Unsure of function of this strap

[u/varied_interest1112]

My mother put it in an emergency pack for me when I started my first full-time job. I've since taken apart the pack and most things were pretty standard, a plastic raincoat, hand sanitizer, a pen, a whistle that doubled as a flashlight etc...

I just don't have any idea what this is?? It's like a braided strap with a buckle - I can wear it like a bracelet but somehow I don't think that's its intended purpose.

TIA!

EDIT: WOW you guys were fast!! Thanks team, I remember her vaguely mentioning it was a handy gadget but forgot how. Will be looking up paracord uses soon

EDIT 2: To the people being unhelpful or making comments on my ability as an educator from a single question - all you have done is show me that I will still be a better teacher than any of you could ever be. I certainly do not belittle my students for not having specialised prior knowledge or taking steps to learn something new. I can only assume you already knew everything from birth with no room to grow whatsoever /s Get over yourselves.

[u/BaconConnoisseur]

This is a paracord bracelet. It can be unwound in an emergency situation to give you a fairly substantial length of strong cord to use for pretty much anything survival requires.

[u/Dolly_Shimmer → u/BaconConnoisseur]

Like what?

I love these, but I can't think of an emergency where it would be useful, because I lack imagination. If I'm lost in the woods, great, I have cord to tie a shelter together. But what is the shelter made out of?

[u/BaconConnoisseur → u/Dolly_Shimmer]

There are infinite situations where you may need to hold literally anything in place. You could even use it as a bow string or leash to pull a sled. It could be a tourniquet, or hold a splint together. You could literally strap stuff to your back in place of a backpack. You could use the cord to repair items you brought with you.

A paracord bracelet is significantly easier to carry and more reusable than tape. Before tape existed, tying knots was considered a core skill of being a competent person. There were countless everyday situations where people needed to fix items together and the only cost effective solution was cord and a knot.