No, but an adult could use them to treat the child - perhaps that's what he was thinking.

I don't know didly about kids, and don't want to. But, it seems to me that kids only know what you teach them (or fail to) and can only be entrusted with what they have learned to use and to respect.

I was pretty self sufficient when I was 10 or 12, and know kids now that can be trusted with a gun and a truck on a ranch. But I, and those kids I know now, were pushed pretty hard. Many of my parent's friends thought way too hard at the time -- but at least in that respect, I don't think so.

One thing that my parents and extended family did that brought on much criticism was that it was never a game. I was taught that life was deadly serious from day one. Now, the idea seems to be that in order to learn, it has to be turned into "fun." Fun is greatly over rated. Screw video games.

With all due respect, I totally disagree. You would be surprised what young children are capable of in emergency situations and with some basic training and supplies, they can accomplish amazing things under less then ideal conditions.

I have 3 daughters, 23, 20 and 11. All three have been taught basic first aid and have been carrying FSKs (including to school) since they were Brownies (Girl Scouts); the two older ones have been Life Guards since they were 15. The oldest is an ARC Life Guard, CPR and First Aid Instructor. I have been involved with GSA since my youngest was a Brownie and have always provided all the girls in the 3 troops in which my wife has been a leader with basic first aid training and FAKs, so I believe I have a pretty good idea what scared children are capable of in emergency situations.

In fact, as a Fire Fighter/Paramedic I have seen children behave more rationally during a crisis then many adults. It is often later, after the event, that children will have posttraumatic reactions and require comforting and love.

Pete

Lots of interesting thoughts on this. On the issue of smoke, toxic fumes and a SCBA. With space/price being an issue there is an item called an Emergency Escape Breathing Device (EEBD), used on military aircraft that is the size of an old school lunch box (like the ones you used to carry that had Dukes of Hazard or Strawberry Shortcake on the side). They provide up to 15 minutes of O2 and are specificly designed to get you out of a smoke/toxic filled enviorment. If someone is interested in taking a look at the availability in the civilian world...

what the heck is space blanket? is that the same hypothermia blanket but a heavy duty one?

Just he opposite. The foil type in the cigarette pack size packages are the 'space' blankets; they are aluminum foil bonded onto mylar. The 'rescue' blankets are usually the ones with aluminum reflective foil bonded onto a stronger plastic tarp type substrate.

Does that help?

Space Blanket

On the issue of locked vs. unlocked subway doors, I suspect that 'they' don't want you going out of the train because of the third rail. They'd rather try some orderly way of evacuating passengers. Of course, if your dead, it's about as orderly as it gets.

There's a similar issue with lifts (err, "elevators" if you're American). Nowadays they are often designed to discourage self-rescue in emergencies, because apparently if you get out you invariable fall down the lift shaft. The World Trade Centre lifts were of this sort, and I've seen estimates that they contributed to around 10% of the 9/11 deaths in those buildings.

I rarely travel by subway train but sometimes use lifts, and getting stuck in one during a powercut is one of my nightmare scenarios. I recently bought some Prybabies and I'm considering EDCing one in the hope that it would help. I'm not scared of lift shafts <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />