A Disaster at Work

[Rick]

Here is a thought for all of you. Jobs obviously vary from cubicle farms in an office complex to drilling rigs in the middle of no where. From the kitchen of a restaurant to the back of an ambulance to the classroom.

Take a moment this week and ask yourself...if TSHTF right now (pick your poison), what is at my disposal that I could use to keep myself alive. Can you come up with enough items that you can carry on your person to cover water, fire, shelter, medical and attract attention?

Let's see how innovative you are. Your answers will vary depending on your job but list them out here and let's see what we can learn from each other.

[crashdive123]

Interesting post. I've recently been walking home after I finish working for the day. (zoning weenies!) The upside to that is that I need the exercise. Today while on my way back I was looking at all of the discarded trash, or stuff laying in peoples yards and was thinking - what can I do with that, or this as I saw different things. Good idea to get everybody thinking.

[Sam]

Hello to the pack, I keep the basics on my person or in my work bag. Depending on the season I change it up. I am living in MI now and the winter is gonna be A LOT different from Seattle. lol. I Keep my pocket kit listed on another thread plus extra items like candle lantern, couglans hand warmer, dry socks extra warm hat, small tarp, firestarters, metal cup and metal water bottle. My friends call me weird but I like to be covered.
-Sam

[Rick]

Okay. But what from your work can you use to substitute those items?

[Dave Johns]

I am stuck in a cubicle job, so if SHTF in a big hurry, my plan is to get to my truck, either to drive home, or to grab my BOB and start hoofin' it. But, if, lets say, a tornado blows thru and carries my truck off to Kansas, I at least have my mini-kit. It has a multitool, bandages,small flashlight, e-tape, and a lighter. I am taking FA training, so I like to think I would be pretty busy helping everyone around me.

Honestly I dont know what I would do in a longer situation. There is tons of paper and easily combustible materials, and the cubicle walls are compressed fiberglass ( build lean-to shelters?) , so keeping warm in a long-term bug in would be feasable. There is a cafeteria and several break rooms on site, but with close to 800 employees in the building, that wouldnt last long. There is a (man made) lake on the property, so water isnt an issue, but would have to boil it to make sure it is safe.

Hmmm. For me personally, I am sure I would be ok for at least 72 hours. As a group, I dont think everyone would hold it together more than 24 hours.

[Sam]

Okay. But what from your work can you use to substitute those items?

I work as a cook, so kitchens are wonderful supply houses. I have plenty of food, and there are towels and table cloths, big first aid kit, kitchen knives, pots & pans, that is just off the top of my head. I will look around and make a list.
-Sam

[Rick]

You guys are missing the point. Not only did the truck fly away, so did your kit, the bob and everything else you store anything in. All you have left is what is at work. Now what? Water, fire, shelter, medical and attract attention?

Now Sam's on the right track!

[RangerXanatos]

I work part time tutoring at a technical college which is only me in one room, so I will limit myself to what's in that room without the items that I bring with me everyday to make it more challanging.

Water: 2 people have left cups, so I can use that to gather water. Also, I could pour out the Windex and Febreeze and use the bottles as well. Also a ziploc bag.

Fire: Ziploc bad that can be filled with water to make a solar lens. Papertowels/Tissuepaper/Paper/Textbooks could all be burned.

Shelter: Cloth from the chairs can be removed and taped or paperclipped together to make a light sheet.

Food: Peppermint candy and any bugs that may have gotten in.

Medical: Papertowel/Tissue paper and tape for cuts. Computer cable if a tourniquet needs to be applied.

Attention: Paper from a textbook laid out to spell help or sos. If needed, the paper could be colored with markers.

All of which can be carried on my persons. Would it have been out of line to place items on a chair and roll them with me?

[nell67]

hmmm,tents,tarps,rain suits for shelter.

gel fire starters,(any number of chemicals there that could do the trick as well)matches,fire igniters.

Medical,not much,other than cloth to use as bandages,and duct or gorilla tape to secure,or krazy glue for smaller cuts.

water,canteens,and thermos' I would fill from the water fountain,and for food,lots of jerky,and candy,soup mix,just add water and cook these,I'd grab a camping cook set and take that.

To attract attention,I'd grab a few smoke/heat detectors,and use the smoke from a fire,or one of the fire igniters to set them off.

All this would fit into a bag off the shelf and still be farily light (except the water containers) and easy to carry.

[Rick]

I'll post Monday when I get to Atlanta. I'll use the room I'm in at work to figure out what I'd grab. Good start everyone!

[crashdive123]

Nell - just start up one of the tractors and drive home.

[nell67]

Hey,who says I want to go there?

[crashdive123]

Maybe it's an advantage, but working out of my vehicle I have my survival basics with me. When not at work, or in a strange place it is very important IMO to do as Rick has said. Inspect and survey what you have. Years ago I was staying in a hotel in Pusan, Korea. Don't remember the floor we were on, but it was fairly high (someplace between 12th and 17th floor I think). Next to the window was a large, red naugahyde bag. On the outside of the bag were instructions on how to deploy the rope ladder in case of air raid.

[crashdive123]

Hey,who says I want to go there?

.....or north to Traxistan.

[nell67]

.....or north to Traxistan.

Thats what I'm talkin' about!

[Rick]

instructions on how to deploy the rope ladder in case of air raid.

There are worse things than dying in an air raid. Falling off a rope on the 12th or 17th floor only to find out it was a test, comes to mind.

[crashdive123]

There are worse things than dying in an air raid. Falling off a rope on the 12th or 17th floor only to find out it was a test, comes to mind.

Which was probably more likely with as much soju we had to drink prior to checking in.

[Pal334]

I am the resident security guy and Car Package to the Troops coordinator (and enforcer for soliciting donations). So I do have a bit of a leg up. In my office at any given time there are boxes of jerky, and other non perishable food items, and hygene items,so they could be scooped up into a trash bag (s). Have numerous flashlights and a staleite (how ever its spelled) phone and rain gear, an auto defib and first aid kit another bag or in my pocket as appropriate. Down the hall to the garage for some flares and a few sundry tools and I should be good to go.Now just have to work out the water (we use water coolers).

[Ole WV Coot]

When I did work (I use the word loosely) I kept enough on my truck to live for a long time. Food, all sorts of clothing, generator(gas or propane), either use a cell phone, radio that would reach over 3 states and I have been stranded for a couple of days without a problem. I have the house the same, backup on most everything. Being stuck in my work truck wasn't bad, hotplate, coffee maker, food and reading material and all the comforts of home. Mainly learn to improvise, I could always tap a phone line if necessary.

[wareagle69]

i currently work on a large commercial construction site at an opertaing hospital so i will have mediacal food shelter covered for basics every one knows my swedish fire steel is always attached to my belt
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