Suggestions For A Dorm Survival Kit?

[Ken]

Okay, looking for suggestions here.........

My soon-to-be step-daughter is heading off to college in the Boston area (Cambridge) in September. She'll be about 60 miles from home, and, being a freshman, can't have a car on campus. She doesn't have a dorm assignment yet, but none of the dorm buildings are over 5 stories. Public transportation is by bus, cab, and subway, but may not be available if SHTF.

If SHTF, even just a little, it could be hours, AT LEAST, before we could reach her given potential traffic problems and restrictions. Cambridge (Boston) is at comparatively high risk for all sorts of man-made threats (accidental and intentional) and a few natural ones as well.

I've already gotten her a photon light and whistle for her key chain (only a couple of keys on it) and will be getting her a can of pepper spray to keep in her pocket. (In Mass, she's gonna' need a firearms I. D. for the pepper spray. FIREARMS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON CAMPUS. )

When she heads off to school (whether she likes it or not) she's also taking a Dorm Survival Kit (Urban Survival) with her. I'm figuring a small-medium sized back-pack kit that she can stuff under the bed (because storage space in the dorms is very limited, and I'm sure she'll want to avoid questions from her peers) as well as an escape rope and a fire extinguisher, which will both be stored out of the kit.

The fire extinguisher is self explanatory. The (window) escape rope will have an 12” loop on one end, and it will be knotted every 12”, so that she can just secure one end around the leg of the bed (or something similar) and drop the rope out of a window - I'll teach her alternate ways to use it. She’s quite athletic (an accomplished dancer, and believe me, that IS an athlete) and would have no problem using this set-up to lower herself to the ground.

I’d like to set up the kit for both bug-in and bug-out, and the most “probable” events that could occur, such as chemical spills, terrorism, crazed gunman on campus, power failures, radiation emergencies, etc. Of course, she'll have all of the dorm "essentials" at her disposal, as well.

I have an extensive list of “bug-in/bug-out” items in mind, including but not limited to:

-- a “door wedge” to “secure” the door to her room from the inside
-- plastic sheets and duct tape to seal off windows
-- potassium iodine pills
-- detailed road maps with marked escape routes and pre-determined “safe” locations (she'll know the area VERY well before school begins).
-- an escape plan with alternate meeting locations
-- a compass
-- first aid kit with assorted meds
-- small fire kit
-- list of emergency and contact numbers
-- bio-chem mask & Tyvek suit
-- Photon lights
-- candles
-- orange signal smoke
-- a red signal "flag"
-- Mainstay bars & Datrix water packs
-- energy bars and hard candies
-- pre-paid cell phone (in addition to her regular cell phone)
-- commercial hand-held two-way radio
-- wind-up flashlight/radio/cell phone charger
-- light sticks
-- signal mirror
-- whistle
-- space bivy & space blanket
-- Mora knife & SAK
-- Paracord
-- hiking boots & socks, wool hat & gloves
-- canteen and purification tablets

Any other suggestions?

[Pal334]

Being in a dorm with the potential for a smokey fire, perhaps one of those personal smoke masks , a nomek baclava and gloves ? Something along these lines

http://home-solutions.hsn.com/xcaper...738128_xp.aspx

Not perfect but better than nothing

[2dumb2kwit]

Sorry, I don't know what to add, but I'd like to ask a questiom.....if I may.
Did you say that in mass, you have to have a firearms I.D. for pepper spray?

Oh, make that 2 questions. With schools being so funny about firearms, have you checked on any issues about having a knife (or knives) in a pack?

[Ken]

Sorry, I don't know what to add, but I'd like to ask a questiom.....if I may.
Did you say that in mass, you have to have a firearms I.D. for pepper spray?

Oh, make that 2 questions. With schools being so funny about firearms, have you checked on any issues about having a knife (or knives) in a pack?

Yep, a firearms I.D. is necessary in Mass (it's NOT a CCW/LTC). I'm almost positive that the Mora is okay, so long as it's kept in the pack and in her room. The SAK is no problem at the college level - it's prohibited everywhere else.

Using Pepper Spray in Massachusetts

What is the pepper spray law in Massachusetts? Massachusetts residents may only purchase defense pepper sprays from licensed Firearms Dealers in that state. You must have Firearms Identification card ( FID ). http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/140-131.htm

M.G.L. Chapter 140, Section 131 (c): "Either a Class A or Class B license shall be valid for the purpose of owning, possessing, purchasing and transferring non-large capacity rifles and shotguns, and for purchasing and possessing chemical mace, pepper spray or other similarly propelled liquid, gas or powder designed to temporarily incapacitate, consistent with the entitlements conferred by a firearm identification card issued under section 129B."

[Ken]

Being in a dorm with the potential for a smokey fire, perhaps one of those personal smoke masks , a nomek baclava and gloves ? Something along these lines

http://home-solutions.hsn.com/xcaper...738128_xp.aspx

Not perfect but better than nothing

Good idea, Pal. Thanks! I'll have to look around a bit - that one's sold out.............

[Pal334]

Good idea, Pal. Thanks! I'll have to look around a bit - that one's sold out.............

And the nomex items, especially girls, with long hair and protect their hands. I just googled "personal smoke mask" , I am sure there are many more, I just grabbed the first example. I am suprised how inexpensive they are.

[Rick]

Quickclot or similar product.

[Pal334]

[QUOTE=remy;130112]lolll

She is going to be so popular...
"hey girls, like, look at what i have under my bed...should we like, make paracord bracelets ? Or like pop some signal smoke ?...my step dad is such a freak !!!



You forgot condoms by the way...[/QUOTE]

She is not my daughter, but to me this seems to be an inappropriate remark. It is kind of like talking politics, may not be appreciated, I know I don't

[Ken]

[quote=Pal334;130124]

lolll

She is going to be so popular...
"hey girls, like, look at what i have under my bed...should we like, make paracord bracelets ? Or like pop some signal smoke ?...my step dad is such a freak !!!



You forgot condoms by the way...[/QUOTE]

She is not my daughter, but to me this seems to be an inappropriate remark. It is kind of like talking politics, may not be appreciated, I know I don't

That's why I just ignored it, Pal.

[Pal334]

Oh please.
You must be joking acquainting sex to politics right ?

It's college...
What...his step daughter is never going to have sex ?
A friend of hers ?
An emergency water carrier ?
A water bomb ?

Relax will you.

That is none of either of our business.

Step Dad is ignoring your lack of decorum, guess I will reluctantly also

[Pal334]

lolll

My "lack of decorum", my dear Pal, is only the poster on the wall covering up your misoneism. Your eyes just can't get enough...

More ?

Main Entry:miso·ne·ism
Pronunciation:\ˌmi-sə-ˈnē-ˌi-zəm\
Function:noun
Etymology:Italian misoneismo, from Greek misein + neos new + Italian -ismo -ism — more at new
Date:1886
: a hatred, fear, or intolerance of innovation or change

I fail to see the innovation or change in your rudeness And yes, I did google misoneism wanted to know if I should be offended . I am not

[Pal334]

Well...seeing as you acquainted sex to politics...you know.

And by the way, the innovation and the change is not in my words, it is in how you read those words (this applies to all words) It is about your level of tolerance, and not the level of innovation i should put forth.

But it's okay...at least you learned a new word today...right ?

I agree, the way you chose to read my words for your own reason (s) made you "acquaint sex to politics". And my level of tolerance does not include the comment that I objected to.My context was that they were two seperate types of discussions that would usually not be discussed on this type of forum. And suprisingly I do owe you a thanks for learning a new word

[Ken]

My Sweetheart has an excellent relationship, and communicates very well, with her daughters.

That being said, I prefer not to discuss the sex lives of my family members on the forum, just as I would not prefer not to discuss your mother's sex life here.

[Pal334]

You had me at "I agree".
lol


What might be appreciated or not is personal and greatly depends on your level of tolerance.

Anyhoot...

Look...we are in a college setting. Like it or not, our teenagers are much more prone to get an STD, than being in a survival situation requiring a compass, a small fire kit, a bio-chem mask with a tyvek suit, or signal smoke...!?!?
I would rather her pack condoms. But hey, that's just me.
I was joking of course, but i was being serious at the same time...lol

It might be hard to talk about our teenagers' sex life...but it is a reality. STDs are a big problem, and then of course, teen pregnancies.
We are talking about our teenagers being SAFE...that, my friend, includes SAFE SEX.

And if we can't talk about that between adults here...if we find the subject lacking "decorum" or being inappropriate for some obscure reason...then i say it is sad.

You are too easy to please. And just to make it clear, I am not your friend, just a fellow on the same website. It is not for an obscure reason when I expressed my dislike for your comment, it is very clear, the subject is a conversation initiated by another member about his daughter, my opinion is that your condom remark in an open forum is not proper. I agree (that should please you again) that if the conversation was phrased to include a solicitation of advice about safe sex, then you would have been spot on with your comment. And I again agree, it is sad that you just don't get it

[Rick]

Enough. Let's end it here.

[Sam]

Okay, looking for suggestions here.........

My soon-to-be step-daughter is heading off to college in the Boston area (Cambridge) in September. She'll be about 60 miles from home, and, being a freshman, can't have a car on campus. She doesn't have a dorm assignment yet, but none of the dorm buildings are over 5 stories. Public transportation is by bus, cab, and subway, but may not be available if SHTF.

If SHTF, even just a little, it could be hours, AT LEAST, before we could reach her given potential traffic problems and restrictions. Cambridge (Boston) is at comparatively high risk for all sorts of man-made threats (accidental and intentional) and a few natural ones as well.

I've already gotten her a photon light and whistle for her key chain (only a couple of keys on it) and will be getting her a can of pepper spray to keep in her pocket. (In Mass, she's gonna' need a firearms I. D. for the pepper spray. FIREARMS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON CAMPUS. )

When she heads off to school (whether she likes it or not) she's also taking a Dorm Survival Kit (Urban Survival) with her. I'm figuring a small-medium sized back-pack kit that she can stuff under the bed (because storage space in the dorms is very limited, and I'm sure she'll want to avoid questions from her peers) as well as an escape rope and a fire extinguisher, which will both be stored out of the kit.

The fire extinguisher is self explanatory. The (window) escape rope will have an 12” loop on one end, and it will be knotted every 12”, so that she can just secure one end around the leg of the bed (or something similar) and drop the rope out of a window - I'll teach her alternate ways to use it. She’s quite athletic (an accomplished dancer, and believe me, that IS an athlete) and would have no problem using this set-up to lower herself to the ground.

I’d like to set up the kit for both bug-in and bug-out, and the most “probable” events that could occur, such as chemical spills, terrorism, crazed gunman on campus, power failures, radiation emergencies, etc. Of course, she'll have all of the dorm "essentials" at her disposal, as well.

I have an extensive list of “bug-in/bug-out” items in mind, including but not limited to:

-- a “door wedge” to “secure” the door to her room from the inside
-- plastic sheets and duct tape to seal off windows
-- potassium iodine pills
-- detailed road maps with marked escape routes and pre-determined “safe” locations (she'll know the area VERY well before school begins).
-- an escape plan with alternate meeting locations
-- a compass
-- first aid kit with assorted meds
-- small fire kit
-- list of emergency and contact numbers
-- bio-chem mask & Tyvek suit
-- Photon lights
-- candles
-- orange signal smoke
-- a red signal "flag"
-- Mainstay bars & Datrix water packs
-- energy bars and hard candies
-- pre-paid cell phone (in addition to her regular cell phone)
-- commercial hand-held two-way radio
-- wind-up flashlight/radio/cell phone charger
-- light sticks
-- signal mirror
-- whistle
-- space bivy & space blanket
-- Mora knife & SAK
-- Paracord
-- hiking boots & socks, wool hat & gloves
-- canteen and purification tablets

Any other suggestions?

A personal/door alarm. These have been out for years. It has a cord with a pull pin style switch that sets off the alarm. It also has a vibration sensor that will go off with the movement of a door it would be hung from (they hang nicely from the knob.) If you google it you could find it.
I don't like door wedges because they can be knocked out from the outside of the door.
-Sam

[Ken]

I've seen those door alarms. Good idea! Thanks, Sam!

[crashdive123]

I use one when I'm on the road and stay in motels. The work well.

[Schleprok]

remy, quit while you're behind, please

[endurance]

I think you've hit most of the highlights. Just a couple to tag on.

As for the emergency cell phone, make sure to get a different network than her primary phone so you have a different set of towers available in many cases.

I'd suggest a carbon monoxide detector for the room.

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

Make sure she has a complete list of phone numbers for both local contacts and remote family in written form incase her cell dies. I print up a business card with a number 4 font and can fit a good 15 names and numbers on it so it's always in my wallet.

If you're really worried about traffic (which you should be), give her an escape route out of the city to a series of rally points and have a schedule on which to move to the next. For instance, have her stay at one rally point until noon, then move to the next which is only 60 minutes away and stay there until 3pm, etc. That way you know when she'll be moving and when she'll be staying put.

Obviously some alternative communication if the cell towers are down would be good. FRS radios would be my last resort, but they're better than nothing. I'd suspect she's not a ham, eh? An SSB CB might be another thought to consider.

Cash. If the ATMs are down, cash is king. I'd say $300-500 minimum. How you handle it so it doesn't get stolen or spent foolishly is another matter...