gentleman's survival kit

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beezaur

Joined
Jul 31, 2002
Messages
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A lot of people spend most of their waking hours at work, yet may still want emergency equipment with them.

They often have to look professional and go into places where no weapons are allowed, like courthouses. Typical attire might be slacks, shirt, tie, coat, and maybe a hat. Belt pouches and heavily loaded pockets are out. That pretty much leaves a briefcase or similar to put gear in (but it still has to have room for your work).

So here is the challenge: a survival kit that is both "camouflaged" for a business environment and searchable for places like courthouses. It should be no larger than a portfolio, say 9x12x3/4 inches worth of usable space.

For the sake of argument, let's say earthquakes and structural fires/collapses are the most likely major dangers, but it would be nice to have as much capability as possible. For example, it would be nice to have this as a sort of very compact BOB.

So what do you think? What would you put in a "gentleman's" survival kit?

Remember -- NO knives or weapons of any sort.

Scott
 
The most key components I could see being needed would have to be light and first aid. On top of the primary light you should always have on you, you should have a larger backup light, a smaller secondary light, and batteries for each if possible.

For example, I carry my E2e (primary EDC), Arc AAA (smaller secondary), and Mini Mag (larger backup) with me at school. I hope to replace the Mini Mag with a Surefire G2 soon.

While I'm not limited from carrying folders and multitools, I can't carry fixed blades at school. In reality, if there was major earthquake damage to a building, I'm not too sure how I could get out...all the buildings I have seen have many sets of stairs, and accesses on multiple floors, so I am optimistic I could get out, even after a major quake.
 
- Water bottle(s).

- High energy nutrition bar(s).

- Beef jerky.

- Plastic spoon (in plastic wrapper).

- TUMS.

- Imodium AD.

- Aspirin.

- Antihistamine.

- Eye drops.

- Lip balm.

- Sun screen (packet).

- DEET (packet).

- Alcohol prep pads or toweletes.

- Tissues (small packet) and or paper napkins.

- Sunglasses.

- Work gloves.

- Latex gloves.

- Bandana or handkerchief.

- Knit cap.

- Dust mask.

- Super glue.

- Duct tape (wrapped around a pen or pencil).

- Light weight Poncho.

- Heavy duty trash bag.

- Paracord.

- Sure Fire light.

- Mag-Lite 3 cell light*.

- Photon Micro LEDs.

- Snaplight light stick (in sealed package).

- AM/FM radio with head phones or ear plug.

- Cell phone.

- BIC lighters.

- “trick” birthday candles.

- Sewing kit (needles, thread, safety pins etc.).

- 4 in 1 screw driver*.

- EMT shears*.

- P38 can opener.

- Slivergripper tweezers.

- Whistle.

- Compass.

- Map(s), mass transit schedules, etc.

- Cash/ change.

- Credit card.

- ATM card.

- Phone card.

- Metro card or tokens.

- Personal I.D (drivers and other licenses, military, company or student ID, ccw, passport, etc.).

- Personal information/ important phone numbers/ bank account numbers/ perscriptions etc.

- Spare car/ house/ office keys.

- Spare eye glasses

- Extra medication that you may need.

- Pen(s)/ note paper.


* These items probably won’t be allowed in a high security area such as a court house, some of the other things are questionable.


It’s also a good to wear shoes that you can walk home in if you have to.






- Frank
 
I had to go to the courthouse a couple months ago....Flashlights were good to go and I carried a small Swiss-Tech MicroPlus. No blade made it ok.

So I would recomend a good flashlight like a Streamlight or surefire, a good LED light like an Arc AAA, Cmg Infinity Ultra, or a Dorcy 1aaa LED light...or even the Dorcy 1aa 3-LED light....

and a MicroPlus. OH yea, get a loud whistle, like a Mini-Fox 40.

I'm sure there are a lot of other good suggestions too.
 
New poster but long-time lurker here.

I appear weekly in courts that are strictly locked down. Physical searches and X-Ray are used and the screeners are better trained and more thorough than airport screeners. Because there are often lines and deadlines, any kit must allow rapid passage through the choke point. Packed "survival" kits raise suspicion (including your clients').

The most likely event requiring a "survival" kit around here would be weather-related. You're going to need to stay at the courthouse and could be there for quite awhile. A small radio with good batteries is good. A few bottles of water better. You've probably got weather gear already but a backup packable rain coat is nice too. I supplement that with two Photon IIs (one with a 2032) on my keychain. A mini Fox40 is on the keychain together with a vial of meds (Excedrin Migrain, Benadryl, Immodium and Alleve). Since the Great Blackout of 2003, the CMG Ultra and Brinkman LS get through security ok too. Surefire is better, of course, but doesn't look terribly consumer grade.

The emotional tenor at the courthouse can occasionally turn into a "situation". You should be in "orange" awareness anyway so you'll see a situation develop and the best defense is to get help or get out of the way. The only defensive weapons you can get away with would be improvised (hot drink, keys, pens, etc). Security is informed about and intolerant of things like Kubotons and such. An ice pack and a gauze roll are of more value but usually provided by the responding officers.

Other "threats" likely at a courthouse are mostly "get of the building" things. Fire, power outage, bomb threat and suspicious packages are all handled best by knowing your exits. A couple of handkerchiefs can help. Keep in mind that your car is fully stocked and usually no more than a block away. Avoid attached parking garages if possible and convenient as they'll get locked down with the building.

If the court will allow a knife (extremely unlikely), a SAK is the least offensive. It doesn't attract as much attention as a folder or a multitool.

Obviously, my goal is to get through the check point quickly without causing security to give me a second glance. Most issues of survival I encounter while at the courthouse are get out quick (flashlight and handkerchief) or hunker down (water, radio and warm clothes). I have to bank on being able to walk a block to my car if it is TEOTWAWKI.

One final note to a too-long message - cell phones are frequently checked at the entrance so don't count on having communications out until whatever situation you face is stabilized. A redundant in the car is probably nice.

larry
 
Thanks, guys -- a lot of things I hadn't thought of.

I will probably keep the larger volume of a portfolio because there are a few largish items I want:

- work gloves
- dust mask
- flashlight (Inova or Princeton Tec)
- first aid gloves, supplies
- collapsible water bottle (2.4 L Platypus)
- a length of strong cord

There are other items, but these are the "defining" items with which to do things like building search and rescue or evacuation.

Scott
 
I also pack a "light days" and "heavy days" sanitary feminine napkin in my pack, for two reasons:

1. I have a wife and two teenaged daughters.
2. I remeber from my wrestling days of younger glory, and nothing stops bleeding like a feminine napkin or (in the case of nosebleed) a tampon.

Spurting blood bothers me a little.......
 
I take the items on my keys already that I took into the courthouse about a month ago (minus the eeeeeeevil handcuff key!) Photon lvl III, Glow in the Dark lighter, leatherman micra (they didn't care), an an extra long fighting bandanna.
 
First you need to learn your building and any others you'er in a lot.Most have two stairways,A and B.One will be use for evacuation and the other for firefighting(if a fire).Do you know which is which in your building,they will tell you use the "b' stairway,do you know which one that is?

Do they have smoketowers in them?Do the doors lock behind you? Thats how six people just died in the stairway in Chicago.OPPS.Nobody knew that,went in the stairway was smokey went up could not get out and died.Theres a lot more to the story,about where fault lies etc.

Did you know most stairways only have doors that are unlocked on the first floor only?How about yours? Others are supposed to unlock with the fire alarm sounding.Last highrise fire I went to we had people in the stairways in darkness because the fire knocked out the electric and backfeed the generator so no back up power.They could not get out of the stairway and were afraid to go further down because of the smoke and darkness.Hint,carry a light,cell phone to call help.

So I would want a way to open those doors.Something to simply slide back the latch.The screwdriver on a Micra might work.If you can't carry a knife,a Micra with its blade removed may be the ticket.I use a shove knife but have used screwdrivers and knife blades.

Learn the buildings,how the stairways work,any elevators or stairs that are private,ones that go just between say a law firms 4 floors may be a way to bypass clogged or collapsed stairways.Underground tunnels? Parking? Hidden or private hallways,stairs that lead to private parking for the "bigshots"all may save your butt,but only if you learn them.
 
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