In my novel Knockdown, a tsunami is approaching the sailboat seven teenage characters are on. They wrap duct tape around the downed sails on their boat to protect the sails if the boat should flip over. They make a life jacket smaller and a sweatshirt larger by closing seams with duct tape. Hatches are covered with duct tape to keep the water out. Sails are repaired. Spears are made by adding knives to the end of a boat hook.
When I researched duct tape, I found lots of other survival uses for this wonderful invention. Here are just a few:
1. Clothes and shoes become completely waterproof when covered in it.
2. You can wrap tree branches together to create a shelter with duct tape.
3. Tents, sleeping bags, and holes in just about anything can be sealed with duct tape.
4. It makes a great bandage.
 |
| Duct Tape Bandage |
5. Splints can be made by using a stick and duct tape.
6. Duct tape makes a great sling for an injured arm or shoulder.
7. Wrap your equipment together with duct tape, add duct tape straps, and you can carry you gear on your back.
8. A broken a fishing rod can be repaired.
9. You can create Help signs and use duct tape to mark your trail.
I hope you never need to use duct tape for any of these emergencies, but it’s nice to know you can.
Read my novel Knockdown to find out more about how duct tape helped seven Seattle Teens battle a mega tsunami!
Brenda Beem
