When packing a kit for the outdoors, never forget a bottle of rubbing alcohol. The multiple survival uses for rubbing alcohol make it an indispensable addition to any backpack or camping box, but do not confuse rubbing alcohol with drinking alcohol. In some instances, the two are not interchangeable.
1. Disinfectant
The active ingredient in hand sanitizer is alcohol, which means that one may use rubbing alcohol to clean off and disinfect hard, non-porous surfaces. Use it to make cooking gear and first aid supplies safe to use. Always let the material completely dry before using it. This will ensure that the alcohol has sat long enough to kill any germs and has evaporated. Before using any cooking utensils, rinse them off in water first to rid the surfaces of the taste of the rubbing alcohol.
2. Aching Muscle Relief
Masseuses have long used rubbing alcohol when giving massages to help ease muscle pain and tension, and this use applies to the outdoors. In any survival situation, hard work can render the muscles tense and sore. Rub the alcohol over the sore area to ease some of the pain and make it possible to continue with the efforts of survival.
3. First Aid
Besides sanitizing tweezers and other first aid equipment, rubbing alcohol also makes an effective cleaner for minor cuts and scrapes. The alcohol burns when applied, but it does work effectively at killing germs inside wounds. Never use rubbing alcohol for injuries in the mouth or for deep wounds. Rubbing alcohol also helps to take the sting out of insect bites when applied to the affected area.
4. Foot Care
Whether camping or surviving in the outdoors, nail fungus or athlete’s foot may plague the feet. Rubbing the feet with alcohol nightly and letting them dry may help to clear up or prevent these conditions. This is one of the best survival uses for rubbing alcohol because alcohol also kills the bacteria that cause smelly feet, too.
5. Fire Starter
Rubbing alcohol should be kept away from open flames because it is highly flammable, but this disadvantage becomes advantageous when a fire needs to be started. Squirt small amounts of rubbing alcohol over the wood as a lighter fluid to encourage the fuel to burn.
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