A lot of people are under the impression that resourcefulness is a trait that people are born with. While it is true that being resourceful comes more-naturally to some than others, the reality is that everyone can develop this skill with a little bit of practice. One of the best ways to practice is by working on small, simple projects that will help the brain to get in the habit of thinking outside of the box. Let’s take a look at a few ideas that anyone can experiment with to hone their skills, and they also make for great additions to our respective survival bags of tricks.
Bottle Air Filter
Some of you are probably already familiar with how to make a face mask out of a 2 liter bottle. However, you can improve on this basic method by using one of those rectangular disposable water bottles instead. The first thing to do is to cut out a section on one side that is about the size of your face and forehead. Try to customize it as much as possible for a secure fit. Next, line the edge with some insulating tape, but duct tape can work just as well. Take some weather stripping, the kind you use on doors and windows, and stick it over the tape. This will give you some padding along with an additional seal around your face when you wear the mask.
Next, poke a few holes into the cap of the bottle with a thick nail. Pack the inside of the cap with some cotton padding or gauze before draping a piece of gauze over the underside of the cap. Make sure there is enough material to stick out far enough to hold it in place after you screw the cap back on the bottle. All you need to do is put on a surgical mask before putting the bottle over your face. It should be big enough to rest on your head without the need to create straps, but you may want to consider adding one just to help keep it in place.
Sponge Cold Pack
If you’re looking for a way to make a chemical-free cold pack without using a lot of water, try using a sponge. Soak a kitchen sponge in a bowl of water before putting it into a zipper freezer bag. Freeze until the water starts to turn to ice and the sponge becomes solid. When ready to use, squeeze the sponge through the bag, and place the cold pack over the affected area. While this sounds overly-simplistic, it really works, and you can also use it over and over again.
Small Can Rocket Stove
While there are dozens of ways to make a rocket stove, this one is one of the easiest. All you need is an empty soda can along with a larger one. Cut off the top of the larger one and the top and bottom from the soda can. Cut a hole in one of the sides of the larger can, near the bottom, that’s big enough for the soda can to slide into. Next, make eight vertical cuts, evenly-spaced, about 1 inch long around the top of the can. Fold every other one over so that you end up with four legs that stand up. The combination of bent and vertical pieces will add strength to the top of the can and give you a place to put your pot or pan while you cook. Stick the soda can into the hole, fill it with kindling, light it up, and keep feeding it until you’re done cooking.
Bolt Battery Replacement
If you’re short a AA or AAA battery, use a bolt or flat-bottomed screw that’s the same length as an alternative. Just pop the bolt into the empty space, use some foil for padding between the ends and the terminals if necessary, and you’re good to go.
All of these tricks can be accomplished by using things that most of us probably have laying around or are easy to obtain, and they can help to make life a lot easier during a crisis. Take time to think of other ways that you can improvise with basic material, and you’ll be amazed at how much you can accomplish with so little during a survival situation.
