Also known as KMnO4, Condy’s Crystals and
permanganate of potash, Potassium permanganate is a jack of all
survival trades. When it comes to survival, the more you know, the
more you can do with less. Like wilderness medicine, it also often becomes
about improvising with less than ideal tools.
One use of Potassium permanganate is mixing it with
glycerin to start a chemical fire which can be handy while camping or in a
survival situation
It turns out, this chemical not just useful for
making fires. Here are the 7 best uses for Potassium permanganate:
Potassium permanganate will start a fire when mixed
with a couple of different compounds. Glycerin is the most common, but
antifreeze will also do the trick. Antifreeze seems to create a reaction that
is a little more violent. Be very careful when using either. The reaction is
not always immediate. It can take several seconds for the reaction to start a
fire – let it be.
After gathering all the necessary fire tinder and
large pieces of wood to keep your fire going, place a teaspoon of Potassium
permanganate on a flat surface. Carefully add the same amount of Glycerine or
Antifreeze evenly on top of your pile. Next, stand back a couple of feet and
wait at the ready with your tinder.
Mix sugar in with the Glycerin before adding to
your Condy’s Crystals, and you’ll get a decent signal smoke.
For water purification, its use is relatively
straightforward. First, if there is any sediment in the water, strain it out.
Then add 3 – 4 crystals per liter of water. Stir or shake for a few seconds
then let sit for 2 hours. The water should be a light pink (a concentration of
1:10,000) – no darker.
Here are some proportions for killing the different
nasty organisms that can find their way into water:
Potassium permanganate can become toxic in high
concentrations, just like anything. The lowest recorded instance of a
person poisoned was 100mg per kilogram of body weight. That said, the
LD50 scale for Potassium permanganate is 1900mg per kilogram of body
weight.
Just remember, as long as it is pink – it’s
probably ok to drink.
To use as an antiseptic, anti-fungal treatment, or
emergency snow signal, add crystals one by one until the solution turns purple.
Shake and use to flush out a wound, soak a fungal infection, or to leave a
message in the snow.
Potassium permanganate is not a perfect option for
any of the above-listed purposes. If other more convention options are
available – use them first. What it does do is offer another option should
you find yourself with it as your only resource.