Suggestions For A Dorm Survival Kit?

Okay Ken, as you know I drive bus on the Campus of a major university as well as haul students off-campus to various functions like "Strip-Clubs". As for the Con-dum remark Knowing what I know about your Sweetie as well as what I know about you, I'm sure the young lady has been educated in "the ways of the world" as far back as grade school, so that's a "non-issue" in my book. (it even has pictures!) However, several times last year our University was "locked down" due to written threats about a potential shooting rampage like the ones that have hit other Universities in the nation. Several years back a student was arrested for having connections to Al-Queda, so I don't think your "Urban Survival Kit" is a dumb idea. As a matter of fact, we used to have a member on here named Vol-West who had a Web-site advertising his "Urban-Survival School" in L.A., so he obviously would think it's a good idea as well. :cool2:

As for the credit card, I don't know how you have it set up but it's pretty common for parents to have the card issued in their son or daughter's name with them as a co-user. That means the card company does NOT have to notify you if the credit limit is breached or the bill isn't paid. Instead, put it in her mom's name with her daughter as a co-user. That way mom DOES get notified of anything that happens including suspicious activity.

I thought Endurance's post was excellent. Included with whatever $$$ may be in her bag I would also include a roll or two of quarters. Cell service may be disrupted so pay phones might be an option (they still have those right?). Stuck in a dorm for a period of time - vending machines might be a welcome treat. I understand that breaking into a vending machine for survival is not an issue, but on a lock-down most probably wouldn't resort to that.

I don't see a dorm kit as being much different than an apartment kit, other than the gun limitation. You can be faced with the same obstacles and same set of circumstances.

Simple question: where's the closest smoke detector? Once she has her dorm assignment, find out the age of the building. In Cambridge it could easily have been built 20-30-40 years ago... with old (ie grandfathered-in) building codes. My concern is fire. There's bound to be smoking and the wiring could be old. Plus, regardless of regulations, kids bring: toasters, hot plates and all sorts of plug-ins and electrical strips o-plenty. So, perhaps a smoke detector and a hammer (or something) to break the window.

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Originally Posted by TucsonMax

Simple question: where's the closest smoke detector? Once she has her dorm assignment, find out the age of the building. In Cambridge it could easily have been built 20-30-40 years ago... with old (ie grandfathered-in) building codes. My concern is fire. There's bound to be smoking and the wiring could be old. Plus, regardless of regulations, kids bring: toasters, hot plates and all sorts of plug-ins and electrical strips o-plenty. So, perhaps a smoke detector and a hammer (or something) to break the window.

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Good ideas. Both of them. :clap: Thanks, Max!

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Originally Posted by remy

I never said it was a bad idea.

Just like we all know who "palerider" is...right ?

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See, I told you he'd agree!:clap:

Yep, Pale rider is...Clint Eastwood!:sneaky2:

Kit's amost done. Just need a few more items!

I have a suggestion.

Include a small sharpening stone for the knives. You never know how much work they might be put through.

Ken get a gps that your daughter can carry every where(phone service) a provider can enable you to locate your child within 50 feet any where any time. les stroud endorsed a gps provider last year. so no matter what she has to prepair you can step in and help out if the need should arise. most gps systems have an active ERT (emergency response team) to handle "person in distress" beakons. location of distress entry is transmitted.
also teach her to pin a location before bad storms ect.. so that if some thing happens you have a location

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Originally Posted by endurance

A rappel rope would be my preference, but if she's not an experienced climber, nix that idea and stick with the rope ladder.

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In the case of an emergency, I don't think I would want to take the extra time to harness up. Rope ladder is a better idea.

As for the condoms...I would have suggested this, not because of sexual activity, but because I keep one in my own personal survival kit in my purse because it is small and can be used for carrying water if the water supplies become contaminated or are cut off completely.

Also, I would recommend a pre-paid credit card that won't negatively affect anyone's credit rating. You can add money when needed and there is no chance of frivilous spending.

The only thing I can think of is to make sure your step daughter has a copy of all her vital records stored in a waterproof pouch inside her bug out bag.

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Originally Posted by Lorna

The only thing I can think of is to make sure your step daughter has a copy of all her vital records stored in a waterproof pouch inside her bug out bag.

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That does have alot of merit. The only down side is that it could potentialy expose her to identity theft since this would be in a dorm type setting (room mate and visitors). I guess potential benefit of having the information at hand in an emergency vs the risk of identity theft. Like most things, no easy answer.

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Originally Posted by Pal334

That does have alot of merit. The only down side is that it could potentialy expose her to identity theft since this would be in a dorm type setting (room mate and visitors). I guess potential benefit of having the information at hand in an emergency vs the risk of identity theft. Like most things, no easy answer.

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While thisi is true, there is probably access to much of the information that would be carried in the BOB readily available in the room to an intruder. Having said that, Pal brings up a very good point that as part of her preparations safeguarding personal information is very important.

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Originally Posted by crashdive123

Originally Posted by Pal334
That does have alot of merit. The only down side is that it could potentialy expose her to identity theft since this would be in a dorm type setting (room mate and visitors). I guess potential benefit of having the information at hand in an emergency vs the risk of identity theft. Like most things, no easy answer.

While this is true, there is probably access to much of the information that would be carried in the BOB readily available in the room to an intruder. Having said that, Pal brings up a very good point that as part of her preparations safeguarding personal information is very important.

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I'm not sure if this is a definitive solution, but wouldn't an encrypted USB storage device with vital information stored on it in the form of adobe files be a tool to use? Sure, if there's an EMP or some other technological disaster, the info might not be accessable, but it would also make identity theft that much more difficult.

Another thought is just to have her open a safety deposit box at a local bank to keep documents that need to be secured, some extra cash, and perhaps even a handgun (although, with Mass., that may still not be an option).

On Mountain Mama's idea of a condom for water, while I've carried one for that purpose in the past, I've never been able to bring myself to use it. Now Gerber (think baby food, not knives) makes breast milk storage bags with zip-lock tops that seem like a much more acceptable solution, and they're still highly compact. Maybe it's a male thing, but I'd much rather drink out of a breast milk container than a condom...:blushing:

Ken,
4 years down the road, how did the bag work out? Did you/she alter it much or use it ever? I am making up a couple based on your list for my two granddaughters who are going to college next year. I plan on spending some time with each of them teaching them what is in the bag and why I thought it should be there. Two separate kinds from two very different families. One girl hunts and camps, the other one has never done any camping at all. But they are both fairly intelligent and seem to "get" the idea of being prepared and be "aware". Thoughts?

I just sent my daughter a large fanny pack about 4 months ago, who is attending Florida State. Since her dorm is on the ground level, it just has the essentials. Two 16 oz water bottles, mylar survival blanket, waterproof matches, mora knife with sheath, fire steel, some first aid items, water purification tablets, small package of beef jerky, and 2 granola bars. There is also a roll of quarters in there with 2 twenty dollar bills and a high quality LED flashlight as well. She keeps in the top of her closet behind a stack of jeans and says you can't even see it back there.
Her dorm mate and her are really good friends and watch out for each other pretty well. She said she didn't want a full blown back pack, so the fanny pack works well for her. When she goes back home to see her mother she keeps the fanny pack in the trunk of her car, and when she goes hiking she keeps it on her waist. I don't think she would haul a backpack around like that.
She actually loves her fanny pack!

Her mom and I went our separate ways about a year after that, LOL. Never tied the noose, I mean knot, LOL.

Anyway, she cannibalized the kit and only took a few things with her. As I recall, she took....

-- first aid kit with assorted meds
-- list of emergency and contact numbers
-- Photon lights
-- candles
-- energy bars and hard candies
-- pre-paid cell phone (in addition to her regular cell phone)
-- wind-up flashlight/radio/cell phone charger
-- light sticks
-- hiking boots & socks, wool hat & gloves

Funny thing is, her campus went on lock-down twice while she was there. Once for the marathon bombing and a second time due to a shooting. Don't know how she made out either time.

I sent my youngest guy off to college with a similar kit. His campus was also locked down after the bombing. He lives off campus now, and still has the kit, along with a S&W .380 Bodyguard. :yes:

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