A 550 paracord or parachute cord, is an elastic nylon kernmantle rope that ranges from 0.75 millimeters to 6.0 millimeters in thickness, depending on the intended usage. It has a high number of interwoven strands that make it quite elastic and gives it a fairly smooth appearance.
Originally used only for the suspension lines of parachutes, a good paracord bracelet is nowadays used by many survivalists and preppers as an all-purpose utility cord.
It’s all in the ease of bringing it around. It can be braided or knotted into bracelets, lanyards, belts or necklaces, which can easily be unraveled in emergency situations. Their durability and elastic strength make them handy to have in several outdoors situations.
If you’ve asked yourself what is the purpose of a paracord bracelet, continue reading and you’ll have a better understanding.
What Is Tthe Purpose of a Paracord Bracelet
Here are some uses of a paracord bracelet which can come in handy in different situations:
Fire-starting Tool
You can use the paracord strips to create a suitable bow string for use in the bow-and-drill friction fire technique. Use two or more strands of cord and twist them around each other to give you more traction on the drill. This helps in the operation of the contraption.
Use dry and dead softwoods such as willow or cedar as your drill and board. Use part of the shackle in the drill kit by embedding the curved bar into a deep hole so it can be a bearing block for the top of the drill.
Shelter building
Out in the wilderness, you need to have a suitable shelter come nighttime. Unravel your paracord bracelet and use the strands to lash together poles for your basic lean-to shelter.
Secure a horizontal pole on two sturdy trunks first, then place and secure smaller branches at intervals to provide support to materials you will layer as your roof.
You will then layer your tarpaulin or your branches as your roofing material. Pretty basic stuff but it works should you ever need to make a quick, but reliable shelter.
Fish, game and wild
Camping near a stream or river teeming with fish? An unraveled paracord can be attached to a hook and a sturdy branch then used as a fishing rod. No hook? No problem! You can still weave together paracord strands into a net- or gill-trap and have at it.
If you are out in the woods, you can use your paracord as part of a snare trap that can help you catch smaller creatures. Attach one end of the paracord to a tree and fashion a loose, but working noose on the other. Prop the noose on a branch and wait for some proper game to be caught.
Emergency, no-choice suture, splint, sling and tourniquet
For open wounds that need stitches, unravel your paracord and expose the inner threads. You can use them as your sutures, making sure that it is properly sterilized using alcohol along with your needle. Start in the middle of the wound and work your way and make sure your skin doesn’t overlap when you’re finished.
For bone or tissue injuries, you need to secure the injury in place. Use a shirt or anything that is made of soft material as a cushion. Opposite it, use a wooden stick or anything handy to provide stability. Wrap your paracord securely around the injured limb, cushioning material and the hard object but not too much that it will restrict blood flow.
For arm injuries that need an emergency sling, you can fashion a basic one using paracord, some cushioning material (your jacket or shirt would do) and a stabilizing material. Tie a slipknot on the wrist and cushioning material and take it across your neck and secure it to the elbow or arm. It will do for emergencies or until you are rescued.
For wounds gushing blood, you can use your paracord as an emergency tourniquet. Fashion out a double layer bracelet from a length of paracord so it will reduce the risk of chafing the skin. It is not going to be comfortable but it will stem the blood flow, avoiding further blood loss. Simply tie the paracord above the impacted wound, insert a stick at one end and turn several times until the blood flow is reduced to a trickle.
NOTE: This is for informational purposes only, NOT to be taken as medical advice.
Conclusion
There are plenty of uses for a paracord. The best bit is that it is very easy to keep on your person. Remember, there’s nothing wrong with looking ahead and thinking of what you can do to increase your chances of survival in an emergency situation. Preparedness is key to that.