Quick! There’s a fire alarm going off right now! What do you grab?
I’ve thought about this at home, but at work is a different story. Earlier this week, we had a fire drill. It wasn’t like grade school where we know it’s coming. We had no idea, but it became pretty clear that it was just a drill. No big deal. So when the alarm went off, I grabbed my purse and headed for the stairs. While out in the parking lot, I was chatting with some of my co-workers. A number of them had been in a meeting when the alarm went off so they didn’t have their wallets or phones or keys with them. If it really was a fire, they wouldn’t know what to do or how to get home.
Of course, these were all women – the men conveniently had everything they needed shoved in pockets or fashionably clipped onto belts.
So that raises the question. Should you carry certain items on your person at all times? And if so, what? Personally, I lock my purse in a drawer through most of the day. But if I have to evacuate and can’t grab that, I’m stuck. At another job, I had a co-worker who carried around a little cell phone holder that held her phone, her keys, her ID and some money. That was all she needed if there was an emergency.
I’m not about to carry my purse around all day, though a co-worker mentioned that everyone did for a while after 9/11/01. Obviously, as people felt safe again, that fell off. But maybe I should think about carrying something. The question is what?
If I go with the bare minimum, all I really need is some money. That would get me on a metro ride home, and even though I wouldn’t have my apartment keys, I would still be wearing my ID badge from work, which is enough to prove that yes, I am who I say I am and maintenance will let me into my apartment. For a small fee, which I can pay later.
A better option would leave me with my cell phone, my license, my ATM card and possibly a credit card. I still think apartment keys are optional. Mostly because my keyring is so big that carrying that whole thing around all day sounds annoying. Of course, if I do that, it means taking my license, ATM card, and a credit card out of my wallet and putting them somewhere else, where I am more likely to lose them or forget them somewhere. Not a good plan.
So I’m not sure what the best option is. Stashing some cash inside my ID badge holder that I have to wear every day at work (which would be visible every time my badge is flipped around)? Actually using one of the nice leather portfolios I have instead of my awesome spiral notebook and keeping a credit card stashed in there and making sure I have it at every meeting? Some other option?
Do you have an evacuation plan at work? What would you grab if you were at your desk? What about if you’re away from your desk? Would you be prepared?
*hoists BF under her arm and runs*
Honestly, I think the odds of having a disastrous fire occur in my office building are about 0.00001%. Newer structures are built to withstand, contain, and even eliminate fire, so I’m not all that worried.
If I lost my keys, wallet, and phone – oh, well. I am sure that I could wait a few hours for someone to pick me up. I mean – it’s not like you’re going back to work the next day.
You can afford to hang out in the parking lot for a little while.
Hmm, this is something to think about. I suppose I would look stupid running back through the fire to go and grab my purse. Things would be really tough without any credit cards, driver’s license, etc.
Since I work at home, my “work” fire drill would be the same as at home, but boy would that be difficult. Our dogs are the most important things to us (my sister and me), so we’d grab leashes and get them out of the house ASAP. If there was time for more things – external hard drive which has all our business stuff on it, wallets and cell phones, and then if there was still time, childhood photos as our mother always told us when we were growing up.
Hmm … let’s just say we’ll be really careful and do everything possible to prevent a fire.
[...] Counting My Pennies ponders what she would grab in a workplace fire drill. [...]
I have a small Baggalini cross-body pouch (holds a small card-holder with my driver’s license, subway pass and bank card, plus keys, cash, cell phone). I do sometimes end up wearing it all day because it’s that small and light (and I clearly don’t mind looking like a dork) that I forget to take it off.
I often think about this as well….I have $500 in cash along w/ passports and stuff in a fire-proof safe @ home, but if i had 30 seconds I’d get in, grab it, and go…along w/ my money clip & iPhone (what would i do without that? haha)
I keep my id/credit cards/cash and cell on my all the time, so even just that would be fine if i had 0 seconds
Am I the only woman who is strange enough to hate not having pockets in my skirts? I don’t sacrifice function for fashion. If I’m dressed, I always have my cell phone, keys, and wallet. Unless I’m wearing on of my skirts without pockets. Which happens only for church. And I hate not having those pockets every week!
Kris, I’m also a fan of pockets, but I realized that I don’t like the look of my clothes when I have a phone or a wallet shoved in my pocket. A few bills or a credit card and some ID are fine, but anything more just leaves a huge bulge that I don’ t like. I wish I could wear cargo pants everyday. Then I’d be fine!
You raise a good point, but I’m not too concerned about my office as it’s in a fairly small building and if I was in a meeting room, I could easily stop by my office to grab my purse.
However, even after being evacuated two years ago for 3 days due to a California wild fire, I don’t think my family is any better prepared on what to take and how not to run around in a bit of a panic. Thanks for the food for thought!