When you hear about a school shooting, whether on a college campus or a grade school, you always hear about how long it took security, or law enforcement, to arrive. This is one reason why your everyday carry essentials are so important.
As a student, the last thing I want to be worried about while trying to study is my safety. The saying, “When seconds count, the police are only minutes away” confirms that our safety and security is mostly up to us.
In some situations, like my college campus, the choice of lawful defensive tools is restricted. Maintaining a readiness mindset helps me choose everyday carry (EDC) essentials that will help to keep me safe.
The most important everyday carry essential
Sure, I carry what I think is some cool gear that helps protect me and keep me safe. We’ll get to that. But the most important tool I, or any of us, have available to us is awareness.
Gadgets and tools aside, an awareness of what is going on around you is the single most important EDC tool available to any of us.
Imagine this scenario; it’s snowing outside. Instead of parking in the outside lot, close to your classroom, you decide to park in the parking garage. You put your headphones on and your hood up. Then you walk through the garage to the building your class is in, warm and cozy, jamming to Up Town Funk while you text your BFF. But wait! Now you have zero peripheral vision, you can’t hear anything around you and you’re looking down at your phone. Boom! You get jumped before leaving the garage.
Now, imagine the same scenario, differently.
Same weather. Same parking garage. Same hoodie.
But this time you forgo the music and put the phone away. You spend your walk through the garage looking around and being aware of your surroundings; the objects and people around you.
You stand tall and look around. You keep an eye on the shadows. You choose not to look like a victim.
This time, your would-be attacker knows you’re paying attention. He decides to go join a study group instead of jumping you.
By simply being aware, you can stop bad things from happening in the first place.
Okay. I know. You’re asking yourself, “Yes, but what do you carry?”
My personal everyday carry essentials
The fact is, outside of my school bag – with the usual books, notebooks and school stuff – I’m somewhat of a minimalist.
Besides my wallet and phone, and an awareness of my surroundings, here are my everyday carry essentials, especially on school days:
- I carry my keys on my belt loop, so my keychain has a carabiner (with the obligatory bottle opener). My house and other keys are in a Keysmart key holder, along with my car key, a microfiber cloth to keep my glasses clean, and a Leatherman Style PS.
- I always carry a flashlight. The two pictured take turns in my EDC rotation.
- I also always carry a knife. Regardless of what “modern” folder I may choose for the day, I always carry a Victorinox Spartan – great selection of tools in a very compact package.
- Lip Balm
- Mini Bic lighter
- Backup microfiber cloth (I really like to keep my glasses clean!)
- Zebra steel ballpoint pen
- POM Pepper Spray
- Paracord bracelet (made it myself, so it’s sentimental!)
Depending on what I expect my day to be like, this setup may change slightly, but this is a typical EDC for the days I am on campus.
What are your everyday carry essentials on campus?
Please leave a comment and share your thoughts and ideas.
Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay