This Guy Shows Why You Should Pick A Straw As Your Item of Choice On A Deserted Island

by N/A, 8 years ago | 2 min read

Who knew a drinking straw could be so useful and versatile?

cool DIY Survivalist Non-Premium

If you're a person who spends time outdoors on a regular basis, get very familiar with these three items. They could save your life.

Using only a drinking straw, a cotton ball, and some petroleum jelly, you can make an emergency waterproof fire starter. Here's how you do it.

Step 1: coat a cotton ball in petroleum jelly.

Both cotton and petroleum jelly are extremely flammable. I think you can see where this is going.

Step 2: cut a standard plastic drinking straw, clamp one end with pliers, and seal using a lighter.

Step 3: stuff the petroleum jelly-soaked cotton ball in the unsealed end of the straw.

Step 4: repeat step 2 on the opposite end.

Be careful with this step. To avoid igniting the cotton ball, do not forget to clamp with pliers. Now, your fire tube is ready to go!

When it's time to use your fire starter, simply cut one end with your pliers or knife and pull our a bit of the cotton ball.

Ignite the fire starter and add some tinder.

Before long, you'll have a warm, blazing fire!

You can use a sealed drinking straw for numerous other outdoor uses.

Since sealing a drinking straw provides a waterproof, easy-to-locate bit of storage, you can use a straw to store medicine, emergency fishing gear (such as a line, weights, and small hooks), and small quantities of virtually any kind of liquid.

Check out the full video to see all the awesome ways you can use a drinking straw in survivalist situations.