An outdoor enthusiast who values nature should keep a survival bracelet handy at all times – whether hiking, camping or hunting. A survival bracelet can assist in many ways during wilderness emergencies from building shelter to fishing for food and beyond.
Survival bracelets are constructed from paracord, an extremely lightweight nylon rope. By learning how to use your survival bracelet properly in an emergency situation, it could save your life in an outdoor situation.
Firestarter
Survival bracelets are ideal for hiking or camping trips as they contain firestarters that make starting fires easy even in cold or wet environments. Many models also come equipped with ceramic scrapers and firesteels for even easier starting fires!
Survival bracelet strands can also be used as tourniquets in case of injury, and reduce blood loss from injuries sustained in combat zones like Iraq. When one Army soldier was hit by shrapnel but could not move quickly enough away, he used one of his survival bracelets unwound and tied it around his leg to stop bleeding [source: Rosman].
Some survival bracelets include additional tools that may be beneficial in an emergency situation, such as a compass, LED lights, Xints or whistle. But it is most important to keep a survival bracelet with you at all times so it can be utilized when needed.
Splint
Survival bracelets (sometimes referred to as parachute cord bracelets) contain inner strands which can be torn apart to form a splint for injured arms and legs, and should be included as part of any first aid kit. A splint could save your life in an outdoor accident, making this essential.
Survival bracelets can also be used to start fires, as their waxed jute tinder will ignite under any condition – even when saturated with water! Furthermore, their 550 cord can also be used as fishing line or sewing cord and in other ways.
If you find yourself lost in the woods, a survival bracelet equipped with a compass or GPS buckle may help you navigate back home. Not only can it mark trails for navigation purposes; you can even use it to mark trees so you don’t get lost again (you can follow our DIY guide for making one yourself.).
Marker
Survival bracelets are a convenient and efficient way to transport 550 cord, as they’re easy to use, quick to “pack”, and extremely useful in emergency situations. Crafted from 8-20 feet of parachute cord (commonly referred to as parcord), survival bracelets can be used for shelter building, fishing from their inner filaments, making a whistle whistle or marking trails or first aid purposes.
Use the cordage on your survival bracelet to mark a path, both to help avoid becoming lost and so loved ones know where they can find you. Unwrapping its strands also provides an instant tourniquet, helping stop any bleeding that might result from wounds.
Signaling
Survival bracelets can be useful tools in marking trails or setting traps to alert you that something is approaching or help is coming, or can even be unwound to be used as tourniquets to limit blood loss.
Many survival bracelets feature built-in tools such as flint, scraper, mini knife, cord and fish hook – some even come equipped with LED SOS lights for visual signaling purposes.
Paracord, commonly found in survival bracelets, is an extremely flexible material which can be made into numerous tools and items. It has become one of the most sought-after accessories among campers, hikers, and survivalists alike due to its ease of use as an emergency resource; easy cleaning features make it lightweight for comfortable wearing; excellent buyer protection policies allow online purchases; the best survival bracelets have enough 550 cord for comfortable wrapping around an adult wrist and can be adjusted via side release buckle or cinch knot adjustments for adjustments as necessary.
