Businesses are close when chaos and whatever catastrophic events hit the city. Establishments will be deserted and stores are possibly out of stock. Network and Internet connections are severed and it would be almost impossible to get any radio signals from several places.

In such a scenario being painted for the Friday End of the World prediction according to the Mayan calendar, of what use would your smartphone be?

A smartphone has accessories that will be useful in emergencies especially to contact authorities or other survivors about the user's current status. Its SD cards or similar storage can be used for offline data, batteries with mobile battery charger can tap energy from vehicles, and solar panel charger with USB port would be of use during daytime.

However, once the network dies, do not throw the smartphone away because it is still very useful in a lot of ways. Even when powerless, its parts are improvised tools for lot things in survival crisis.

The smartphone has useful parts which are the speaker, LCD screen, metal, wire, circuit board, and its battery.

Use Number 1 - To Create Fire

The battery, wire, and combustible material will be needed in this procedure, just make sure all the components are within reach because the process is quick.

Touch the wire to the positive and negative nodes of the battery and the wire will become red hot almost instantly. Have the combustible material touch the wire to ignite it. This is only one shot per wire because the wire disintegrates after use.

Use Number 2 - Cutting Tools

This one needs the circuit board, metal mount, and a smooth rock. Slide one edge of the circuit board over the smooth rock to sharpen it, and then break an edge off the metal mount by folding it back and forth while creasing it with the rock.

Use Number 3 - Signal

The LCD screen has mirror-like layers behind it which can reflect images to rescuers. Hold the mirror up just below your eyes with one hand and with the other hand hold out a peace sign. Line the mirror up so it is reflecting light on your fingers, then while keeping the light on your fingers, align the rescue vehicle between your fingers.

Use Number 4 - Compass

Speaker, steel wire, and environmental items such as a leaf and puddle will be needed to do this. Remove the magnet from the speakers and then straighten the wire. Rub one end of the wire on the magnet for a few seconds, then place the wire on the leaf floating in the puddle. The wire and the leaf will align so that the end you rubbed will point north.

Use Number 5 - Catching Food

Another use for the circuit board and the metal mount but this time it requires stick and cordage as their partners. Sharpen the circuit board using a smooth rock, presuming you didn't throw it away. Then cut a notch in the stick and insert the arrowhead. Secure it by using any string or similar cordage. For the bait, tie cordage or string around the middle of a small straight piece of the metal mount and use this to lure length wise with a worm.

During normal times, it would cost people several hundred dollars to buy a smartphone, but if caught in a catastrophe, don't hesitate to convert your mobile phone into a life-saving device for the life you save could be yours and your loved ones.

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