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#179850 - 08/20/09 05:35 PM Urban EDC reality check
Compugeek Offline
Enthusiast

Registered: 08/09/09
Posts: 392
Loc: San Diego, CA
I've been rethinking my EDC (preparedness is a journey, not a destination, right?) and I'd like a reality check:

I mentioned that I had room to carry a full PSK in my every day bag, but the more I think about it, the more it feels like carrying a shotgun in case I see a mouse. (I've learned over the years that this kind of obsession is usually my subconscious poking me in the ribs.)

The most extreme situation I can imagine running into on my daily travels is my car going off the road into a gully or canyon, having to abandon the car and everything in it, and being stuck in the gully/canyon at night in the rain and cold while waiting for the rescuers I called on my cell phone to find me. (I live in San Diego, so we're only talking 40 degrees, not sub-freezing.)

In that case I am more likely to need first aid stuff than fire starting or fishing stuff.

I already EDC a lighter, cell phone, Mini-Mag, pocket knife and multi-tool. I'm thinking I should put the PSK in my GHB, put a small FAK in my shoulder bag and add:

* Spare Battery
* Space Blanket/Heat Sheet
* Large Garbage Bag (smaller than an Emergency Poncho)
* Whistle
* Small Mirror (both for signaling and for self-examination)

Anything else you'd recommend?



And are you all interested in further ruminations as I develop my preparedness? It's all pretty new and exciting to me, but I realize it's old hat to most of you, and I don't want to be annoying. smile
_________________________
Okey-dokey. What's plan B?

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#179851 - 08/20/09 05:41 PM Re: Urban EDC reality check [Re: Compugeek]
Russ Offline
Geezer

Registered: 06/02/06
Posts: 5357
Loc: SOCAL
San Diego? Water -- I keep a 3 gallon jug in the truck.
_________________________
Better is the Enemy of Good Enough.
Okay, what’s your point??

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#179853 - 08/20/09 06:06 PM Re: Urban EDC reality check [Re: Russ]
dweste Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 02/16/08
Posts: 2463
Loc: Central California
Money, ATM/credit card, important phone number list, medication and health condition list card, who to contact in emergency, copy of health insurance card, copy of car insurance, copy of driver's license, copy of car registration.

Double sided and reduced size copies and cards probably practical.

Think: I have just been separated from my wallet and my car.


Edited by dweste (08/20/09 06:35 PM)

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#179861 - 08/20/09 06:49 PM Re: Urban EDC reality check [Re: dweste]
Compugeek Offline
Enthusiast

Registered: 08/09/09
Posts: 392
Loc: San Diego, CA
Russ, how long does that jug last in the heat? I have 2L in the trunk right now, in my GHB, and I'm going to add a couple more in a small cooler to protect them from heat. It's a Ford Escort, I can't put TOO much in the trunk.


Dweste: The copies of documents is a VERY good idea. I was going to put copies in my GHB. Smaller ones that fit in my shoulder bag are even better. (It's a little larger than a typical fanny pack, with both shoulder and waist straps. I normally use just the shoulder strap.) Normal pocket stuff (wallet, keys, etc.) are all in the bag. Folding knife and two pens are all that's actually in my pockets. (Plus a 10x magnifier in my work pants.)
_________________________
Okey-dokey. What's plan B?

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#179866 - 08/20/09 07:32 PM Re: Urban EDC reality check [Re: Compugeek]
Russ Offline
Geezer

Registered: 06/02/06
Posts: 5357
Loc: SOCAL
Don't know, I swap it out before it's bad. I use it as required and refill at first oppoortunity; that and the back of my truck probably stays a tad cooler than the trunk of an Escort -- not much, but a little can mean a lot.
_________________________
Better is the Enemy of Good Enough.
Okay, what’s your point??

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#179875 - 08/20/09 08:46 PM Re: Urban EDC reality check [Re: Russ]
Susan Offline
Geezer

Registered: 01/21/04
Posts: 5163
Loc: W. WA
Please rethink the firemaking materials.

Most people die from hypothermia when the air temperature is 32-50ºF. When it's colder than that, they usually have suitable clothing. A 40ºF air temperature with a breeze of 5 mph = 36ºF, a breeze of 10 mph = 34ºF, wind of 15 mph = 32ºF, and a wind of 20 mph = 30ºF.

If the ambiant air temperature was 35F, those figures drop to 31ºF, 27ºF, 25ºF, and 24ºF.

And cold air is like water in that it settles in the low places, like a small valley or a canyon. Being trapped in a cold spot can be the death of you.

Just for fun, go to a spot similar to where you might end up, and spend the night (not in summer -- make it interesting). You might end up revising what you think you'll need.

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#179879 - 08/20/09 09:36 PM Re: Urban EDC reality check [Re: Susan]
raptor Offline
Enthusiast

Registered: 04/05/08
Posts: 288
Loc: Europe
Originally Posted By: Susan
Being trapped in a cold spot can be the death of you.


Let alone when you are sweaty.

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#179882 - 08/20/09 10:04 PM Re: Urban EDC reality check [Re: Susan]
Compugeek Offline
Enthusiast

Registered: 08/09/09
Posts: 392
Loc: San Diego, CA
Susan: I call anything below 70F cold, and anything below 65F is "frickin' freezin'"*, so you have a good point. I am carrying a medium weight jacket in the trunk even now, but I did say "and abandon everything in [the car]".

I bought a Spark-Lite/Tinder pack separate from the PSK to "play with", and still have five tinders in that pack. I'll slip that in as a backup to the lighter.

"Spend the night at a drive-in campground, see how much I remember, how hard/easy these things are to do" is already on my To Do list. There are several of them here, so if things go too badly, I'll just pack it in, drive home, and note what I need to work on.


*A friend who grew up in Alaska once asked me "What would you do if you lived somewhere REALLY cold?" I said "Move."
_________________________
Okey-dokey. What's plan B?

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#179884 - 08/20/09 10:17 PM Re: Urban EDC reality check [Re: Compugeek]
MoBOB Offline
Veteran

Registered: 09/17/07
Posts: 1219
Loc: here
Originally Posted By: Compugeek

* Small Mirror (both for signaling and for self-examination)


Great idea for the self-examination bit. I may just go to the auto store and buy a telescoping mirror just for that purpose.
_________________________
"Its not a matter of being ready as it is being prepared" -- B. E. J. Taylor

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#179888 - 08/20/09 10:35 PM Re: Urban EDC reality check [Re: Compugeek]
philip Offline
Addict

Registered: 09/19/05
Posts: 639
Loc: San Francisco Bay Area
> going off the road into a gully or canyon, having to abandon the car

The people I've read about that survived going off the road into a gully or canyon were trapped in the vehicle and couldn't call, even though they had cell phones, because of the combination of vehicle damage and injuries.

What's your plan if you go off the road, roll, and are trapped in the driver's seat?

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