Interestingly, I was just thinking about this. Today is Day 2 wearing slacks with no pockets. I don't normally wear a belt, and considering the weather, no blazer either. In doing an inventory, it appears that the only piece of emergency equipment I have physically on my person is my cell phone. Mind you, my purse with all of my gear is within reach, but I'm not going to have that with me when I'm walking through the office.

My EDC items are moronically simple and most of them stay in my purse. But I do like to have my lighter, mini-mag and pocketknife on me at all times. Of the three, the knife; a simple 2" pointed blade lockback folder, gets the most use opening containers, cutting the strapping on copier paper boxes, and so forth.

Now I'm looking at a way to modify the plastic spring-clip cell phone holder so that I can attach the mini-mag and lighter to it and make it more useful.

The items I carry in my pocket are tools with immediate use; a blade for cutting/opening, a flashlight for illumination (I've been caught in the bathroom during blackouts. It gets DARK in there!) and the lighter for not only basic firemaking but also for any of the other uses to which lighters are put. Well, except for smoking, which I do not do. My only addiction is chocolate and as far as I know that indulgence is still legal.

If I change my cell phone carry case (suggestions welcomed!) to be able to carry other items, a band-aid or two would certainly be included as well as something for pain. Anything more than that and I may as well bring my purse, which has more gear and supplies.

If you count the stuff in my purse, I can do the following:

Treat minor injuries
Repair clothing/sew buttons
Take notes (pens and paper)
Save computer files (USB drive)
Work miracles with clear duct tape
Take notes and look up information (Palm Pilot)
Manually cut and paste (ruler and X-acto blade)
Wash (Purell/handy wipes/PocketSuds)
Open cans and eat (P38 with spoon)
Repair/open things (multi-tool)
Entertain (travel chess set)
Buy things (cash/cards)
Save my life (firearm)
Set things on fire
See in the dark
Cut things

And this is a small purse. I used to carry even more things until my chiropractor told me to cut it out. <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

~Sarah