I don't know if they'll use a compass in the office, and I imagine the first aid kit she mentioned would have band aids and tylenol <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

... I agree with you ....
but a few feet of paracord (and a small flat "roll" of duct tape ....) are very useful even in such an environment (easy to fix a loose hem with a bit of duct tape...)

I think you're on the right track and I wouldnt get too extensive with it since you (i assume) want it to be small and easy to carry so that it is actually with them when needed. IMO, of the things you listed these are most important (in order of importance) items and they are also the ones I would include if it were me. duct tape and paracord and other such items are certainly nice for everyday use but this is an urban escape kit (right?) and IMHO I say keep it small and light ans stick with the essentials.

Flashlight
FAK
Aqua blox
whistle
bandanna
Dust Mask

May I remind you of 9/11? The Fire Lt. (now Battalion Chief) who survived in the North Tower stairwell was calling directions to potential rescuers over the air - telling them he and others were in the ???? side stairwell of the North Tower. One response he heard ... "Where's the North Tower?"

Direction finding is very important in an urban/suburban hi-rise environment or any other place that could be potentially smoke filled. Keep the compasses. Maybe out of curiosity they'll play with them and learn a bunch of valueable lessons ...

M

Thanks a ton, guys. Once again, you've come through. The Countycomm tip was great, too. Never heard of it before.

Good point I guess, I didn't even know a compass would work well in a giant steel structure!

i wasnt thinking about the inside of the buildings when i mentioned the compass.

but assuming part of the "quick escape" was maneuvering around outside it may be usefull at sometime.

I just purchased a smaller, hand-cranked AM/FM radio that would be great to include in your "Family-Friendly" Office PSK. I picked it up at an Eddie Bauer store for $11.99 (marked down from $24.50 - I think they're a clearance item). The box says it's a "Water Resistant Self Powered Radio" and should be good for 20 minutes with 90 seconds of cranking. It also will work off of 2 AAA batteries (which were included) and has a built in flashlight. Dimensions are approximately 5.5" x 2.5" x 1.5". While the flashlight isn't much, it appears bright enough to walk around without bumping into things (or even to make it down a dark stairwell). I figured for the price I would get one to throw into my auto emergency kit. I have a headlamp that uses AAA batteries as well so I have some redundancy built in.

I liked your idea of a "Family-Friendly" Office PSK so much that I bought two of these radios and am putting together a kit for a friend. Thanks for the post.

Terry

Is it this radio? You got a good deal if so.

For whatever it's worth, I had assumed that the last place a compass would work would be a large cruise ship... essentially a huge steel structure immersed in salt water.

To my surprise, they worked just fine- probably a few degrees off, but not enough to notice. Having one also came in handy in two distinct ways.

I carry one in the city every day. Most often, I find myself referring to it to get oriented quickly when coming out of unfamiliar subway stations, but, in general, I find it much easier to get disoriented in the city than in the country. It's much harder to see the sky, and you often have to walk a block or two to see how street designations progress in a given direction. Maps are useless if you don't have any idea which way is which. I'd hang on to it.