Bad things can happen while you at in the office ranging from an upset stomach to a mass casualty incident. If you work in an office, you should be prepared by having a well-equipped workplace emergency kit at your desk.
First a word of caution, every company has its own policy on firearms, knives, pepper spray, electronic devices, ignition sources, medicine, and other items. Before assembling your workplace emergency kit, make sure all items conform with your company’s policies before bringing them on-premises.
Here is what I had at my most recent job.
Contents of my Office Kit
It included:
- 3L of water
- Powerbars (2)
- Tea (Green and Peppermint)
- Emergen-C
- Nuts (Pistachios and Almonds)
- Gerber Crucial multi-tool
- Gerber Iris LED flashlight
- Hand Sanitizer
- Lotion
- AC adapter and USB cable
- Transit passes (3)
- Cash and coins (around $10 worth)
- Cough drops
- Ruler
- Emergency whistle
- Road ID Supernova light
- Sharpie
- Mini screwdriver
- Pens
- Spoon
- Bandana
- Outdoor Research organizer with the following:
- Alka-Selzer
- Immodium A-D
- Phazyme
- Pepto Bismol
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrush
- Q-tips
- Deodorant
- Rubbing alcohol
- Ibuprofen tablets
- Thyroid medication
- Travel toilet paper roll
There are a few things I am going to add to my workplace emergency kit at my next assignment including; MREs, respirator, safety glasses, and a Lifehammer. I’ve also been thinking about getting a portable AM/FM radio with weather alert as a backup to my cell phone. One thing I do know is this kit will change and evolve over time.
As Kevin wrote not too long ago, your office kit doesn’t have to contain everything you need for TEOTWAWKI to be valuable. Having a well-equipped work it will pay off in everyday scenarios as well as emergencies. Think about what you need for your particular situation and start building your work kit today. The benefits of being well-prepared at work may become apparent sooner than you think.