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Most people have heard of a paracord survival bracelet, but very few people know all that paracord can actually do – and WHY you would even want to have it on you!
If you’ve met someone dedicated to the outdoors or survival, the chances are high that they had something made from paracord on them. Paracord is any survivalist’s best friend because its uses are practically limitless and it’s extremely tough.
All About Paracord Emergency Uses
As long as you know how to tie a few good knots, it can replace anything from worn-out strings in clothing to dog leashes. Paracord is also extremely inexpensive, so it’s a great idea to add some to your bug out bag.
Paracord Planet sells high-quality Type III 550 Paracord at an affordable price. The main reason outdoorsmen love paracord is that it’s extremely tough in all conditions. The 550 in the item’s title refers to the amount of weight it can hold with one strand before snapping: 550 pounds.
Paracord emergency uses
This makes it almost impossible to break by just pulling on it, so people use it to secure their items without worry. For example, if you have a crab trap in a river and want to secure it to a tree right next to the water, you can tie the paracord around the tree and to the trap, and won’t have to worry about currents or larger animals taking it away.
You can create a web out of it and make fishing nets – just in case your fishing line/hook isn’t doing the job for you. Although the inner threads can be used as a fishing line too.
You can also use the paracord to make snares for catching rabbits, coyotes, and other animals. The Type III in the title refers to the fact that the 7 strands that make up the cord are each made of 3 even smaller strands, which makes the cord MIL-SPEC, or military standard.
Paracord is great for securing cargo. When you are bugging out, you might have more things on board than you normally carry and it can help secure that canoe, few cases of water, or even a pet kennel in the car.
If you are making a quick shelter, you can use paracord for lashing together poles. That helps make a frame to pop a tarp over, or even use to keep your food out of the reach of bears, etc.
Have a hammock you want to hang up? Paracord to the rescue! You can lash that tarp OVER your hammock and not only be off the ground, but safer from the elements. There is nothing worse than camping out when it is wet or when it is cold.
Need a line to help someone up a cliff, out of a ravine, or help pull them out of a current that is stronger than originally thought? Paracord is great for assisting with water rescues.
Paracord is fantastic for first aid! If you’re severely bleeding and can’t make it to a hospital immediately, a paracord can be used as a tourniquet. It can also be used to lash together sticks for a makeshift splint. In a pinch, it can even work as a sling for a strained or sprained arm. There are actually a lot of first aid uses for paracord!
In a pinch, you can use those inner threads for sutures. This would be a last resort as it is NOT sterile, and there are better options for closing a wound.
You can even make a travois out of paracord if you need to haul a wounded or unconscious person from one location to another.
Let’s talk about securing your environment… you can create trip lines with it or even a poor-man’s alarm system with empty cans.
Catch someone looting your site? Paracord makes fantastic handcuffs in comparison to duct tape. What you actually do with your prisoner depends on you…
As for a Fire Starter? Not so much – make sure you pack your waterproof matches or a fire starter.
Paracord uses
This paracord can also survive all kinds of conditions. It’s impervious to UV damage, mold, water damage, and heat up to 470 degrees Fahrenheit. You won’t have to worry about it giving out because it rained, or because it’s been sitting out in the hot sun for days on end.
If you’re going to be spending most of your time outdoors, the last thing you want is something that can’t stand up to the weather. If the shoelaces on your waterproof shoes gave out because of wear, you can replace them with paracord and keep your shoes fully functional.
When bugging out, you may have equipment failure of some sort – so paracord can come in hand for fixing broken straps or belts.
Have a dog? You can use paracord to make a dog collar, or even a dog leash.
Paracord comes in tons of different colors, designs, and lengths. Paracord Planet offers hundreds of different options – ranging from camo to neon orange to straight black. So if you’re using your paracord for shoelace replacement, you can make it look totally normal if you had colored shoelaces. You can even teach your kids how to tie knots and make bracelets with bright colors to make it more enjoyable.
It can be handy to take unique colored paracord and turn them into “wearable art” so you have it handy when the situation arises. Bracelets, lanyards, keychains, and so much more!
Paracord Projects
Let’s take a look at some of the most popular paracord projects that help keep it at your fingertips:
Paracord Survival bracelet
There are several different kinds of paracord bracelets to make, but my favorite? The Mad Max. It uses ONLY paracord, no additional clips etc., so it is quick and easy to dismantle when you need to use it. Here is a great video on how to make it:
paracord survival bracelet with a compass
Some people prefer the watch-style paracord bracelets that have a compass built in to them. We found a video lesson on how to make them for you:
Paracord Lanyard
It can be easy to wear paracord around your neck and have it hold your keys, a whistle, or even mace – whatever you wish to have at your fingertips.
Paracord Keychain
We always take our keys with us and this simple keychain can give you enough paracord for an emergency. This video shows you how to make one in less than 2 minutes!
The bottom line? Paracord is great to have handy – no matter how you choose to package it.
