When the world as we know it crumbles, and society's structures dissolve into chaos, survival hinges on resourcefulness. And even the most mundane items can become invaluable tools. Take chewing gum, for instance, which can serve multiple purposes in a post-apocalyptic world. Here are our top 10 survival uses for chewing gum.
1. Temporary Repairs and Sealant
In a world where supplies are scarce, maintaining your gear is crucial. Chewing gum's adhesive properties can be a quick fix for leaky containers and damaged equipment. A wad of gum can temporarily seal small holes in water bottles or fuel canisters, preventing precious resources from leaking away. You can also use gum to hold together broken parts of tools or weapons until a more permanent repair is possible. Ensure all surfaces are clean and dry before applying gum for better adhesion.
2. Fire Starting Aid
Starting a fire is essential for warmth, cooking, and signaling. Chewing gum wrappers, specifically those with a metallic lining, can be used to ignite a flame using the battery and wrapper method. By folding or cutting the wrapper into an hourglass shape and touching the ends to the positive and negative terminals of a battery, the thin middle section heats up and ignites. This method requires speed and practice as the flame is short lived. Check out this entertaining video from Coalcracker Bushcraft for a simple How To.
3. Improvised Adhesive
When traditional adhesives are unavailable, gum can act as a temporary substitute. As gum is pretty low-tack, use it's stretchy nature to inscrease it's strength by both sticking and binding objects together. For instance, stretch out your gum and use it to wrap around bait to attach it to a trap mechanism, ensuring it stays in place.
4. Way Marking
If you're on an apocalyptic road trip through unfamiliar terrain it's wise to mark your way in case you need to back track. A wad of gum stuck to a rock or tree is an inconspicuous way to leave a trail without it being too obvious to anyone who might want to follow you.
5. Oral Hygiene Substitute
Maintaining oral health is challenging without access to dental supplies. Sugar-free gum can help as chewing stimulates saliva production, which can aid in cleaning teeth and reducing oral bacteria.
Gum can also help keep your mouth moist when water is limited which will help maintain healthy gums, lips and tongue.
6. Bartering Commodity
In a world where currency has lost its value, trade becomes the primary means of acquiring goods. Chewing gum, being a comfort item, can be a valuable bartering tool - if someone has a decent supply of essentials they may be willing to give up some of their more plentiful supplies in exchange for the sweet luxury of chewing gum. And beyond bartering, the simple act of sharing gum can foster goodwill and establish connections with fellow survivors.
7. Improvised Fishing Lure
Securing food is a constant concern in a post-apocalyptic landscape. Chewing gum can be fashioned into a rudimentary fishing lure as the sugars are attractive to certain fish such as bass and trout (and catfish, though they are not found in many UK waters). Mold the gum into a worm-like shape and attach it to a hook, pink gum works particularly well as it looks more like a worm! The scent and appearance can attract fish in the absence of proper bait, for instance in frozen areas where worms and grubs are difficult or impossible to find.
8. Blister Prevention
Believe it or not, chewing gum can help prevent blisters on those long post-apoc treks through the wasteland. Place chewed gum over a hotspot on your foot to reduce friction and prevent a blister from forming. Ensure the area is clean and chew your own gum to avoid infection.
9. Lock Jamming
In situations where you need to secure an area or slow down pursuers gum can be useful to disable locks. Insert gum into a lock mechanism to jam it, making it difficult for others to unlock doors or containers.
10. Just Eat the Stuff!
While not ideal, in dire circumstances, gum can provide a small energy boost with a small caloric intake. Chewing gum with sugar offers minimal calories that might help sustain you temporarily when food is scarce.
So next time you're in the sweet shop, or newsagent's you might want to grab a few packs for your apocalypse pantry, and some to throw in your go-bag whilst your at it!