass as suture for emergency situations. But of course, there are important things to consider before deciding to do so.
We recommend reading more articles or watching more videos about open wounds, closing up a wound with sutures, etc.
Survivability
It’s tough when you’re out in the wild. Life is unpredictable and some things aren’t easily accessible. The trick? You always have to be ready for anything. And having a paracord strap or bracelet is one of the survival tools to help you out there.
There are about a hundred or more ways to use paracords under the survivability category.
Erecting or building emergency shelters
Have to stop in the middle of nowhere? That’s okay! Unravel your paracord bracelet and build a makeshift shelter by tying the ends of a tent.
Securing loads
When you have to load up your bag with extra items on the go, you can keep them in place using the paracord straps. Just tie the strap around the item and create a knot to secure.
Catch a fish
Yes, you can create something out of a paracord string to help you catch a fish. Some call it fishing lures, while others call it bait. All you have to do is expose the inner strands (also known as the guts of a paracord), insert a hook, and make fringes. Check out this article by Reel Pursuits to learn more about how to make homemade fishing lures with paracord!
Make a survival snare
Catch some small animals by creating a paracord survival snare. You’ll need a branch, twigs, a knife, and of course a paracord. Read this article by Instructables Outside to learn how to make a survival snare in 8 steps.
Make repairs
For some reason you might need to replace your shoelaces, you can use a paracord. Did the strap of your slippers or bag snap? Use a paracord. This applies for anything that needs repairs on the go.
Start a fire
When it starts to get cold, you can always rely on your paracord strap to help you start a fire. First, gather some twigs, branches, and logs. Then, remove the inner strands of the paracord to use a tinder for the fire later. You can then start your fire. Here’s exactly how to start a fire with a paracord as explained by Go Time Gear.
Suspension lines and trip wires
Need to stay alert in the wild? Create trip wires using your paracord straps to signal you with noise in case an intruder is coming your way. Learn more from this article by Urban Survival Site: 6 DIY Trip Wire Alarms for Off-Grid Security.
Mark a trail
Whether you’re an expert prepper or a beginner, it’s inevitable to get lost along the way when you’re out in the wild. Or worse, you might forget where you set up your survival snares or trip wires. Well, leave a trail marker so you don’t get lost or forget. Here’s how to do it as shown by Titan Survival.
Make a bow and arrow
Need to hunt? No problem. Find a flexible sapling, some tree shots to use as arrows, feathers, and prepare a sharp knife. Read more at #5 in this article by Outdoor Life.
Make a makeshift simple ladder
If you need to access something high up, you can definitely create a makeshift ladder. This is perfect for emergency escapes, something to help you climb up a tree, or to just have a rope ladder in handy.
Check out this article by Instructables Outside to learn how to make one!
Snowshoes
Powdery snow can be exhausting to walk through. You’ll need something that you can easily build in emergency situations outdoors – snowshoes. And yes, you can use a paracord strap to help you make one!
Check out this comprehensive article by Outdoor Revival and this helpful video by Far North Bushcraft and Survival to learn how.
String up a bear bag
Keep the bears, racoons, and other animals away from your stash. Using a paracord, tie your bag one end and throw it up on a tree branch high up. Then, tie the other end around the trunk of another tree.
Recommended height of the bear bag:
- 12 feet up from the ground
- 5 feet away from the tree trunk
- 5 feet below the closest branch/limb
Read more from this article by Andrew Skurka.
Outdoor Convenience
Moving on to a more laid-back purpose of paracord straps, here are a few of the ways you can use a paracord for.
- Replacement for boot laces
- Rigging items to pack exteriors
- Use as carry straps or lanyard for useful objects such as: a survival whistle, a walkie talkie, or a flashlight.
- Boating uses
- Clothesline
- Floss
- Hammock Suspension
- Tie things on top of a car
- Use as sewing thread
- Holding gear together
- Raft building
- Replacement for clothing straps or belts
Final Thoughts
If you were looking for a sign to buy paracord bracelets, this is it! Now that you know more about them, it’d be harder to leave the house without it! You never know when shit will hit the fan.
If you’re a full-blown prepper and survivalist, you probably know more ways to use a paracord strap than we do. So go ahead and share anything we missed in the comments below so we can help other folks who are interested!
