The problem is if you need it, and dont have it, it could become a bad situation quickly.

Quick story: Last year I was one of the people in charge of a group of high school kids building a set for a play at night. Well, we had two kids up on a ladder, three kids putting a railing on a 7 foot high platform, as well as various tools being used. The power went out, luckily I had my Surefire A2, it was bright enough to light the stage up to get the kids off the high places and together until the power came back on, avoiding a bad situation. Just think if you are underground and the power goes out, it will be pretty black and scary, especially if the emergency lighting doesn't come on. A flashlight can be the difference between some clostrophobic lady causing a panic and everyone getting trampled or everyone huddled together singing Kumbaya. I think the weight is worth it, especially since my Surefires only weigh a couple ounces, yet are as bright as a 6D cell Mag light. As to water and a dust mask. A dust mask or even bandana weighs nothing and can save your life. A lot of people died in volcano eruptions from smoke and dust inhalation, as the dust and ash would cement in their lungs. I believe the same thing happened on 9/11. What a way to die, especially since it is pretty avoidable. The water you should always carry anyway. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I would think that fog and smoke would reflect differently. My folks heat with wood, and growing up I got to deal with at least one down draft a year that filled the house with smoke. I always got the impression smoke didn't reflect back as much.

If I had to take a guess, I'd say it is a matter of water being water, and having a very high reflectivity, compaired to things reduced to the size of a couple of a bit of dust. Also, since water likes to take a round shape, which reflects light evenly, it might increase the glare. I've never looked at captured smoke, but I imagine that it's surface is fairly irregular.

And yes, I realise my geek is showing.

The use of acronyms on the site gets confusing. For example, what does EDC mean? It would be helpful if a word or phrase is spelled out and the acronym used after that. Thanks. GeorgeM

EDC
---- Every Day Carry
PSK
---- Pocket Survival Kit (SAS-type tin for most of us)
FAK
---- First Aid Kit
SAK
---- Swiss Army Knife
BOB
---- Bug/Bail-Out Bag (and your new name in an emergency if you have your BOB embroidered as "BOB")
SNAFU
---- Situation Normal All Fouled Up (you need more than your EDC)
FUBAR
---- Fouled Up Beyond All Recognition (you need more than BOB and a good FAK)

Anything I missed?

Thanks that helps.

BOHICA --- Bend Over, Here It Comes Again

TEOTWAWKI - The End Of The World As We Know It. Sometimes mentioned as not something this site really addresses.

"... when it comes to survival, I think of "backcountry", "wilderness" and "8-hour drive fishing trip with nobody around". I am not too concerned by urban survival."

Statistics say that most vehicular accidents occur near home. Most backcountry trouble comes from you're own ineptness (if that's a word). In the city, you are at the mercy of idiots, drunks, terrorists, thieves, poor construction, and people who just aren't paying attention.

Just a few days ago in my little one-signal-light town, a man decided to commit suicide, tanked up on booze, then got into his car and slammed the accelerator to the floor. I guess some of the poor people saw him coming at them and just couldn't get out of the way. He hit one slightly off-center and careened into another one. His front axle and one wheel flew about 40 feet into the air and came down right through another (occupied) car's windshield. His momentum kept his car kept going another 350 feet, & when it stopped it burst into flames. Three dead, more injured.

WHERE you are doesn't make a bit of difference. You usually won't see it coming in time to get your gear from home.

Sue

I thought about putting it in, but I thought our Florida members might take offense. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Good luck guys, I hope it misses our members.

Can you (legally) EDC knives and multitools in England? I was under the impression that "just in case" is not a valid reason for having a blade in public, although it is no problem if you are transporting it to a place where you need it. (And self-defense is not a legal purpose?) Is this accurate and does it include multitools?

I believe this has been covered in the last few months, but I can't find it in the search.