Do you have an emergency go bag?
Discussion
The OP's grab bag seems about as relevant to the UK as Baldrick's Escape Kit
Baldrick: Do not despair, sir. All my talk of food was just a dead herring. In fact, I have a cunning plan. This is not food, but an escape kit!
Edmund: Good Lord! With a saw, a hammer, a chisel, a gun, a change of clothes, a Swiss passport, and a huge false moustache, I may just stand a chance!
Baldrick: Ah....
Edmund: Let's see, what have we here? ..... A small painted wooden duck.
Baldrick: Yeah, I thought if you get caught near water, you can balance it on the top of your head as a brillaint disguise.
Edmund: Yeeeesss, I would, of course, have to escape first. Ah, but what's this! Unless I'm much mistaken, a hammer and a chisel?
Baldrick: You *are* much mistaken!
Edmund: A pencil and a miniature trumpet.
Baldrick: Yes, a pencil so you can drop me a postcard to tell me how the break out went and a small little tiny miniature trumpet in case during your escape, you have to win favour with a difficult child.
Edmund: Baldrick, I don't want to spend my last precious hours rummaging through this feeble collection of stocking-fillers. Now let me ask you some simple questions: is there are a saw in this bag?
Baldrick: No.
Edmund: A hammer?
Baldrick: No.
Edmund: A chisel?
Baldrick: No.
Edmund: A gun?
Baldrick: No.
Edmund: A false passport?
Baldrick: (thinks) No.
Edmund: A change of clothes?
Baldrick: Yes sir, of course I wouldn't forget a change of clothes.
Edmund: Ah, now that's something, let's see..... a Robin Hood costume.
Baldrick: I put in a French peasant's outfit first, but then I thought 'What if you arrive in a French peasant's village and they're in the middle of a fancy dress party?'
Edmund: And what if I arrive in a French peasant village, dressed in a Robin Hood costume and there *isn't* a fancy dress party?
Baldrick: Well, to be quite frank sir, I didn't consider that eventuality, because if you did, you'd stick out like a.....
Edmund: (interrupting) Like a man standing in a lake with a small painted wooden duck on his head?
Baldrick: Exactly!
Although I notice that Baldrick has also forgotten to pack spare pants.
Baldrick: Do not despair, sir. All my talk of food was just a dead herring. In fact, I have a cunning plan. This is not food, but an escape kit!
Edmund: Good Lord! With a saw, a hammer, a chisel, a gun, a change of clothes, a Swiss passport, and a huge false moustache, I may just stand a chance!
Baldrick: Ah....
Edmund: Let's see, what have we here? ..... A small painted wooden duck.
Baldrick: Yeah, I thought if you get caught near water, you can balance it on the top of your head as a brillaint disguise.
Edmund: Yeeeesss, I would, of course, have to escape first. Ah, but what's this! Unless I'm much mistaken, a hammer and a chisel?
Baldrick: You *are* much mistaken!
Edmund: A pencil and a miniature trumpet.
Baldrick: Yes, a pencil so you can drop me a postcard to tell me how the break out went and a small little tiny miniature trumpet in case during your escape, you have to win favour with a difficult child.
Edmund: Baldrick, I don't want to spend my last precious hours rummaging through this feeble collection of stocking-fillers. Now let me ask you some simple questions: is there are a saw in this bag?
Baldrick: No.
Edmund: A hammer?
Baldrick: No.
Edmund: A chisel?
Baldrick: No.
Edmund: A gun?
Baldrick: No.
Edmund: A false passport?
Baldrick: (thinks) No.
Edmund: A change of clothes?
Baldrick: Yes sir, of course I wouldn't forget a change of clothes.
Edmund: Ah, now that's something, let's see..... a Robin Hood costume.
Baldrick: I put in a French peasant's outfit first, but then I thought 'What if you arrive in a French peasant's village and they're in the middle of a fancy dress party?'
Edmund: And what if I arrive in a French peasant village, dressed in a Robin Hood costume and there *isn't* a fancy dress party?
Baldrick: Well, to be quite frank sir, I didn't consider that eventuality, because if you did, you'd stick out like a.....
Edmund: (interrupting) Like a man standing in a lake with a small painted wooden duck on his head?
Baldrick: Exactly!
Although I notice that Baldrick has also forgotten to pack spare pants.
king awful. You're not Maverick or Ice-Man. "Go Bag" is quaint and adorable in comparison. Countdown said:
Think I asked this earlier on....
Where would you actually "go" with your "emergency go" bag?
And that's assuming you're starting from home as I can't imagine anybody walking around with paracord, duct tape, candles etc
Usually to somewhwhere safe. People use these when evacuating from a disaster. Imagine if a hurricane is heading for your area (not a regular occurance in the UK). You going to bug out or hang around for this to happen.Where would you actually "go" with your "emergency go" bag?
And that's assuming you're starting from home as I can't imagine anybody walking around with paracord, duct tape, candles etc
Clivey said:
I'm sure all those in the Somerset levels would have poked fun at a "grab bag" until they all got flooded last year... 
Oh come on. The floods came in so quickly without any warning, weather forecasts, or other indication (such as, I dunno, preceding heavy rainfall) that a "grab bag" would have been pivotal in their survival?A "grab bag" is the kind of thing you prepare for a zero-notice emergency, containing things that you will need for that emergency. For example, a heavily pregnant woman whose waters could break at literally any moment and the bag has to be packed and ready to be grabbed at zero notice.
I still fail to see what zero-notice emergency that the OP's grab bag is meant to be for.
JonRB said:
Oh come on. The floods came in so quickly without any warning, weather forecasts, or other indication (such as, I dunno, preceding heavy rainfall) that a "grab bag" would have been pivotal in their survival?
A "grab bag" is the kind of thing you prepare for a zero-notice emergency, containing things that you will need for that emergency. For example, a heavily pregnant woman whose waters could break at literally any moment and the bag has to be packed and ready to be grabbed at zero notice.
I still fail to see what zero-notice emergency that the OP's grab bag is meant to be for.
I don't necessarily mean a "zero notice" bag, but I have enough useful stuff in easy to reach places at home / in the cars that I'm confident I could deal with any likely (non far-fetched zombie apocalypse) scenario we may encounter. I don't live in an area susceptible to flooding, but if I did, I'd make sure I was prepared. Even simple things like storing important documents such as passports in waterproof bags & somewhere they won't float away would save you a right ballache if something were to happen.A "grab bag" is the kind of thing you prepare for a zero-notice emergency, containing things that you will need for that emergency. For example, a heavily pregnant woman whose waters could break at literally any moment and the bag has to be packed and ready to be grabbed at zero notice.
I still fail to see what zero-notice emergency that the OP's grab bag is meant to be for.
I work in IT & contingency plans are something I deal with, as well helping people / businesses out in an "emergency", so I'm already in the mindset of being able to deal with things when they go wrong.
Cotty said:
Fire 
In the event of a fire, that's the jogging bottoms and slip-on trainers I keep in my bedroom for such an emergency, a jumper from the wardrobe (ok, ok, the messy pile of part worn clothes on the floor), and my wallet and phone from my bedside table. That's all you really need at zero notice in the event of a fire. When packing to stay in a hotel, the jogging bottoms, slip ons and a light jacket get packed, again for exit in a fire.
What I don't pack is rape tape, paracord, and all the other stuff that the OP seems to think is necessary.
Clivey said:
I don't live in an area susceptible to flooding, but if I did, I'd make sure I was prepared. Even simple things like storing important documents such as passports in waterproof bags & somewhere they won't float away would save you a right ballache if something were to happen.
Oh, absolutely. I wasn't debating that at all - that's why I was one of the people who told GetCarter that he wasn't being sad by having the preparations that he has. I think there are two arguments here. One is being prepared for a reasonable emergency. I'm totally for that.
What I'm more sceptical about is the zero-notice bag that OP seems to think he needs and the contents of it. It's seriously creepy.
JonRB said:
I think there are two arguments here. One is being prepared for a reasonable emergency. I'm totally for that.
What I'm more sceptical about is the zero-notice bag that OP seems to think he needs and the contents of it. It's seriously creepy.
My thoughts exactly.What I'm more sceptical about is the zero-notice bag that OP seems to think he needs and the contents of it. It's seriously creepy.
Sensible precautions against potential 'everyday' emergencies such as power cuts, or perhaps flooding if you live in an area that has previously flooded in heavy rain, are perfectly normal.
Living in the UK and being prepared for war, earthquakes, hurricanes, zombies, the breakdown of society or an Ebola pandemic is just plain weird. The stuff of oddballs and conspiracy nuts.
Countdown said:
Think I asked this earlier on....
Where would you actually "go" with your "emergency go" bag?
And that's assuming you're starting from home as I can't imagine anybody walking around with paracord, duct tape, candles etc
Jail if the police find him wandering the streets with it trying to explain that there is an emergency and he's got to go somewhere quick with his duct tape and flares!!Where would you actually "go" with your "emergency go" bag?
And that's assuming you're starting from home as I can't imagine anybody walking around with paracord, duct tape, candles etc
JonRB said:
Oh, absolutely. I wasn't debating that at all - that's why I was one of the people who told GetCarter that he wasn't being sad by having the preparations that he has.
I think there are two arguments here. One is being prepared for a reasonable emergency. I'm totally for that.
I think there are two arguments here. One is being prepared for a reasonable emergency. I'm totally for that.
JonRB said:
What I'm more sceptical about is the zero-notice bag that OP seems to think he needs and the contents of it. It's seriously creepy.
I don't have flares but do have most of the other stuff he lists (and much more) easily accessible (not in one bag). Most of it's for camping / off-roading etc. but in the cars (in addition to the OEM wheel changing stuff - the jack etc.) I have:- Some basic tools (multi tool, screwdrivers, socket set etc.)
- Bulbs
- Fuses
- Change of clothes
- Warning triangle
- 12v Tyre inflator
- A spare toilet roll
- Torches & spare batteries
- Reflective jackets
- First aid kit (that I've assembled and put in a tupperware lunch box - the shop-bought ones are overpriced and don't contain much).
- Phone charger
I also keep a Swisscard in my wallet. I await someone telling me that's weird...
I'll do a quick assessment for you guys to give some guidance for those who feel they need something but don't have anything.
STHF bag for the UK Guidance -
To consider -
Rule of 3 (in order of priority)
Shelter
Water
Food
Security
Likely Situations? What provisions would be required to fulfil the above rule of 3 during the most likely emergency situations in the UK
Kit contained in -
Kitchen Drawer
Kit Content -
Torch
Candles
matches/lighter
Batteries (possibly spent)
Assortment of screws, allen keys and bolts left over from Swedish self assembly furniture.
Instruction for kettle/toaster/iron from 1997 that you no longer own.
Lightbulbs
End Assessment
STHF bag for the UK Guidance -
To consider -
Rule of 3 (in order of priority)
Shelter
Water
Food
Security
Likely Situations? What provisions would be required to fulfil the above rule of 3 during the most likely emergency situations in the UK
Kit contained in -
Kitchen Drawer
Kit Content -
Torch
Candles
matches/lighter
Batteries (possibly spent)
Assortment of screws, allen keys and bolts left over from Swedish self assembly furniture.
Instruction for kettle/toaster/iron from 1997 that you no longer own.
Lightbulbs
End Assessment
I can't believe the amount of people that think a roll of duck tape is creepy?
Especially being a car forum, what do you do when something snaps, drops off, leaks, or any job that sellotape isn't man enough for?
Sometimes you need something to hold in place instantly, times when you don't have the time to drive 15 miles to Halfords or B&Q.
Especially being a car forum, what do you do when something snaps, drops off, leaks, or any job that sellotape isn't man enough for?
Sometimes you need something to hold in place instantly, times when you don't have the time to drive 15 miles to Halfords or B&Q.
Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff