Preparedness for when

NewShadow

Frugalsod wrote: »

Yes but shoes in the luggage is another matter. I suspect many women might travel with several pairs in luggage. I was thinking of more of a second pair for carry on. A comfy pair to walk in makes sense.

I've got a pair of old running shoes which I use for commuting to minimise the time I have to wear my uncomfortable grownup shoes in the office - They aren't likely to come off by accident, but I can force my feet in and out without undoing the laces (a habit leftover from being a teenager), and are likely the one's I'd wear for traveling.

As an aside, when visiting family abroad I'm often expected to bring a full bag of goodies (marmite, Yorkshire tea, custard powder) which all go in my bag. I've never had a problem going through security wearing 4 jumpers, 2 pairs of trousers, my knickers in one pocket and a pair of shoes in the other. :cool:

GreyQueen

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

I didn't know you batted for the other side GQ?



Being 6'2" and ~ 16 stone myself, you sound perfect. :cool:

I don't like blokes taller than me, Bob, they're not so easy to bully and intimidate. :rotfl:

In my defence, m'lud, it was Bob who started this banter, not me.

elaine241

I pop in for 5 mins catch up and what do I find smut and inuendo! What fun!! I was going to update you on my gardening exploits but it seems boring compared to the current topic!
I suppose it could be some sort of "currency" in a SHTF situation when you are desperate and need to swap it for food or water. From what I've read on here its going to be free and easy!!!;)

GreyQueen

I vote for hearing your gardening exploits, elaine. Bob needs to be distracted and I love gardening.

Besides, I'm popping on and off the thread between tidying the parental home - just need to go find someone with a Y chromosome to bully into making me a cuppa.

Frugalsod

NewShadow wrote: »

I've got a pair of old running shoes which I use for commuting to minimise the time I have to wear my uncomfortable grownup shoes in the office - They aren't likely to come off by accident, but I can force my feet in and out without undoing the laces (a habit leftover from being a teenager), and are likely the one's I'd wear for traveling.

Many women use trainers for driving or for the walking on their commute and switch to heels for work. I did the same when working in Central London I would cycle in and then change at work. I kept the shoes in the office along with a shoe cleaning kit.

NewShadow wrote: »

As an aside, when visiting family abroad I'm often expected to bring a full bag of goodies (marmite, Yorkshire tea, custard powder) which all go in my bag. I've never had a problem going through security wearing 4 jumpers, 2 pairs of trousers, my knickers in one pocket and a pair of shoes in the other. :cool:

It helps if these are all sealed products, and as for the clothing it there are jackets that do the same http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stuffa-Jacket-Womens-Red/dp/B00BTNSQ3U/ but slightly more stylishly than some solutions.

NewShadow

Frugalsod wrote: »

It helps if these are all sealed products, and as for the clothing it there are jackets that do the same http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stuffa-Jacket-Womens-Red/dp/B00BTNSQ3U/ but slightly more stylishly than some solutions.

thanks, looks interesting.

I meant I never have any trouble going through airport security with spare shoes - or indeed an entire weeks wardrobe - on my person

nuatha

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

Thank you yet again my friend! you're always coming up with the correct information from my ramblings, amazing!!!

I do have a trick memory, lots of apparently unrelated items stick and I subconsciously make connections - some of which are even correct.
Thank you for the compliments, I learn a lot from the folk on this board and this thread in particular - the least I can do is share what I know.

GreyQueen wrote: »

I have had to read and sign off on a wodge of info about safety in our building, including that certain surfaces are 'mostly bullet proof'. I'd love to find the author of that document and query 'mostly' - against air rifles, handguns, assault rifles on full auto, RPGs?

Seems that thick masonry or solid steel are your friends if you can't escape from a firefight. I wouldn't like to bet the farm on a 'mostly' but these situations arise very very quickly, and you'd just have to do your best.

There's a huge amount of crap about the effectiveness of bullets and bullet proofing. A lot of it from Hollywood effects suggesting that bullets penetrate anything or that a thin sheet of plywood would stop a field gun round. Some materials that will actually stop a bullet can cause far worse wounds when they spall. The most effective defence is distance and lots of material, several walls and a 100 meters are better than a single wall and centimetres. If you end up in a situation where bullets are flying then there is likely to be very little choice in choosing shelter - if you have a chance of getting away, take it - if not GQ's comment about stairwells is valid - but they are also likely to be used for entry and egress by both the aggressors and potential rescuers and friendly fire can be just as lethal.

...
1. If you have slip-on shoes, like loafers, courts or ballet flats, you are likely to lose one or both of them. You will then be barefoot or in your stocking feet amid debris. I have given first aid to a lady we got out of a burning car (mercifully unhurt) and getting her out parted her from her slip-on footwear, too. And her handbag.

My general wear are slip on canvas shoes, I also spend a lot of time bare-footed, I need to rethink this. I do wear decent well fitting trainers or fabric walking boots for travelling or if I expect to be on my feet most of the day.
Thankfully I no longer do suits and dress shoes very often - while I'm rethinking my wardrode, I've just realised I've got into a habit of wearing jeans recently - not the best clothing for British weather.

GreyQueen wrote: »

Individual members of the public have menaced my colleagues with guns, knives and even an axe before now. I no longer man a wicket in the public office but have done several years of that, and have some un-funny war stories. Trouble could brew up incredibly quickly, as in less than five seconds, so you needed to be alert.

Those of us who work in public buidlings have some unique issues but all buildings have a degree of permeabiliity to outsiders, such as visitors, contractors, deliveries.

In my own building (a truimph of sixties architecture) I reckon the stairwells, which are concrete, would be the places least likely to catch a bullet.

Many of the public service buildings I've been in are actually more secure than the private companies. Private buildings tend to have a limited number of secure/monitored access points, once you are through that area, the whole building is accessible - many of the local authority buildings have multiple security points where the public are only allowed access to part of a floor. (Largely because lots of them are re-purposed older buildings, used in ways they were not designed for.)
Having said that, I wouldn't want to be keeping wicket in a benefits agency or local authority office.
(Incidentally a lot of bullet proof kit isn't regarded as knife/stab proof.)

[Deleted User]

Kilner Butter Churner.

Make your own butter, in ~ 10 minutes.

For the lazy among us (who just said Bob? ), I can't imagine it would be difficult, to attach a motor.

nuatha

Frugalsod wrote: »

One thing that airports advise is loose shoes so that you can get through airport security more easily, as you do not have hundreds stopping to tie up their shoes once they have been scanned.

Also if you are carrying extra shoes then that might raise warning flags at security desks. It is hard to know what is best.

My safety is my concern, if I add to the slight delay by untying and retying my shoes, due to meeting airport security concerns, that's fine, I'll allow the extra time needed in my travel plans. Wearing loose shoes for the convenience of airport security and reducing my personal safety (as outlined eloquently by GQ up thread) is not an option I'd opt for.

Living_proof wrote: »

I can see the sense of having made preparations, hoarding essentials and considering all sorts of eventualities, but we should also be anticipating the psychological aspects of any catastrophe. Those around us might be suffering from PTSD or similar and some sort of understanding/education of this aspect is equally important.

Agreed, psychological aspects have been discussed in this thread before and no doubt will be again. Generally they are harder to prep for than buying and learning to use kit or building up stocks. Though knowing you have contingency supplies can help buffer some effects, no one can be certain how they will react in any situation - even if they've been in a similar situation before. Having thought through options and actions in possible scenarios can help but no scenario is likely to match reality.

mardatha

Did anybody else catch the flu warning? Outbreak of swine flu on the go.