24 Incredibly Useful Hacks You Would Want To Know During A Natural Disaster

Humans are extremely good at survival. That is the reason we are the most populous species on the planet. We have come up with innovative techniques to somehow thrive even in the harshest of environments.

And we still come up with very nifty tricks to survive even when nature shows its full wrath.

With a good presence of mind and wits around you, you can use these tricks to survive a natural calamity too.

1. Strap a torch to a 10 liter can of water for ambient light

You can easily light up a room with this contraption when the power lines go out during a disaster.

 

2. Fill the punctured tire with grass to get to safety if you do not have an air pump

Leaves and grass will hold it up fine until you get to safety. This applies to bicycles and cars too. But with cars, you have to cut up the tire to put the grass in.

 

3. Clog wash basins and bathtubs to create more storage facility for water.

When your buckets are all full, you can use the washbasin and bathtubs as a container for storing water.

Do NOT use your toilet bowls though.

 

4. Use nylon leggings as rope or as a filter to separate particles from water

Nylon stockings are very versatile with disaster scenarios. You can use them as ropes, and they stretch well, and you can use them to filter dirt from bad water.

 

5. You can use thinner batteries in other devices by using foil as buffer connecting surfaces

Aluminum foil will conduct the electricity fine. Just be sure that the two balls of foils do NOT TOUCH EACH OTHER.

 

6. Keep your matches inside your torch to keep them dry

Dry matches are a luxury during wet calamities such as hurricanes and tsunamis. Put them inside your torchlights because torchlights are waterproof, and the bulb inside will keep them moisture free.

 

7. Spit to know where you are if you are trapped under an avalanche

When you get stuck under a lot of snow, spit. The spit will move in the direction of gravity, and you will know which way is down.

Start digging snow in the opposite direction. And do not give up.

 

8. Always remember to curl up in a fetal position when a big earthquake hits you

When you do not have enough time to get out into the open, run under a table and lie down in a fetal position. You are least likely to get hurt or injured in this tightly wound position.

 

9. Crayons can be used as a source of fire and light during emergencies

Ignore all the funny memes that make fun of this hack on the internet. It will really come useful when you need it.

 

10. Add a few drops of household bleach to water to make it drinkable again

Bleach is a good disinfectant, and when you do not have heat to boil water, just use a drop or two of bleach in a bottle full of water, and let it rest for a few minutes.

 

11. Use a piece of cloth to siphon water from a dirty source to a clean source

The cloth will filter most of the dirt from the dirty water.

You still have to boil that water, though.

 

12. Use condoms to keep things waterproof and dry – like cellphones/ water storage

Condoms are awesome for disaster hacks. They will keep almost anything dry. They can also be used to store water because they can hold so much at one time.

 

13. Steel wool can be used as tinder in emergency situations as it will burn

Just touch a battery shown in the above picture to steel wool to ignite it. It will ignite almost instantly and there is no need to fumble with wet matches and tinder.

 

14. Tampons and sanitary pads and diapers make awesome bandages

Tampons and sanitary pads are designed to absorb blood, and diapers are very good at that too. Use them to plug small cuts and wounds.

 

15. Wear wool and synthetics instead of cotton after outdoor emergencies

Cotton is good for the summers. It is really bad in wet winters. Do not walk with it when you are wet because it will not dry easily and will leave you cold and shivering.

 

16. Aluminum foil is excellent for cooking food in the wild

Aluminum foils are excellent cookers. You can just put them on a hot surface and small flame and the food will cook evenly inside it.

 

17. Plastic cello tape is excellent in sealing off wounds and cuts

Adhesive tape is excellent at keeping the blood in and the germs out.

Just wash the wound or cut well before putting the tape on it.

 

18. Use bubble wraps as blankets

Bubble wraps have tiny pockets of air that act as good insulation against the cold.

Just don’t pop the bubbles while you are all snug inside it.

 

19. Vaseline petroleum jelly can be used to ignite a fire, just like kerosene

If you do not have petrol or kerosene to light a flame, you can always use petroleum jelly.

 

20. Dustbin bags can be used as raincoats

Dustbin bags are waterproof and can come handy to protect you from rain.

 

21. Use your mucus to cover your extremities to prevent frostbites in extreme cold

The classic way to prevent a frostbite on your nose and fingers is to use petroleum jelly, but if you don’t have it on you, you can always use the mucus that is dribbling out of your nose. It will prevent your skin from freezing and dying.

 

22. Use Kurkure to light fire if you have nothing else to light

Kurkure snacks catch flame easily, as we have been warned in all those videos that try to defame it. Unhealthy or not, kurkure can double up as emergency snacks and emergency lighting during disaster situations.

 

23. Float a needle on a leaf on water to get the north direction

Just rub the needle vigorously on your clothes before putting it on a floating leaf. It should point to the North direction.

You never know which one of these will end up saving your life.

And remember to never ever give up.

Cover Image Source