Office Survival Kit

J

josywales3

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Joined
Jun 3, 2005
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152
We just moved into a new building today and our company arranged for each of us to have a presonal survival kit. Basically something to get you through a one-day emergency. Though personally, I'd prefer a really fast acting parachute...I'm on the 12th floor.

Contents:

1 whistle
1 respirator mask
1 aluminum Flashlight
1 light stik
1 emergnency blanket
2 4.25oz packets of emergency drinking water

My EDC is a Ritter Mini and I also have, are you ready, the original Leatherman! I've owned it for about 15 years and carried it for the first time this weekend. It was very handy and I'll look to upgrade as needed, as well as a Surfire E2e.

How long do those Coast Guard approved water packets last? Their manufacture date is 11/04.
 
The contents of an office kit will depend on where you are located, the nature of the emergency you are preparing to live through and whether the object is to leave or stay in the office. How much room do you have to store stuff? How much of this gear will be on your person all the time? Do you drive to work or take mass transit?
 
I would think a medium sized prybar and some heavy gloves would be good for an office kit.
 
Office emergency kits has been discussed in other threads. The contents can change quite a bit depending on whether he's in LA, NYC or Miami and is worried about earthquakes, terrorist attacks or hurricanes. In some cases a good mountaineering rope and gear to rappel to the ground is all you'd need, you can always get new co-workers :rolleyes:
 
josywales3 said:
How long do those Coast Guard approved water packets last? Their manufacture date is 11/04.
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I think the "shelf-life" on them is arounf 5 years, but I have drank them WAY past that with no ill effects.

In the immortal words of Michael J. "Crocodile" Dundee "You can live on it, but it taste like s**t:.
 
Thats pretty cool though I doubt the light stick will work when you need it. The e2e is nice to have but I don't think of it as an " indoor type" light, it also goes thru batteries fast ( not faster then other Surfire but faster then most other lights) but that probably OK if the aluminum kit light is low light low energy. Big bonus if it uses similar battery to the Surefire, 123 lith.


Also what is the value of a space blanket in an office, in something like that I would rather keep a cheap wool blanket, it is warmer and it will serve better as a fire retardant if you need to wrap yourself, the space blanket will burn instantly.


You should ask for them to supply big prybar knives too :)
 
OK, more details. Downtown Philly. I take mass transit, pay city wage, and can't wait to find another job! Been here 7 years and I'm just tired of making the commute and paying a ton of taxes to ride the dirtiest tranist system in the US and come into the most mismanaged city in the US. (These are my feelings, but they are comments by those who visit us and are well traveled in the US).

The pack they have given us is a byfold, about the size of a medium fanny pack, with a should strap (thin). I have read the text, and it explains that this is an evacuation kit for workplace disasters. Mad by World Prep Inc., in Ohio.

As an evacuation kit, I'd have to lean towards a prybar as well and scrap the emergency blanket. Although, if someone is hurt and needs warmth, it's not a bulky item to have on hand.
 
josywales3 said:
our company arranged for each of us to have a personal survival kit
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Wow, that's almost unheard of. You must work for a unique company. And in downtown Philadelphia, no less.

I work in the Philadelphia suburbs, in King of Prussia. I've learned not to mention disasters, emergencies, evacuation, or survival. No one wants to hear about it, much less discuss it.

One can be called the office "worry wort" or "Eeyore" (from Winnie-the-Pooh) only so often before one takes the hint and clams up.

Where I work, people will carry a wallet, keys, and cell phone, and that's pushing it. Most of the staff don't even wear wrist watches.

Sigh.
 
Flashlight:
If it were mine I'd go with an LED such as the Surefire E2L rather than the incandescent bulbs. The LED won't be bothered by shock and is much easier on batteries. It's only 30 lumens compared to 60 with the E2E, but if you're indoor what do you need 60 lumens for other than to temporarily blind people.
Another very good choice IMO is the UK 4AA eLED Review It is real easy on (cheap and available anywhere) AA alkaline batteries. The light itself is relatively inexpensive, but rated 5 stars in the review.

Pry Bar
Ti Pry Bar or steel. I have the 15" Ti bar which could probably fit in a desk drawer without too much problem. Discreet.

Multi-Tool:
Your choice, there's a bunch of good ones, find one or two that you like and get one just for the office.

Water:
I carry a liter of good drinking water in my backpack and it's fresh everyday. Those little water packets would be good to give to other folks, but I'll bring my own thanks.

Food
You don't need food, but an energy bar or two could go a long way in a pinch.
 
cardimon said:
Where I work, people will carry a wallet, keys, and cell phone, and that's pushing it. Most of the staff don't even wear wrist watches.

Sigh.
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At least you can predict who will be the victims when the SHTF.
"It will never happen" :rolleyes:

.
 
Hi all,
That Emergency Blanket is a good idea. Think about having to make a quick exit in the winter or during a rain storm. Not the best protection, but way ahead of "Nothing"; there may not be "some place else" to go quickly enough otherwise. How about a power outage during a bad winter storm.

A pair of heavy leather gloves and prybar would be good. given the situation of being in an office, I'd get a "handy bar". The one made by ESTWING is bomb proof, light weight, and compact. Besides, it's useable around the office.
Dan
 
"A pair of heavy leather gloves and prybar would be good. given the situation of being in an office, I'd get a "handy bar". The one made by ESTWING is bomb proof, light weight, and compact. Besides, it's useable around the office."
Dan


Like when asking for a raise?
 
Dan K said:
Hi all,
That Emergency Blanket is a good idea. Think about having to make a quick exit in the winter or during a rain storm. Not the best protection, but way ahead of "Nothing"; there may not be "some place else" to go quickly enough otherwise. How about a power outage during a bad winter storm.
Click to expand...

Personally, I'd stick with a vinyl poncho and a fleece blanket. They don't take up much room and very light-weight.

Dan K said:
...given the situation of being in an office, I'd get a "handy bar". The one made by ESTWING is bomb proof, light weight, and compact.
Click to expand...

I'm LIKING that idea, but I've already got a Stanley WonderBar in my shoulder bag.
 
I don't want to "hijack" this thread (it's a COOL thread), but I'd like to start another, parallel discussion that uses this thread as a reference.

How would I go about doing that? :confused:
 
Click the "New Thread" button in whichever forum you want to use and insert a hyperlink to this thread.
 
ras said:
Click the "New Thread" button in whichever forum you want to use and insert a hyperlink to this thread.
Click to expand...

Thanks man. I knew one of you smart folks would know.
 
I work in the Philadelphia suburbs, in King of Prussia. I've learned not to mention disasters, emergencies, evacuation, or survival. No one wants to hear about it, much less discuss it.
Click to expand...
and that is why when the SHTF the majority of people will be screwed. I cant say how many times I have heard someone tell me "I know whos house im going to if such&such happens" I think to myself yea right , you didnt want to even try to prepare for the worst when you had the chance... anyways.

1 whistle
1 respirator mask
1 aluminum Flashlight
1 light stik
1 emergnency blanket
2 4.25oz packets of emergency drinking water

I would upgrade it a little , ditch that light stick for starters , give it to a kid to play with or something , you didnt say what kind of flashlight but if its junk I would opt for a few "cheapie: little LED's http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2020&item=5210186386&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
You can find these all day on eBay and tons of other sources , advantages , smaller size (make more room for something else you may need) and they last a long long time. Those space blankets come in handy in some instances.
I think I would add a small medical kit you know , band aids and anti-septic wipes, some pain killers or caffiene tabs , keep it simple. the power bar idea is good too as is a small prybar , MT or knife.
Thankfully I now work in a company I can carry pretty much what I want aside from a pistol. I'd sure hate to be stuck in some PC company where any sort of knife isnt allowed or is really frowned upon. Pretty cool that you work for a place that at least acknowledges that something bad can happen at any time and cares enough about you to attempt to prepare for it.
 
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