A good prepper has a survival kit stored somewhere in his homestead, bug-out shelter and bug-out vehicle. However, when SHTF, you might find yourself in situations where you don’t have the time to go to your survival kit and get the right tool. In this case, improvising using common household items can come in handy. (h/t to SHTFPlan.com)

Everyday items with survival uses

Many people would argue that the point of being prepared is to reduce the need for improvisation when things go south, but anything can happen in an emergency. Some people might be far away from the nearest source of survival tools; others might be on vacation where they don’t have access to such supplies. Survival should always be an option for everyone, regardless if they have a survival kit available or not. Thankfully, many common household items have  survival uses that can help you if you’re in a bind.  (Related: How to repurpose household items to create powerful remedies.)

1. Safety pins. The humble safety pin can perform a number of uses in a pinch. Use it as a makeshift fishhook; as a probe tool for taking out splinters and other foreign debris under the skin; as a lock-picker; and for temporarily patching up clothes. Stock up on pins of varying sizes so you can have the right pin for the right situation.
2. Dental floss. Dental floss is actually sturdy, which can be useful in emergencies. For instance, you can use it to create a snare for small wild animals or even as a fishing line. You can also use it to bind sticks and other items together to make a temporary shelter.
3. Magnets. Magnets can be used for a wide variety of things. Use a magnet to help you verify if an item is made of stainless steel, or to test jewelry or coins for counterfeits. As for more practical purposes, you can create a makeshift compass by magnetizing a needle to support other wayfinding items like maps.
4. Grocery store produce bags. When these bags come fresh off the roll, they are folded into a long strip or piece. You can fold them up like an accordion and place them in a wallet for future use. These bags can keep moisture and debris out of anything inside so it can come in handy during bad weather.
5. Survival card tool 0.5. You’ve probably heard of premium survival gear like multi-tools and Swiss-army knives. These tools are definitely useful in a variety of situations, but the prices for these items hold them back from being  practical tools for survival. While technically not an “everyday item,” survival cards tools are common enough that you can purchase one from any big-box store for a very low price while keeping the versatility of premium survival tools. These items have 11 functions: a knife, flathead screwdriver, ruler, 4-position hex wrench, 2-position hex wrench, saw, groove-wrench, can opener, lanyard holder, direction indicator and bottle opener — all of which encompassed in a stainless steel item the size of a credit card.

This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to improvised survival items. There are plenty more household tools available that have uses that might surprise you. Learn more about them at SurvivalGear.news.

Sources include:

SHTFPlan.com

ReadyNutrition.com

Adventure.HowStuffWorks.com