Survival Footwear

A sock is a piece of clothing worn on the foot and it sometimes covers the ankle or some part of the calf. It comes from the Olde English word “socc”, meaning “light slippers”. Even though they have been around since the days of the cave dweller, their first recorded use was in the 8th century BC in Greece. It was called piloi and was made from matted animal hair. Today, they come in a variety of fabrics, from warm cotton to luxurious silk. Today is National Sock Day, so here are some ways that this comfy footwear can save your life.

The Great Outdoors

When bugging out, it’s a good idea to bring an extra couple of pairs of socks with you to help you survive in the wilderness. Collect forage food in one while using the other as a water filter. If things get cold, slide them over your hands to turn them into mittens. If you wear glasses, put them in one at night to keep them safe. Defog your windows by filling a sock with cat litter and placing it on the car’s dashboard overnight. If crawling through brush, tie a pair around your knees to make knee pads. Fill with Chia seeds to grow edible grass while on the move.

Around The House

Socks are just as handy indoors as they are outdoors. Hide your canned goods in them from would-be intruders, and if they attack, swing them like a weapon. Fill long ones with rice or polyfill to block drafts from under the door. Add laundry beads or potpourri to make a stuffy room smell nice. Cut them into strips and weave them together to make pot holders or kneeling mats. Cover your furniture legs with them to protect your hardwood floors. Tie one around an outdoor spigot for extra insulation during cold snaps that can damage it.

Clean-Up

Socks are great at helping you clean up during the aftermath of a disaster. They make great dusting mitts or cleaning gloves. Put broken glass and rusty screws/nails in them to lessen the risk of someone getting cut on them resulting in a trip to the ER. Waterproof your boots with special polish after a flood to keep your feet dry, or grease up your firearm parts with one. Dampen a sock to throw in the dryer to lessen the wrinkles in your clothes. Turn them into a room deodorizer/moisture absorbent by adding a cup of baking soda and tying up the open end.

First Aid

When using socks for first aid, make sure they are clean and sterilized before sealing them into individual baggies to keep them safe from germs. Use it to apply a lotion, ointment, or cream evenly over a large area of the body. To prevent frostbite, put an ice pack in one to provide protection for your skin. If long enough, you can use it as a tourniquet. Fill it with rice and warm it up to make it a heating pack, or put the warm rice sock against your ear to relieve ear infection pain. Fill with tennis balls or golf balls to create a roller to loosen tight, knotted muscles.

Entertainment

Socks can provide hours of enjoyment if you use your imagination. During a blackout, you can turn them into puppets. Turn it into a pull toy for your dog, or add some catnip inside of one for your precious feline, making them the ideal emergency pet toy. Tie a bunch of long ones together to form a jump rope. If you have a sewing kit on hand, turn a couple into sock monkeys or other plush toys for the kids. While in a crafty mood, turn them into play food like donuts. Fill a sandwich baggie with unused Play-Doh and place it in a sock, tying up the end, to making a fidget toy.