Duct tape has become indispensable to Preppers due to it’s uncanny ability to fix just about anything. Stock up on duck tape and you’ll be prepared for everything from first aid emergencies, to clothing repairs, to finding your way back to base camp.
Concerned about the bulk and weight of duct tape in your BOB? Check out *this post contains affiliate links this FLAT duct tape!
Using Duct Tape In Emergency First Aid Situations
Sling for a broken arm: Fold a long strip of duct tape in half down the middle, so there is no longer a sticky side. You now have a strip sturdy and flexible enough to use as a sling for a broken arm.
Stabilize a broken leg: Using sturdy sticks as splints, use the duct tape to hold the splints in place. First, lay sticks on either side of the injured leg. Then hold it all together by wrapping duct tape around the sticks.
Secure a bandage: Place a sterile dressing over the wound, and strap it in place using duct tape. This will also create a water proof barrier. A piece of duct tape can also be fashioned into a butterfly suture.
Make shift mole skin: Cover the blister and the area around it with a bit of cotton gauze from your first aid kit, then place a piece of duct tape completely over the cotton gauze. Make sure that the duct tape doesn’t touch the blister!
Create a Pandemic Seal: Use duct tape and plastic sheeting to seal a room from the spread of pathogens.
Mend Clothes And Gear With Duct Tape
Repair shoes and clothing: Who needs a sewing machine? Did you know this miracle tape come in transparent?
Fix your broken glasses: We won’t tell the Fashion Police, pinky swear.
Patch up your rain gear: Duct tape is water proof! Line the inside of your boots to keep the cold and wet out too!
Keep the creepy crawlies out: The zipper on your tent busted? Use duct tape to keep the door to your tent closed.
Have a hole in your sleeping bag? Duct tape to the rescue!
Splint a broken tent pole or fishing pole. Tape a stick to the broken part of your tent pole or fishing pole. It won’t be a long term fix, but it should see you through the current need.
Create Emergency Shelter. By duct taping together a few of your contractor grade garbage bags together you can fashion a simple survival shelter . You can also tape branches together and then stretch out and duct tape the garbage bags to those to help provide a wind break/simple shelter.
Fix a broken window screen.
Mend a cracked water bottle: After making sure the outside of your bottle is completely dry then cover the crack with a piece of tape, and then wrapping the tape around the entire width of the bottle.
Get your car back on the road! Duct tape can be used to repair leaking hoses, hold up a bumper, patch the roof, etc.
Cover tears in vinyl siding: Apply when the siding is dry, making sure to smooth the duct tape down well. You should get at least a season out of this hack.
Camping Hacks
Mark a trail: Need to find your way back from where you came from? Wrap duct tape around tree trunks along your route. Just remember to make sure that each tree is in sight of the next one.
Signal for Help: Make a giant arrow pointing to where you are, or create a giant S.O.S. Fluorescent colored duct tape or reflective tape would work the best for this.
Use as a fire starter: Wrap tape around a bundle of dry lint and then cover the outside with char cloth.
Makeshift torch: Wind the top of a large branch with duct tape and light it up!
In the comments below, share YOUR favorite ways to get yourself out of a jam with this wonder tool!
Save