EDC hazards?

k_estela

k_estela

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Here is a post that is meant to be insightful and humorous. We all carry a lot in our pockets and on our person. However, do we think about legitimate risks in carrying some of this gear? For example, an auto knife could go off in a pocket, pens can leak, lighters can start fires as can strike-anywhere matches. Furthermore, high powered flashlights' batteries can drain accidentally, keys can accidentally jab you in the leg and so on. Here is a post to list some of the hazards we could encounter and try to avoid each day.
 
This reminds me of why I quit carrying knives clipped inside my pocket with the point up. Took one out one time, the point somehow caught inside my pocket, and sliced completely through my pocket. Glad it missed my skin! I only carry knives now with the point down.
 
high powered flashlights' batteries can drain accidentally
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A CR123 battery, if short-circuited, will become hot enough to start a fire. Some flashlights (especially those using CR123 batteries) can become quite hot if left on for a long time.
 
Gollnick said:
Some flashlights (especially those using CR123 batteries) can become quite hot if left on for a long time.
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It's not just flashlights. My wallet burns a hole in my pocket.
 
Gollnick said:
Some flashlights (especially those using CR123 batteries) can become quite hot if left on for a long time.
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Yes, good point. When I bought my first Surefire, I specifically looked for one with the lockout tailcap. I used to have a Streamlight Scorpion, but I was concerned that it would get accidentally activated at work and catch some paper or fabric on fire, since the faceplate gets so hot.

Also, there was a thread a while back about the hydrogen that builds up in sealed dive lights when the batteries are depleted. I'll look for the thread.

Here is the other thread.
 
Pens may be especially hazardous when carried near a checkbook. Never carry these two items at the same time.
 
Gollnick said:
Some flashlights (especially those using CR123 batteries) can become quite hot if left on for a long time.
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Doubtful. CR123 don't have enough power reserve to cause a fire in flashlights that are rated for them. Those flahlights are specifically designed to be able to withstand the heat during a single use, from full power to power depletion point.
 
Once upon a time when I carried automatics they had a nasty habit of firing open in my pocket. After slicing my index finger almost to the bone I stopped carrying them...ouch :(
 
Those flahlights are specifically designed to be able to withstand the heat during a single use, from full power to power depletion point.
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Assuming that they have air circulating around them and not an insulator around them.

Surefire cautions on the 6P to be sure that the light is off before putting it into your pocket or a carrying case or any other sort of situation that prevents airflow and insulates.

I had a tac light on an H&K USP somehow apparently get switched on while the gun was inside a pistol box. This pistol box has two thick foam pads, one on the bottom and one glued to the top. The gun gets sandwiched between the two pads and is, therefore, held quite securely which is important since this box mounts under the seat in your car to store your handgun if you have to go in somewhere where the gun is not welcome (e. g. the Postoffice). Anyway, the gun got left in that box with the light on for a few hours and not only was the batter dead, but the foam was quite dammaged by the heat.
 
Gollnick said:
Anyway, the gun got left in that box with the light on for a few hours and not only was the batter dead, but the foam was quite dammaged by the heat.
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I didn't argue that the lamp doesn't put out heat. I argued that it doesn't cause fires. If you had burn marks on the barrel, that would have supported your original assertions.
 
How about the risk of wrist cancer from the radio-active material(Tritium for example) that they put on the hands of Analog watches?

Could it really be a risk?

---edited to add: I did a search on this subject if anyone is interested.
http://elginwatches.org/help/luminous_dials.html

It seems tritium is fine. It's the older radium that might pose a danger, which was used on older watches.
 
tonyccw said:
I didn't argue that the lamp doesn't put out heat. I argued that it doesn't cause fires. If you had burn marks on the barrel, that would have supported your original assertions.
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his original assertation was that the light becomes quite hot, not that the light causes fire spontaneously
it's conceivable that if left alone with a lighter like a zippe in a confined space it could set off a fire
 
oh yeah, I forgot, I scratched my car getting in after some a-hole parked too close. Scratch was done by the clip on a knife in my right pocket. :mad:
 
hamachikama said:
oh yeah, I forgot, I scratched my car getting in after some a-hole parked too close. Scratch was done by the clip on a knife in my right pocket. :mad:
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I did the same thing with a new AFCK...except it was my wife's car :( :eek:
 
I don't carry anything that could cause a problem. By "problem," I mean anything that could open, light, or otherwise give me grief should my shoulder bag be searched -- which is always a possibility these days.

I don't carry nor do I own any automatic knives. I've read too many tales of woe. I don't want to be on the receiving end of a "Why do you NEED an auto knife?" glare.

Good old Swiss Army is good enough for me. I live and work in a highly developed suburban environment, so my favorite SAK is my Midnite MiniChamp II. Very sheeple-friendly. That's in my pocket. My CyberTool 41 is in my shoulder bag. Nothing threatening about it. And I work with computers.

I also carry my sheeple-friendly Spyderco Jester and A.G.Russell Ultimate Pen Knife with me every day, too. Small and usefull.

My SureFire E1e and E2e's are carried in lock-out mode. I didn't do that once and burned out my lithium batteries. Not good. I also carry spare lithiums, double bagged in ziplocks.

Rather than "strike anywhere" matches, I carry firesteels and strikers. Yep. Multiples. One is none and two is one. I follow that motto.
 
EDC'd a Benchmade Mini Reflex (auto) for over a year and never had it open when I didn't want it to. And I carry my Leek w/ the lock removed and it hasn't opened yet either.

Pens? I inadvertantly write on my hands every now and then, but I just wash it off.

I think the worse that's happed w/ EDC is that I wear a hole in my pocket or just below the waistband (IWB carry).

And I get that too-fat-wallet ache (not from too much cash either) in my hip when I drive too long.

I did poke myself under the finger nail with a wooden toothpic that I forgot about in my shirt pocket once. That hurt!
 
cardimon said:
I also carry spare lithiums, double bagged in ziplocks.
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Two 123 Lithium batteries fit perfect in one of those plastic orange match safes you can pick up anywhere. I tried the ziplock thing but they always tore.

Tough, waterproof, and easy to spot if dropped...for less than a dollar... :cool:
 
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