6 Weird But Useful Survival Uses for Drinking Straws

6 Weird But Useful Survival Uses for Drinking Straws

survival uses for straws

I am truly blown away that there are so many survival uses for straws.

Seriously, I thought these little plastic tubes were only worthy of blowing bubbles in a soda or sipping on some cold iced tea in the summertime.

However, it turns out that drinking straws are actually very useful – so useful, in fact, that I’m adding a few to my bug out bag and survival kit just to make sure I’m prepared.

I’m sure you’ll do the same once you discover these…

6 Weird But Useful Survival Uses for Drinking Straws

1 – Survival Spice Rack

Gather a bunch of straws together, along with your favorite spices, and you’ve got the makings of your own survival spice rack – perfect for your next bug out trip. Starting from one end of the straw, measure how long you want the straw compartment to be. Then snip off the rest of the straw and set aside.

Using a pair of pliers, pinch the end of the straw about 1/8″ from the top. Then take a lighter and, still pinching, graze the flame over the clamped end of the straw so that the ends of the plastic melt together.

Now pinch the newly sealed edge, clamping it shut with the pliers. You’ve now created a waterproof, sealed container, perfect for storing spices.

Pour in your favorite spices for survival (i.e: salt, pepper, garlic salt, etc.) and use the same process to seal the other end of the straw (but make sure to allow a space for air at the top before sealing). Then use a fine-tipped marker to label each straw so you can tell them apart.

2 – Transport Medicine

Medicinal transportation doesn’t have to be heavy and bulky if you have the right tools. For example, you can simply cut a straw, seal it at the end (see directions in #1) and fill the straw with small pills.

Once you’ve closed up the other end, be sure to label each straw to know which pills are which. You don’t want to risk a mixup – especially in a survival situation.

Note: We understand that there are some necessities, like insulin, that should not be kept in straws. And that’s why we have our FRIO Insulin Cooling Case. This ingenious device stores insulin and syringes, keeping them cool for up to 45 hours (even if outside temperatures reach 100°F!). Check it out below:

FRIO Insulin Cooling Case

3 – The “Fire Straw”

A great way to use these straws in a survival situation is to store fire starter in them – particularly cotton balls that have been soaked in petroleum jelly.

Note: This is a pretty common way to start a fire, but there’s plenty more unusual ways to get a fire going. Read our blog to learn about seven of them.

For this method, you’ll have to rub the jelly through the cotton ball; then pull apart the cotton and rub it between your fingers, forming a long, thin tube shape. Use a match (or other small object) to push the cotton into the straw, leaving room at the top.

Seal off the other end (as described in #1), and you’ve got a waterproof, portable and insanely compact tinder container.

When you’re ready to get your fire going, simply cut open the tip of the straw, and light it on fire. The entire container will burn. Or, if you don’t want to use it all in one fell swoop, you can take out a little bit of tinder at a time, and set each bit on fire.

To reuse, you can make a cap for the straw (details for this are listed in the video below #6).

Note: If you want more great fire starter ideas, here are some we love:

paracord wet fire

4 – First-Aid Storage

Straws are particularly good at providing you a super compact, watertight container – especially for first-aid supplies such as antibiotic ointment and burn cream. You can generally pour straight from the tube, or use an eyedropper in order to get the liquid into your straw.

As always, make sure to leave a space at the top for air, and seal off the ends tightly (as described in #1).

Note: If you need more antibiotic ointment, burn cream, and other life-saving survival supplies, you can always find them in our incredibly handy first-aid kits (featured below):

first aid kit 1 first aid kit 2first aid kit 3

5 – Prevent Gingivitis

Mouthwash is an essential bug out bag item, as it helps prevent bacteria and gingivitis from wreaking havoc in your gums. Seal off an end (using the directions in #1), and then use an eyedropper to pour the mouthwash into the straw. Leave space at the top for air, and seal up the other end.

Note: Gingivitis is no joking matter…but neither is any other emergency that can happen with your teeth/gums. Especially in a survival situation. 

6 – Fishing Compartment

If you’re in a survival situation, one of the most crucial things you’ll need is the ability to wrangle up dinner. With small hooks, line, and weights, you’re on your way to having a successful fishing trip in the great outdoors.

You can store these tiny survival items in a straw – simply seal off an end (using the process described in #1) and push the tools in, sealing the other end tightly.

However, if you want an easy, done-for-you solution, you can always grab one of our amazing (and amazingly compact) paracord grenades. They’re packed with fishing gear and other survival supplies, all wrapped in 550 paracord. Plus, the entire thing can fit on your keychain! Check them out below:

survival uses for straws550 paracord

If you want to see these tips in action (as well as some more great survival uses for straws), watch this video. It even tells you which straws are the best, and how to cap off the straw for multiple uses!

You’ll notice that the common theme here is that straws are meant (at least in this blog) to hold your valuable survival tools in a super compact and easy-to-store way.

The only problem with straws is, as you saw in the video, they only allow you to store one survival tool at a time.

Well, here at Survival Frog, we believe that you should be able to hold not only one survival tool at a time, but multiple. And we believe you should be able to do this in a compact, easy-to-carry, and easy-to-store manner.

We also believe you can still manage to have all the tools you need in a survival situation without being weighed down and without lots of bulky storage spaces.

And that’s why we love our survival tools below.

Each piece of prepper gear below provides you not only one convenient survival tool, but multiple – all packed away in a compact storage space.

Plus, many of these survival tools can either be worn or attached to your keychain/bug out bag, making it an effortless solution to your survival needs.

Click the images below and snag these incredible multi-use survival tools for yourself. When you’re in the next emergency you’ll be glad you prepared with these!

paracord braceletsurvival uses for straws550 paracordswiss army knifemulti purpose tool 2multipurpose tool

 

 

Published on by Survival Frog.
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