Most preppers have no idea about most of the survival uses for charcoal you’re about to read. In fact, most people in general think charcoal has one use: to grill up their brats, kebabs, burgers, and more.
Well, the 4th of July is over. Which means it’s time to take our minds off BBQ and onto ways this interesting substance can help us survive.
5 Survival Uses For Charcoal
Keep Out Of Sight
In a survival situation, it can seem like everyone is an enemy (and most of them are). Well, charcoal can help camouflage you so you become nearly unrecognizable.
Simply rub the charcoal all over any skin that’s exposed – especially your face, neck, and hands. Be sure to keep it out of your eyes. The more charcoal you can rub on your skin, the harder it will be for others to recognize you.
This tactic is also quite useful for hunting, since game are much less likely to see you (or to see the sunlight bouncing off your skin), giving you a distinct advantage.
Neutralize Poison
Think you’ve consumed poison? Use activated charcoal to help stop that poison in its tracks.
Activated charcoal is an incredible tool for situations like this. It acts as a sponge, soaking in toxins within your body, and then refusing to release them. So, as soon as the poison is consumed, the charcoal can soak it in and remove it from your body along with normal waste.
To make this happen, mix activated charcoal with clean, sanitary drinking water and drink the mixture.
Note: Activated charcoal is best for this, as it’s more porous than regular charcoal (meaning you’ll need to consume less of it). However, regular charcoal can be used if that’s all you have.
Absorb Bad Smells
Activated charcoal is very porous, which makes it perfect for soaking up the foul odors that can run rampant in a survival situation. For this reason, it can also make a very handy tool for soaking up body odor from shirts, or stench from running shoes.
Place it in the material you wish to rid the smells of. However, this can leave residue on the item. To keep it clean, wrap the charcoal in a lightweight cloth first before place in/around the smelly item.
Heal A Wound
Bacteria and infections can easily be the death of you in a survival situation. Thankfully, charcoal can help you survive. Simply wrap the charcoal in a cloth and then place it directly on the wound. The charcoal will work to absorb excess moisture and infection from the wound, allowing you to stay alive for longer.
Make The Diarrhea Stop
Diarrhea is a very unfortunate but common side-effect people experience in SHTF situations. And it’s typically due to dehydration. Thankfully, charcoal is quite helpful in these circumstances. That’s because it causes constipation to happen naturally.
Simply swallow a mixture of water and charcoal to help stop diarrhea from reoccurring. Make sure to drink plenty of water and replenish your nutrients as much as possible during this time.
BONUS: Learn To Make Charcoal
Want to learn how to make both regular and activated charcoal to prepare for an upcoming emergency? Watch the videos below for more information.
How To Make Regular Charcoal:
How To Make Activated Charcoal:
