Critique my EDC/GHB

A

acropolis5

Joined
Jun 22, 2006
Messages
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Maybe it's my specific location, NY Metro, but my EDC/GHB is geared to be carried about daily, I.e. on your back or shoulder, onto public transit, into offices, museums, etc., where they will be subject to search. Therefore, lightweight, 5-10lb.s max and a decidedly civilian look, is a priority. Also, no weapons, not otherwise street legal. Pry bars and big linesmen pliers or small bolt cutters are likely to be viewed as burglary tools. My tools are a Leatherman Blast, without a one handed opening knife, a Pocketwrench II , an EMT shears, ResQme, Tops or Fox 40 type whistle, P-38 can opener, small compass, Gorilla tape (~10') and a small reversible pocket screwdriver. A small hand flashlight. It need not be a tac light. I like Gerber Ultra
Infinity, 1 AA, also takes AAA or Princeton Tech Attitude, 4 AAA. Both very long lived. Brightness edge to the Attitude. Multi battery edge to Infinity. All that's been acceptable in most venues, but not the Blast in Government buildings or airports. I also count a fine waterproof sharpie and some waterproof paper as tools.

Secondly, I need to plan to evacuate from a smoke, fire, debris filled building or train tunnel and walk out on roads covered in choking toxic dust. That' s not drama my friends. That was lower Manhattan on 9/11/01! Thus, an ExCaper airmask (Best value for price. Small, light, vacuum packed, 5 yr shelf life , filters CO. I have no connection thereto), airtight larger swim googles, bandanna, N-95 masks flat packed, heavy leather or lighter Kevlar /Nomex gloves and a coin cell headlamp are all "must haves".

Third, first aid for me is an assorted band-aids, blister pads, triple antibiotic, small needle tip tweezers , bit of foot powder, dental kit ( cap/ tooth filler +oil of cloves for toothache, (All pharmacy available.), chewable aspirin, generic Benedryl, ephedrine decongestants , ibuprophen, lomotil , caffeine tablets,, prescriptions as needed including pain killer, in pharmacy dispensed bottle AND AN IFAK. Yes, a major trauma kit, including double pad Izzy dressing crinkle gauze, TK-3or4 tourniquet , large sterile bandana, self adhering athletic wrap, Quick Clot, chest seal bandage, 28 French nasal airway+lube and 14 gauge decompression needle, xtra bit of waterproof or Gorilla tape. And the pre- acquired knowledge to use it this kit. Don't think you are in a hiking situation. This is a survival-escape kit. Small injuries can wait (except foot blisters). You're actually more like a soldier in battle from a first aid prospective.

Fourth, food is a luxury or at best a morale item. No average American will suffer from a day or three food ( not water) fast. You might get a nasty caffeine withdrawal headache . Hence the caffeine tabs in the first aid kit. They also lessen hunger and boost energy, especially when taken with decongestants and ibuprofen. If you must have food, a few energy, Millennium or candy bars , is more than enough.

Water , its procurement and purification is, on the other hand, a critical issue in urban survival. Opinion varies, but here's my kit: 2 Seychelles Advanced Water Purifier Straws or one Straw and a Seychelles Purifier Bottle with the same filter. Store the bottle filter in a small zip lock and use the bottle as your daily. Seychelles Advanced filters purify, catch many chemicals and even viruses. Katadyn has an analogous bottle. ; 27oz. water bottle in Ti cup with folding handles; 2 Qt. Survival Resources (SR) flat poly water zip locks, coffee filters, Micro Pur water purification tablets, SR folding coffee filter holder. Last but not least ,a 4- way Silcock Key/ Wrench to open odd shaped spigots on the side of big commercial building. It's heavy. Leatherman will do in a pinch, but may damage the spigot. I'll take water if I'm thirsty, but I don't want to do any harm or spoil it for whoever follows on. Post disaster, purify all water not obtained in sealed containers.

Fifth, clothing and shelter. Friends, learn from your urban cousins: Dress to walk upon the streets in all logically possible weather conditions. Wear walking shoes . Stylish women carry their Spikes in dressy logoed paper bags. Wear a warm weather appropriate coat, with gloves, scarf and hat in its pockets. Carry an umbrella, when appropriate. Carry a low profile, slightly larger than strictly necessary or expandable, dark colored, civilian back pack or messenger bag. i say slightly larger so as to accommodate extra supplies you might obtain as you make your way home in an evac. Your GHB should also have poly or Smart Wool socks, a silcloth poncho, gloves as above noted and a Heatsheet space type blanket.

Sixth, as in 666, Cash greenbacks. Not gold, silver or diamonds. They're for the end of civilization. I'm too old to sweat that scenario and it would take at least a week before cash lost its value. Try for a minimum of $500, broken up into $1,5,10&20 s in several equal packets. $1000 is better. Keep more on your person. In Mr Dylan's words, "Money doesn't talk. It swears." Cash will keep you alive in a mugging, buy a ride outta Dodge and obtain the unavailable hotel room in the blizzard.

Seventh, is sundries, cell phone charger, battery and wall, extra glasses, sunglasses, wet wipes, toilet paper (about a 1/2"stack, fooled flat in Saran or plastic), small sewing kit, a Bic lighter or two(rubber band wrapped around lever to prevent accidental discharge, tissues, Cat- Crap anti fog for glasses, gum, maps of streets, trains and their schedules ( as needed), a very small am- fm radio to get info from authorities and to entertain you, photo copies of drivers license, insurance cards, etc., ....whatever else you use almost daily. I'm assuming that you have a smart phone of some type. Check out various survival apps. Get in the habit of photographing the exit plan posted on the walls of commercial/ government buildings

Well, that's my take on this subject. I hope you find it useful. I welcome your comments and criticisms. We can all learn from each other and, in turn, sharpen our emergency response skills.
 
Pretty well thought out given your environment. Bummer on minimal fixed bladed/edged-toys, buy that is NYC/Metro....... Carrying a large stash 'o cash everyday is definitely risky, but can be useful in a crisis (though less useful than you may think - consider various cities/countries where their currency became nearly worthless overnight as examples).
 
I think you've thought things out well, especially if you live/work in a major urban center. HOWEVER carrying stuff like that may raise questions in many cities, if you work in NYC, you can pull the "I was downtown during 9/11" card that that will cover it. A lot of other places not so much. Packing your gear into subloads, and keeping it in Mfg packaging will make it look less threatening. Carry lots of nitrile gloves, either get ones that are pre-paired, or check them over yourself when you put them in your pack, I've pulled torn ones out of the box, and have only torn gloves while putting them on when I was running out. Infectious fluid control is critical. I wouldn't bother carrying an nasal tube, as they are not that useful unless you are bagging someone, you can't use them yourself... If EMS is coming to help, they have one, if not, it isn't going to make the difference IMHO Vent needle, and ashermans, you could realistically use on yourself. Steri-stips are great, especially for wounds where you would like to avoid scars (like faces) Vanity yes, but the difference in wound treatment between scar or not, is less than an hour, and often you'd be well clear from a situation by then.
Also, some cordage and zipties, they work for all kinds of things, and even thin climbing cord (I'm a fan if you didn't know) can be used for all kinds of things.
Very well thought out kit, I think that an average police officer would understand the reasoning behind it.
 
Thanx gents for the comments. I do break up the cash into smaller packets on my person and in the bag. I believe the utility of cash outweighs the risk of loss, so I accept the risk, knowingly. As to the first aid items , I do have 1/2 pairs of nitrile gloves. I may add more. The gloves that I referenced in my original post are Nomex and Kevlar stretch work gloves. I also have Steri-Strips in the FAK. For cordage I have 25' of Kevlar cord and some light cord in the DR kit I also pack in the bag.. As to the nasal airway, I respectfully disagree. Take a look at the U-Tube video of a group of young GIs putting them in their own noses. My next project is a 5-7lb. kit, in a medium, Manhattan Portage, expandable Europa shoulder bag. Same concept, lighter and smaller. Any ideas about what to leave out, put in, change?
 
To each his own, thats the beauty of it. I'm just not sure why you would want to. you could do it for sure, not arguing that point. perhaps you could help explain why?

As for the smaller kit, I don't have many ideas, besides, cutting out the some of the backups that you could probably live without, if the primary failed. But those are environment related so you'd have to weigh those risks.
 
Great write up about how your dealing with your specific emergency mission! On your number two dealing with emergencies in an urban building environment. While I have no idea how high your going in high rises so my input may be null...but you might consider taking some repelling training and then purchase a highly portable repel kit called a Personal Escape System Bail Out Kit as made for Government Protective Services, Spec Ops, Sniper Teams, Fire Fighters for Self Rescue from a business I can tell you about off line. Or just do a search as several businesses are now offer them.

My repel - bail out kit they built for me is the size of Nalgene bottle (roughly) with enough highly heat resistant rope (used by Smokejumpers called a "Let Down Rope"stored in their left cargo pocket) to escape 7 stories. Even if your higher you might be able to get down lower to 7 stories and if you cannot go any lower via stairs you then have the option to bail out a window.

The kit is designed so you take the one end of the rope with Carabeener and wrap around a solid object or structure. You slip into a pre-sized harness and snap another Carabeener into your harness which also has an emergency PED (Personal Emergency Descender) which is pre adjusted to your weight for a controlled decent. You toss the bag with remaining rope out the opening, climb out and go. These are also used by military units and fire fighters as self rescue.

I take my kit with me when I stay at hotels and travel in urban environments.
 
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I’m a big believer in the nasal tubes…I’ve seen them work and they are effective at opening airways. I do recommend some training and continue refresher training as it does take some practiced finesse to insert rapidly.

Overall, a well thought out kit. I really think you need to consider packing a couple of water bottles for readily available, potable water. Filters/purification are a good backup, but given the potential water pollution indicative to most urban areas, most compact filters won’t have much effectiveness on heavy metals or chemicals.

I have done and will do more traveling to cities throughout the continental U.S., and there are restrictions to what you can carry as an effective tool or weapon. I will always pack a pistol if I legally can, but I would stress your ability to be alert and aware of your surroundings is as or more important; avoiding bad situations is the first key to survival. Security is a little more important in an urban situation, with a few different threat vectors.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is even more important in an urban environment. Threat vectors are from all directions. For those that mountain bike, having a bike helmet is good insurance if debris is airborne from hurricanes, windstorms, earthquakes, explosions, etc. Gloves are a no-brainer, but I would include a few nitrile gloves as well as a good set of “tactical” or leather gloves for moving debris or navigating through urban areas. Eyewear is also essential; I wear ballistic sunglasses daily and keep a pair of clear lenses on hand if I have to navigate areas at night. You vision is critical to evacuation. You covered the smoke/dust threat and this is a very real threat that needs to be addressed, especially when evacuating. If you don’t have dedicated smoke mask, even a bandana would work in a pinch. Don't forget that flooding is a very real threat, electrical threats and very large, fast moving threats in the form of cars, buses and trains/subways.

Clothing choices are just as critical as in the wilderness. Even though there are more options for improvised shelters and insulation, the threats are just as real. Don’t forget a change of clothing if possible. Hypothermia is a threat regardless of your location.

Also, don’t forego navigation. A compass, topo map and city map are some of my first selections when traveling. A topographical map will show you the high areas in a city if that area is prone to flooding. Even though you may now your city well, with smoke, darkness and chaos, a city map really helps keep you open to options. I would additionally add some type of compact radio or police/emergency scanner…a great way to gather information and avoid danger areas. What I haven’t done, but plan to in the future is to map some critical resources…hospitals, fire departments, police stations, etc.

I too travel with a compact rappel kit. If I can, I try and get a hotel room on the second or third floor; my kit would be able to get me down safely (yes, I’m more than trained on anchors and rappelling). Another benefit is just to navigate vertical obstacles.

A flashlight is essential; I often carry a couple, including a headlamp and extra batteries. Power loss typically follows most catastrophes and quite often you will be in a building, parking garage or subway system. Lighting is critical to quickly and safely evacuate such areas. Some flashlights and the right training can also turn it into a viable weapon as well.

Don’t forget the basic signaling methods of a whistle and strobe options on your LED flashlight. If trapped, these are proven methods to attract attention.

Food isn’t an essential, but prudent insurance. If you have a long ways to evacuate or trek, a little nutritional boost will keep you alert and focused on your surroundings vice your stomach. A couple of Clif bars, Gel-packs, etc. are compact and can be at hand when you just need to catch your breath and assess the situation.

Lastly, don’t forget sanitation preparations. Urban areas are often more prone to virus and other human-spread or rodent-spread diseases…just a fact of life. A bad situation could be made much worse if you’re suffering from the flu or a bad case of dysentery.

This past summer I was visiting a good friend in the Seattle area. He’s an extremely prepared individual and actually took the first part of an urban survival course. It was more geared towards individuals doing more clandestine stuff in cities, but the premise was about how to have nothing and get out safely. They did a lot of training on lock picking, learned how to pan-handle (yes, just to get money for a cab), learned how to assess areas for safe occupation, how to cache, how to improvise weapons, navigation, etc. The advanced course is to take them to a sister city, drop them off in a warehouse in a derelict part of the city with no clothes except a bag of Good Will clothing…a timed event to get from their current location back to the start-point (thinking it was something like Portland and Seattle). A very interesting concept that would definitely provide some valuable skills and understanding.

Still, being prepared is the foundation to avoid making a bad situation worse and avoid making yourself a victim.

ROCK6
 
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On the nasal tube, if you carry a 50ml catheter tipped syringe (which is admittedly getting a little bulky), you can join them together to give you a suction device for airway management.
 
Good thoughts - Mind you I am NOT useful in a metropolitan setting :o ...

Does anyone else think it a sad reflection on current society that one must mitigate against legal complications just trying to be prepared?!!

Perhaps printing and laminating a couple pages of FEMA preparedness info would help with context...?

Random (depressing) thoughts,
8
 
Times change. Back in the 50s-60s-70s you could be arrested for having not enough money (vagrancy) now if you have "too much" cash its a sign that you are a drug dealer or a terrorist.
What you look like has a lot to do with it as well. A guy I know who traveled a lot used to wear a suit to fly, even while packpacking. in his words, between the guy in Armani, and the guy with the tie-dye shirt, guess who is getting searched. Granted this guy had hair to his mid back, and generally had a beard, so he looked pretty hippy even in a suit (which he got from the Sally-anne for about 50$) but it kept him moving though security. How do you blend?
My wife can't figure out why I habitually tuck in my shirts. In Calgary if you want to keep cops and security from noticing you, show them your belt, let them see the multi-tool and everything is kosher. Not tucked, and you might as well have a big "I'm Hiding A Weapon!" sign on. Never got stopped, even with the 8 inch green mohawk. But here in the sunny coast of down-under land, everything is much more casual, (plus I look more like a responsible adult) the only thing some people notice is the man-bag, but even then, not really.
 
Why do they take your clothing and give you goodwill clothes? Are they assuming your naked when disaster strikes, like in bed or something? Or just to get you out of your comfort zone?
 
A money belt may be useful for the cash, 100 in small bills on your person then 50s in the belt.
 
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